Erskine Chambers

erskinechambers.com

Peter is a highly regarded silk, with a focus on insolvency and restructuring, company and commercial chancery work. He has a particular expertise in large and complex insolvency cases, often with a cross-border element and, in many instances, concerning or involving businesses in the financial sector. Significant cases include: the Federal Mogul / T&N restructuring, Eurotunnel, the HIH litigation, the Baugur administration, Lehmans, the Landsbanki and Kaupthing insolvencies, Miss Sixty and other retail insolvencies, the TXU company voluntary arrangement, and the winding-up of Danka Business Systems and Travelodge.

Andrew specialises in company law, commercial litigation, restructuring and corporate insolvency. His time is divided between litigation and advisory work. Much of his work involves large and contentious corporate transactions, both domestically and overseas. Andrew is called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. He has been instructed in significant corporate and insolvency matters in most offshore financial centres. Recent and current instructions include: Re Jardine Strategic Holdings Ltd (acting with Jonathan Crow KC and Martin Moore KC in merger appraisal proceedings); 1Globe Capital LLC v Sinovac Biotech Ltd (Privy Council appeal with James Potts KC for the Chinese biopharmaceutical company in proceedings concerning an alleged AGM ambush and adoption of a ‘poison pill’ rights plan); SOSBEIS v Adam and others (acting on behalf of the successful NEDs with Andrew Thompson KC in the largest and most complex disqualification proceedings ever brought, arising from the collapse of Carillion).

Dan is developing a busy company and insolvency law practice and frequently acts for shareholders, directors, insolvency officeholders and companies. He regularly appears unled in the Insolvency and Companies Court on a variety of contentious and non-contentious matters, including winding-up and bankruptcy petitions and associated applications. Dan’s recent led work has included: -Appearing for the successful creditor in Staveley v Restis [2024] EWHC 670 (Ch) on an application to set aside a statutory demand and related winding-up proceedings. -Shareholder disputes submitted to confidential arbitration under both the LCIA and UNCITRAL rules. -An 18-day High Court trial of claims for alleged breaches of directors’ duties, negligence, dishonest assistance, conspiracy and a transaction defrauding creditors arising out of the restructuring of a private hospital group. -Advising the joint provisional liquidators of a substantial Bermudian financial services group. Prior to being called to the bar, Dan trained as a solicitor with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. In his 10 years in private practice Dan worked in both London and Hong Kong and developed substantial experience in restructuring and insolvency, advising on a wide variety of both contentious and non-contentious matters, often with a cross-border element. He has particular expertise in schemes of arrangement and Part VII transfers.

David Chivers KC

David is a highly experienced, sought-after silk specialising in company law, corporate litigation and corporate restructuring/insolvency - onshore, offshore and internationally. He is known for the quality of both his advocacy and advisory skills. David has acted on many key corporate transactions and appeared in leading cases at all levels up to the Supreme Court and Privy Council. David sat as an additional judge of the British Virgin Islands commercial court and is regularly appointed as an arbitrator due to his expertise in complex cross border and corporate disputes.

Lily is developing a busy practice in Chambers’ core areas of practice including company law, restructuring and insolvency, offshore litigation, commercial litigation and arbitration. She regularly appears unled in the Insolvency and Companies Court. Lily has obtained a Certificate in International Arbitration accredited by the Chartered Institute of Arbitration and has acted in several arbitrations. Upon obtaining tenancy Lily undertook a three-month secondment in the Financial Institutions Disputes Group at Freshfield Bruckhaus Deringer and gained experience in contentious insolvency and insurance disputes. Lily spent a further three-months in the corporate/M&A department at Slaughter and May where she worked on a large public acquisition and provided corporate advice on a range of other matters. During pupillage Lily assisted with a variety of matters, including both corporate advisory work and litigation. Notable work included providing assistance with ClientEarth v Shell Plc [2023] EWHC 1897 (Ch), concerning an application for permission to continue a derivative claim. Lily also provided research support in the Carillion directors disqualification proceedings in advance of the pre-trial review hearing and in the case of ENRC v Dechert [2023] EWHC 3280 during the causation and loss phase of trial.

