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
When a Society can Find no Officers
We are quite frequently asked by members of incorporated societies for advice about a problem which is not uncommon – a society which is unable to find anyone willing to stand for office as chairperson, secretary or treasurer, and where the constitution does not outline what should be done in those circumstances (and few society constitution do so).
GOVERNING CHARITABLE TRUSTS AND CHARITABLE SOCIETIES
This article has been prepared to help trustees of a charitable trust or committee members of a charitable society governing the charity more readily to understand the obligations they assume when appointed or elected.
Not-for-Profits and Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism
Risks relating to Money Laundering or Financing of Terrorism The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (AML/CFT) is intended to prevent money-laundering by criminals and the financing of terrorism. Societies and charitable trusts (“not-for-profits”) and those providing them with services (such as legal, accounting and banking) are now affected by this legislation: […]
Be Prepared – Incorporated Societies Law Reform
According to comic Tom Lehrer, “Be Prepared” is the Boy Scouts’ marching song. That clarion call should now be resounding in the ears of all New Zealand lawyers as replacement of the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 looms.
Overview of Proposed New Incorporated Societies Act
2015 Article, updated June 2018 NOTE: These notes, prepared by Mark von Dadelszen QSM, provide an overview of the more significant elements of the proposals to replace the Incorporated Societies Act 1908. The Exposure Draft of the Incorporated Societies Bill released in November 2015 (see http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/business/business-law/incorporated-societies), largely followed the recommendations in the 2013 Law Commission Report […]
Third Party Approval to Change Constitutions
Late last year, a reader raised an issue for consideration in this series of articles, saying:
Over the years I have had cause to read many constitutional documents, perhaps more carefully than some of the officers or members of the societies concerned…