Corporate Law at a Crossroads: Reforming the Companies Act

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The University of Auckland's New Zealand Centre for Law and Business is hosting a one-day conference.

In August 2024, the government announced a set of reforms aimed at improving and clarifying company law, making it more effective and suitable for contemporary needs. These changes are focused on creating a safer and more supportive business landscape in Aotearoa New Zealand by discouraging unethical business operations while easing the compliance load for companies.

The reform process will be executed in two phases:

Phase 1: Corporate governance improvements and other non-legislative enhancements
Phase 2: A review by the Law Commission regarding directors' responsibilities

The reforms aspire to modernize, streamline, and digitize the Companies Act, introduce a unique identifier for company directors and general partners, improve creditor outcomes, and promote the use of the New Zealand Business Number (NZBN).

This conference will showcase insights and reflections from distinguished academics, industry professionals, and other essential stakeholders regarding the proposed legal changes.

The conference is scheduled to take place at the Stone Lecture Theatre, Auckland Law School, on Wednesday, 4th December. Presenters may attend without any registration fee, while attendees will need to pay a fee that covers morning and afternoon refreshments.

For any inquiries related to the conference, Lynn Buckley (lynn.buckley@auckland.ac.nz) and Peter Underwood (peter.underwood@auckland.ac.nz) are available to assist.

Anticipation is high for this gathering!