Edward Davies KC

Edward Davies KC is an experienced commercial litigator, with a strong grounding in company law and corporate insolvency. He has acted in some of the most significant recent actions in these areas, including ClientEarth v Shell Plc (an application for permission to continue a derivative claim against the directors of Shell plc on grounds of failure to manage climate change risks); Autonomy Corporation Ltd v Lynch (claims concerning the US$11 billion takeover of Autonomy by Hewlett Packard); BTI 2014 LLC v Sequana, (the leading case on the duties of directors in the context of insolvent companies); and Re Coroin Ltd (unfair prejudice and conspiracy claims concerning the Barclay brothers and control of Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley). Edward has particular expertise in shareholder disputes, including unfair prejudice petitions and derivative claims. Edward also regularly advises on non-contentious and transactional matters, including schemes of arrangement, reductions of capital, transfers under Part VII FSMA 2000 and company meetings. He appeared on the contested scheme in respect of Dee Valley plc. Edward frequently acts in overseas matters, including in Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands and Jersey; he is called to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Bar. In the case of IsZo v Nam Tai, Edward recently represented a US investor in successfully reversing a $170m placement in a BVI company and, in the insolvency context, he appeared in the leading case on the operation of the segregated accounts regime in Bermuda, Re Northstar Financial Services. A list of Edward’s reported cases is at www.erskinechambers.com.

Nigel Dougherty

Nigel is a highly regarded senior junior. He is particularly sought-after in complex corporate and commercial litigation, often involving an international element. His main areas of practice are Company and Corporate Insolvency advice and litigation - in particular, minority shareholder disputes, directors' duties, takeovers, directors' service contracts, shareholder agreements and business/share acquisition agreements and claims. He has extensive experience of general Commercial Law particularly Banking and Sale of Goods; and Professional Negligence - in particular, involving solicitors and accountants/auditors. Cases include: Ultraframe (UK) Ltd v Fielding [2005] EWHC 1638 (Ch), [2006] EWCA Civ 1133; Irvine v Irvine [2007] 1 BCLC 445; Kiani v Cooper [2010] BCC 463; Barclays Bank PLC v Nylon Capital LLP [2012] Bus LR 542; American Energy v Hycarbex Asia (in liquidation) [2014] EWHC 1091 (Ch); Eclairs Group Limited v JKX Oil & Gas Plc [2016] 1 BCLC 1 (Supreme Court); ITC v Ferster [2016] EWCA Civ 614; Re AMT Coffee Limited [2018] EWHC 1562 (Ch) and [2019] EWHC 46 (Ch).

Ben is a corporate, insolvency and financial law specialist. His expertise spans both advisory work and litigation in the fields of company law, corporate restructuring and insolvency, banking, financial services, LLP law, professional negligence and civil fraud. He has wide-ranging experience of commercial and financial litigation and arbitration, including complex, multi-jurisdictional claims. Ben is regularly instructed to act both as sole counsel and with a leader. He has appeared in all courts from the High Court (Chancery Division, Commercial Court and Companies Court) through to the Supreme Court and the Privy Council. Recent significant cases include BAT Industries v Sequana, Carlyle Capital Corporation v Conway, Mezhprombank v Pugachev, MF Global and Kaupthing.

Tom is a busy company and insolvency law junior. He is currently instructed on a number of substantial corporate and insolvency disputes, both in this jurisdiction and offshore. Recent highlights of his practice include acting for the joint provisional liquidators in Re Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Ltd. [2023] SC (Bda) 57 Civ (with Michael Todd KC), a landmark decision on Bermuda’s segregated accounts regime. More recently, Tom has acted on an LCIA arbitration (London seat) between the shareholders of a £1bn family-owned business (with James Potts KC and Chantelle Staynings), which settled before a six-week trial. Tom also regularly appears unled in the Insolvency and Companies Court. He is experienced in navigating the full range of corporate and insolvency applications. A substantial proportion of Tom’s practice relates to offshore matters. His recent instructions include disputes in Bermuda, Jersey and the TCI, and he has recently co-authored expert evidence on BVI law for a confidential arbitration (with David Chivers KC). Alongside his disputes practice, Tom regularly provides advice (both led and unled) on a range of transactional matters, including schemes of arrangement, demergers and listing requirements.

