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POSTPONED - Who is Our Client? The Changing Face of Legal Clients
POSTPONED - Who is Our Client? The Changing Face of Legal Clients

This event has been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date.

NZ Asian Lawyers is partnering with the New Zealand Law Society for a facilitated panel discussion on how our client base is rapidly changing, with the profession servicing more culturally diverse clients with different cultural approaches to issues such as litigation and settlement.

Of interest to all practitioners, the event will focus on increased social diversity and discuss the ways it will change the practice of law in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Speakers
Dr Mai Chen - Barrister and NZ Asian Lawyers President

Dr Mai Chen (LLB(Hons)(Otago), (LLM(Harvard),HonLLD(Otago), CMInstD), is a top barrister in NZ and President of NZ Asian Lawyers. She was previously Managing Partner, Chen Palmer Public and Employment law Specialists, independent non-executive Director, Bank of New Zealand Board, New Zealand, a member of the New Zealand Securities Commission member, Adjunct Professor at the University of Auckland Business School and School of Government, the Inaugural Chair of Global Women, and was twice a top 10 finalist in New Zealander of the Year. Mai was named in the Global Diversity List 50 Diversity Figures in Public Life, in the Global Diversity List 2016 (affiliated with the Global Diversity Awards, supported by the Economist). She has written over 120 books, reports, articles and contributions the best known of which are Public Law Toolbox, Culturally and Linguistically diverse parties in the Courts and the Superdiversity Stocktake of NZ.

David Campbell - New Zealand Law Society President and Partner, Dentons

David became the 34th President of the New Zealand Law Society in March 2026, having been appointed President-Elect in November 2025. He had previously served as a Vice President of the Law Society since 2022. David is a partner in the dispute resolution team at Dentons Kensington Swan. He manages commercial and civil disputes and focuses particularly on competition law, project liability, liability insurance, and trust disputes. He has been involved in major multi-part litigation including class actions. He has also worked in London. David’s focus as President will be on maintaining the Law Society’s strong regulatory performance while continuing to strengthen its wider contribution to the profession and society, such as in law reform, advocacy and membership services.

 Julius Maskell - Director, BDM Lawyers


Julius Maskell is a Wellington-based property law specialist and Director of BDM Lawyers, and is currently the Chairman of Law Alliance NZ an association of 40 Law Firms throughout New Zealand. An Accredited Specialist in Property Law, Julius is known for providing clear, practical guidance to a diverse client base, including first-home buyers, investors, developers, and commercial clients. With particular expertise in unit title developments, body corporate governance, and property-related disputes, Julius brings valuable insight into the evolving needs of clients in a changing and increasingly diverse legal landscape. A respected member of the profession, he also served as President of the New Zealand Law Society Wellington Branch (2023–2025).

Nicola Hartfield - Mediator

Nicola mediates family, workplace, and community disputes, and teaches the AMINZ 5 - day Mediation Skills programme throughout NZ. She has considerable experience mediating for parties of diverse cultures. Nicola is a Fellow of the Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute of NZ, a Fellow of Resolution Institute and is NMAS (Australia) accredited. She is the Inaugural Recipient of the Anne Edge Memorial Award for Excellence in Fellowship Mediation. Nicola has taught and presented in Australia, Thailand, India, Hawaii and the States as well as to the judiciary of Niue and Papua New Guinea.  Nicola specialises in how anger changes the way we think, difficult conversations and high conflict behaviours in the mediation room.

Event Details
Guests attending in person
Venue: New Zealand Law Society, 17 Whitmore Street, Wellington
Time:   5.15pm Please arrive at the Law Society for a prompt start
              5.30pm - 7.00pm Panel discussion
              7.00pm - 7.30pm Collegiality

Guests attending online
Online: A webinar link will be available in your Law Society Connect account
              following registration
Time:   5.30pm - 7.00pm Panel discussion 

Further details
For assistance or any enquiries, please contact the Wellington Branch
Please read the Event Terms and Conditions

 
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
$30.00 Law Society & NZ Asian Lawyers members | $50.00 non-members
NZ Law Society, L4, 17 Whitmore Street
Level 4, 17 Whitmore Street
Wellington & Online
1.50 CPD Hours

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