Our Teams
Litigation, Societies & Charities
Our team has extensive experience in Hawke’s Bay and elsewhere, and our expertise includes local government, intellectual property, trade practices and sale of liquor.
Family Law Team
With clients ranging from children in need of care and protection, couples partnering or separating and the elderly who may be suffering from failing physical or mental health, our family team of Martin (Team Leader) and Elizabeth are there to help.
Property, Commercial & Personal Services Team
Providing comprehensive advice to a broad range of clients throughout NZ, we enjoy working with our clients to achieve the best legal outcomes. Don’t like the small print? We love it!
Administration Team
Our friendly first point of contact, the BvonD admin team can direct your enquiry if you are unsure which of the other teams to contact directly.
BvonD People
Latest BvonD News
Annual General Meeting of a Society or Charitable Trust under COVID-19 Restrictions
Background – the problem The COVID-19 epidemic resulted in restrictions on travel and public gatherings being imposed at a very awkward time, because most societies and charitable trusts were required by their Constitutions and by Statute to have their annual accounts (where their financial years ended on 31 December 2019 or 31 March 2020) approved […]
Commercial Leases
Almost all of our clients who are a landlord or a tenant of a commercial property use the Auckland District Law Society “ADLS” Lease. For those of you whose lease is on the 2012 format clause 27.5 of that lease provides for the right for a tenant to seek a reduction by a “fair proportion” […]
Not-for-Profits’ Obligations under their Constitutions and Statutes and COVID-19
The constitutions of most societies and charitable trusts require the holding of an Annual General Meeting within 3 or 4 months of their balance date (to allow time for accounts to be compiled and in many cases audited). 31 March is the balance date for the majority of societies and charitable trusts, with 31 December […]
Holding (or not holding) General Meetings of Members in extraordinary circumstances
The current issues relating to the COVID-19 virus give rise to some difficult problems for many organisations that are required to hold regular meetings of members (including companies and not-for-profit organisations such as societies and charities).
NEW INCORPORATED SOCIETIES ACT – WHAT EXISTING SOCIETIES WILL HAVE TO DO AND BE AWARE OF
This Article is based on what was proposed in the 2015 Exposure Draft Incorporated Societies Bill, but also having regard to some modifications signalled in the Minister’s June 2019 Cabinet Paper. The article will need to be revised after the new statute has been enacted, hopefully later in 2020. In the meantime, existing societies and […]
Constitution-Builder for Society Constitutions
Background The Law Commission’s 2013 Report, A New Act for Incorporated Societies, noted at paragraph 7.58 that: During our consultation we were constantly told of the need for education and guidance for societies in drafting their constitutions and in running societies in general. An internet-based constitution builder tool would provide that guidance and would greatly […]