Stephen’s main areas of practice are company law and related matters of corporate finance. His work involves a range of advisory matters, schemes of arrangement, takeovers, reorganisations, FSMA Part VII transfer schemes and litigious work. He advises on all Companies Act 2006 matters, including share buy backs, distributions and accounting issues. He also advises on sanctions matters, including the Russia Regulations. Before becoming a barrister, Stephen had extensive experience as a solicitor at major City firms in public and private mergers and acquisitions (both domestic and cross-border), corporate law, acquisition financing and infrastructure.

David Mabb KC

Conor McLaughlin

Conor is developing a commercial, company and insolvency law practice. Following pupillage in Chambers, he undertook secondments in the Corporate/M&A department at Slaughter and May and in the Financial Institutions Disputes Group at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, gaining experience in acquisitions, corporate finance, litigation and restructuring. Before coming to the Bar, Conor worked at the Law Commission and was a Visiting Lecturer at King's College London where he taught contract and tort law. He also spent six months at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg as a stagiaire in the chambers of Judge Vajda and Advocate General Sharpston. Conor teaches on the BCL/MJur International Commercial Arbitration course at the University of Oxford.

Martin Moore KC

Martin is a leading Silk for company law litigation and advice, corporate finance, financial services, and insolvency. He is a go-to silk for large-scale, complex corporate transactions and reorganisations (including takeovers and mergers), schemes of arrangement, cross-border mergers, establishment of Societas Europaea and schemes for the transfer of insurance and banking business (Part VII transfers). His clients are predominantly UK Plc and large multi-national corporations and his instructing solicitors are Magic Circle and Silver Circle firms. He is often consulted on a complex issues involving group structures, liability management, contractual construction, regulatory issues, directors’ duties and conflicts. He has written two published opinions for the Financial Reporting Committee on the True and Fair requirement, has advised on Bermudan, Hong Kong and Channel Islands law and has given expert evidence in the United States and Australia. Significant cases include ; Jardine Strategic Holdings (Appraisal action in Bermuda acting for Jardine Matheson Group – market cap $38 billion Fortune 500 company) ; Nam Tai was an improper purpose and breach of fiduciary duty case in relation to a PRC business incorporated in the BVI which Martin Moore KC , Edward Davies KC and Ben Griffiths won both at first instance and on appeal to the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal ; Myovant (appraisal action in Bermuda involving a bio-pharma company. It is at a relatively early stage)

Philip Morrison

Philip specialises in company and insolvency law; he undertakes instructions across the whole spectrum of corporate work. His practice involves corporate advisory and transactional work, corporate litigation and shareholder disputes, contentious and non-contentious insolvency, debt restructuring, and broader commercial chancery disputes. He has acted in a number of substantial arbitrations of corporate disputes and is ranked as a leading junior in insolvency by the Legal 500. Before joining Chambers, Philip graduated joint second overall in his year in law at the University of Oxford, before completing a masters (with Distinction) at the London School of Economics (with a focus on company and insolvency law). He has published a number of academic articles in the fields of company and insolvency law.

Matthew Parfitt

Matthew is an advocate, litigator and adviser who specialises in company and insolvency law. He was appointed to the Attorney General’s panel to act in government litigation in 2010 (C Panel) and 2015 (B Panel), and has substantial unled advocacy experience. He is ranked in Chambers & Partners and in the Legal 500 as a leading junior for company law, and in the Legal 500 for insolvency. The directories say he is a “clever, accommodating and client-friendly junior counsel”; “he is quietly persuasive and his advocacy is faultless”; and he has “a cool head, a comprehensive knowledge of his field and an excellent responsiveness to pressurised demands”. His most notable recent court work includes: Burnden v Fielding [2019] EWHC 1566 (trial: unlawful dividends and transactions defrauding creditors); [2018] UKSC 14 (Supreme Court – limitation period for claims against directors); public interest winding up trials: Re Viceroy Jones New Tech Ltd [2018] EWHC 3404 Ch (truffle tree pension scheme); BHS Group v Retail Acquisitions [2017] 2 BCLC 472 (winding up; disputed debts; meaning of ‘insolvency’); Allers v Anno 11 [2016] EWHC 388 (first instance and Court of Appeal) – construction of compulsory purchase power in a company’s articles of association.

