Harmans Lawyers
28 July 2023

Mid-Winter Newsletter: Keeping you in the Loop

All Articles & News, Newsletters

Congratulations Harriet!

The Partners are pleased to announce that Harriet Daley will join them in partnership from 1 November 2023.  This appointment is in recognition of Harriet’s ongoing hard work and commitment, along with her specialist skills and the quality of service she provides to our clients. Harriet is a great leader in her team and is an important contributor to the culture of our firm.

Harriet specialises in Family Law, with a particular focus on parenting disputes, family violence, division of property following separation, and the protection of assets when entering a relationship.  She is a highly respected and trusted legal practitioner in her field.  She has been appointed to the Legal Aid Provider Selection Committee, is a Lead Legal Aid Provider, and is also a Family Court appointed Lawyer for Child.

Congratulations Harriet!

When was the last time you updated your will?

Life is unpredictable, and as your circumstances change, it is crucial to reflect those changes in your will. We recommend reviewing your will every 3-5 years to ensure it remains up to date. Whether you have recently married, welcomed a new family member, gone through a separation, or acquired significant assets, updating your will is the responsible and prudent choice.

From Wills to Powers of Attorney, our experienced team can provide you with expert advice on the distribution of your assets, ensuring that your family’s needs are accounted for, and your financial affairs are taken care of.

It’s important to take the time to plan ahead, ensuring that your estate is in order and that your wishes are clearly documented.

Read an interesting article written by Partner Brian Burke, on Challenging Wills – the Family Protection Act.

Contact us today to review, update, or implement your will. https://www.harmans.co.nz/contact/

Legal milestone: Gloriavale women recognised as employees

The Employment Court recently delivered a judgment (Pilgram & Ors v Attorney-General & Ors [2023] NZEmpC 105) confirming that six former female residents of the Gloriavale Christian Community were considered employees.

The Employment Relations Act 2000 excludes “volunteers” from the definition of employee. In order to fall within the excluded category of volunteer, a worker must have no expectation of reward for their work and receive no reward for their work.

Click here to read the full article.

Is our legal system ready for AI?

With the rise of increasingly intelligent AI and large language models (such as the revolutionary ChatGPT) inevitably comes some new and novel legal issues. The sheer pace of development in the area has many wondering if our legal systems are equipped to adequately handle the issues that are sure to arise. New Zealand has just had one if its first major cases on the subject and it seems the answer to the aforementioned question is more uncertain than we might have hoped.

In this article, Senior Solicitor Ben Hood explores how the Thaler case highlights the need for AI regulation and a potential legal framework.

Click here to read the full article.

Proud to be supporting The Court Theatre

Harmans is proud to support the arts with our sponsorship of The Court Theatre show ‘The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race’, which runs from 5 August- 9 September 2023, and is making its New Zealand professional theatre premiere.

A punchy comedy about standing up for what you believe in, this uplifting story is proof that not all ‘troublemakers’ are created equal.

For more information visit https://courttheatre.org.nz/whats-on/the-appleton-ladies-potato-race/