Samuel is a specialist insolvency and company law barrister. His practice spans corporate and personal insolvency, company litigation, and commercial litigation that often includes an element of insolvency. He is described in Chambers & Partners as being “super bright, highly responsive and technically without fault”. Recent highlights of Samuel’s practice include acting for the Appellants in 1Globe Capital LLC v Sinovac Biotech Ltd, the first case to consider the validity of poison pills in Antigua and Barbuda (led by David Chivers KC). As part of his bankruptcy practice, he also acted for the Appellants (as sole Counsel) in Cynberg v Nilsson, a case that considered whether oral agreements can undermine registered declarations of trust over real property. Samuel’s offshore practice also continues to grow. For example, he assisted David Chivers KC in Phoenix Commodities Pvt Ltd, which concerned a multi-million dollar call on a member, and was the first case to consider the interpretation of the relevant BVI insolvency legislation. Within England and Wales, he appears as sole Counsel in the Insolvency and Companies Court in London, and in the Business and Property Courts across the country. He is currently instructed in a claim in Manchester brought by a former professional footballer for breach of a guarantee (led by Richard Liddell KC, 4 New Square), and separately, in a fraudulent breach of warranty claim (led by James Potts KC) following a share purchase. Samuel has been a member of the Attorney General’s London B Panel of junior Counsel since 1 September 2024. He is regularly instructed by the Insolvency Service in director disqualification matters, and has also advised and acted for HMRC and the Ministry of Defence in that capacity. In addition to his practice, Samuel also regularly speaks and provides commentary on Company and Insolvency law. He has written for FromCounsel, Tolley’s Insolvency Law Service (in relation to director disqualification), LexisPSL, and Corporate Rescue and Insolvency. He is a co-author of Insolvency Practitioners: Appointment, Duties, Powers and Liability.

Company law, corporate insolvency (cross border and domestic), financial services, LLP, partnership and related commercial litigation. Currently, about 75% of cases are contentious matters, with the remainder being non-contentious advisory work. Notable recent cases include: Re Carillion Plc (acting for respondent in disqualification proceedings); acting for successful claimant securing $300m buy-out award in DIFC LCIA unfair prejudice arbitration; 1Globe Capital LLC v Sinovac Biotech Ltd [2024] (Privy Council concerning validity of poison pill agreements and conduct of AGMs); Saxby v UDG Healthcare (UK) Holdings Ltd [2021] successful resistance of fraudulent misrepresentation claim relating to earn-out targets; Organic Grape Spirit Ltd v Nueva IQT SL [2020] review by CA of authorities on proviso to freezing order; Re Sturgeon Central Asia Balanced Fund [2020] termination of recognition order under cross-border insolvency regulations; Burnden Holdings (UK) Ltd v Fielding [2019] (acting for successful Defendants resisting fraud claims by liquidator relating to distribution); various large commercial arbitrations. Company advisory work includes many reductions of capital and members’ schemes of arrangement.

Jack Rivett has a strong commercial chancery practice, with an emphasis on company and insolvency issues. He frequently advises on and acts in cases (both contentious and non-contentious, led and unled) which have a company or financial law element. In recent years, he has acted for the successful appellants in Re Prudential Assurance Company Limited [2020] EWCA Civ 1626 (the leading case on transfers under Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000); for the successful respondent in Chalcot Training Limited v. Ralph [2021] EWCA Civ 795 (which concerned capital maintenance rules); for the successful claimant in ENRC v. Dechert & The SFO [2022] EWHC 1138 (Comm.) and [2023] EWHC 3280 (Comm.); and for Shell in derivative proceedings commenced by the environmental pressure group ClientEarth [2023] EWHC 1897 (Ch.) and [2023] EWHC 2182 (Ch.).

Catherine Roberts

Specialist in Company Law and commercial litigation involving issues of Company Law, corporate governance, corporate insolvency, general meetings, shareholder disputes, professional negligence and partnership disputes; strong advisory practice in the same areas. Much in demand for both her forensic advocacy and cross-examination skills. Author of Financial Assistance for the Acquisition of Shares (OUP 2005) and co-author with Leslie Kosmin QC of Company Meetings and Resolutions - Law, Practice and Procedure (OUP 2020 (Third edition)).

Anna Scharnetzky

Anna specialises in company law, corporate insolvency and corporate finance, as well as related areas of commercial law. Her practice is divided approximately equally between advisory work and litigation. She has a particular interest in work with a cross-border element. Anna undertakes a mixture of high value, complex led work alongside unled work. She regularly appears in the High Court and before the ICC Judges (formerly Registrars) in the Companies Court. Her matters often involve applications for interim relief, including injunctions and freezing orders.

Nick has extensive experience in a wide variety of work in commercial and banking law, restructuring, insolvency (including bank resolution) and litigation. Much of his work has an international dimension. He also sits as a judge in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands (in the Financial Services Division). He has given judgments on a wide variety of commercial, financial, corporate and insolvency matters. He has written and lectured extensively in restructuring, insolvency, banking and restitution law. Before switching to practice as a barrister, Nick practised for over 35 years as a solicitor (dual qualified in England and New York), most recently as a partner in Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s restructuring and insolvency team. Before then he was a partner in Davis Polk & Wardwell in New York (practising New York law) and Allen & Overy in London. He was educated at Oxford University where he obtained a first class degree in law in 1979.

Ben has a busy practice which is divided equally between litigation and transactional work covering company law, corporate insolvency and restructuring and general commercial litigation and arbitration. Ben’s transactional work has included both creditor and member schemes of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006, numerous reductions of capital and other reserves for listed public companies and cross-border mergers under the Companies (Cross-Border Mergers) Regulations 2007. Ben also has experience of advising on a wide range of company and corporate governance issues. In recent years, Ben’s litigation practice has included instructions in some of the most significant large-scale insolvencies, including Lehman, MF Global and Kaupthing. In 2013, Ben acted for the respondent companies in Prest v Petrodel, the landmark decision on piercing the corporate veil.

Carleen Sobczyk

Carleen is fast developing a commercial, company and insolvency law practice. Upon obtaining tenancy Carleen undertook a three-month secondment in the corporate/M&A department at Slaughter and May, where she was involved in a variety of significant corporate and private client transactions. She completed a further three-month secondment at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where she worked on one of the highest value insurance claims ever brought in the English courts, gaining extensive experience in the global insurance and reinsurance industries. Carleen joins Chambers after a decade in investment banking and asset management, including as equities portfolio manager at Amundi in Paris.

Chantelle Staynings

Chantelle combines a strong transactional and corporate advisory practice with significant experience in company and insolvency litigation. Chantelle is frequently instructed on schemes of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act. She also acts on a large number of capital reductions, including to remedy historic issues such as invalid share buybacks. She is experienced in advising public and private companies across a full range of company law matters, including directors’ duties, corporate governance, reorganisations and other Companies Act issues. On the litigation side, Chantelle has appeared at all levels including the Supreme Court. She is frequently instructed as sole counsel in trials and interlocutory applications. Her experience includes a range of shareholder, partnership and joint venture disputes, many of which have involved applications for interim remedies such as injunctions and summary judgment applications. She also specialises in contentious insolvency proceedings, including claims against office-holders and representing insolvency practitioners in a range of matters.

Andrew Thompson KC

Andrew is a sought-after, specialist commercial litigator, with particular expertise in: corporate litigation and arbitration (including shareholders’ disputes, joint venture disputes, M&A disputes and claims against directors); LLP and partnership disputes; corporate insolvency; commercial litigation (including large-scale contractual disputes, fraud and breach of warranty claims); and professional negligence claims (including lawyers, accountants, valuers and management consultants). Andrew has been involved in a series of leading cases in these areas including as lead advocate in BTI v Sequana in the Supreme Court, the critical case on directors’ duties in insolvency. He has specific expertise in litigation in the fund management industry. He has extensive trial experience in the Chancery Division and the Commercial Court and extensive experience in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Andrew also undertakes advisory work in the same fields. A list of reported and recent cases is available at www.erskinechambers.com.

Andrew Thornton

Andrew is involved in most of the leading public company M&A transactions undertaken in the UK. In particular, Andrew advised on 40-50 listed company acquisitions per annum, as well as advising on other corporate transactions including mergers under the Companies (Cross-border Merger) Regulations 2007, insurance and banking transfers under Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and reductions of capital under the Companies Act 2006. In addition, Andrew advises on numerous non-public transactions each year. M&A transactions on which Andrew was counsel in the last 12 months include: Flybe Group Plc, Inmarsat Plc, Merlin Entertainments Plc, Cobham Plc, Sirius Minerals Plc, Sanderson Group Plc, Greene King Plc, Sophos Group Plc, Moss Bros Group Plc, Carpetright Plc, Hastings Group Plc, Smith & Williamson, Rockrose Energy Plc, Share Plc, Catalis Plc, Miton Group Plc, Elegent Hotels Group Plc, Haynes Publishing Group Plc, Cello Health Plc, Be Heard Group Plc, Castleton Technologies Plc, Hansteen Holdings plc and Daejan Holdings plc. Andrew is also the Founder of FromCounsel.com, the leading corporate law knowledge publisher used by over 75% of the leading UK corporate law firms.

Michael Todd KC

Michael specialises in litigation and transactional advice on company law, corporate finance, capital markets and corporate insolvency, in the UK and internationally. Described as one of the first people to call for advice on complex restructurings, contested takeovers and schemes, his significant matters include: Virgin Money IPO; Essar Energy; Pfizer/AstraZeneca; Xstrata/Glencore; Coroin plc; Bumi plc; BAT v Winward (asset protection); Re PCCW Ltd (CA Hong Kong; scheme of arrangement), Validus v IPC (Bermuda; hostile scheme); Anglo Petroleum Ltd v TFB Mortgages (CA; financial assistance); Re Prudential Enterprise Ltd (CFA Hong Kong; shareholder dispute); American Patriot Agency (PC Bermuda; commercial fraud); Tenaga (Malaysia; piercing corporate veil); Waddington v Chan (Hong Kong/BVI; derivative actions). Michael has advised regulators including the FCA, Channel Islands Stock Exchange, Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission.

Olivia accepts instructions in the areas of company, insolvency and commercial law on both advisory and contentious matters. In 2024, Olivia undertook a 3-month secondment to Slaughter and May’s corporate/M&A department. She was involved in advising on a range of corporate matters and also gained transactional experience. Prior to joining Chambers, Olivia worked as a Judicial Assistant to Mr Justice Calver in the Commercial Court and to Mr Justice Fancourt in the Chancery Division. In that role, she assisted with Suppipat & Ors v Narongdej & Ors [2023] EWHC 1988 (Comm), one of The Lawyer’s “Top 20 Cases of 2022”, and The Duke of Sussex & Ors v MGN Limited [2023] EWHC 3217 (Ch), part of the Mirror Newspapers Hacking Litigation. Additionally, Olivia was the editor of a legal research project at University College London. Olivia holds a first-class Law Degree from the University of Cambridge and an LLM, with a specialism in Corporate and Commercial Law, from the London School of Economics, in which she achieved a Distinction. She came first in her year on the Bar Course at City, University of London.

Seamus has a broad commercial chancery practice with a particular focus on chambers’ areas of expertise in company, insolvency and commercial law. He undertakes both litigation and advisory work and accepts instructions on a led and unled basis. He regularly appears in the High Court and County Courts and has recent, successful experience as junior counsel in a large High Court commercial trial. Prior to joining chambers, Seamus practised in New Zealand, where he was admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor in 2013. Seamus appeared frequently and mostly unled in numerous criminal, public/regulatory and civil law cases (including trials with and without a jury) in New Zealand’s District Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. He worked across a wide spectrum of legal areas, including for governmental and commercial clients. He was also a judicial assistant at the Court of Appeal. After joining chambers, Seamus also spent six months on secondment in the Financial Institutions Disputes Group at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and in the Corporate/M&A team at Slaughter and May. Seamus graduated first in his year in law from the University of Canterbury and holds a first class Master of Law from the University of Cambridge. He was President of the Canterbury and New Zealand law students’ associations and served on the New Zealand Council of Legal Education for three years.