Bell Gully news

Tax advice: keeping it confidential
Recent changes to the tax legislation extend the circumstances where you can refuse to disclose tax advice. We look at the changes.

Bell Gully advises on major gaming sector initiative
Bell Gully has advised the Department of Internal Affairs on an initiative to bring greater accountability in community fundraising through the gaming sector.
The Department has signed a contract with gambling technology company Intralot New Zealand Limited for the provision and operation of a electronic monitoring system (EMS) for all gaming machines in New Zealand pubs and clubs. Bell Gully advised on the NZ$35 million contract, which involves the design, build, testing, operation and management of a system to enable daily electronic monitoring of all non-casino gaming machines located in  about 1,800 venues across the country.

Outsourcing: exit strategies as relationship building
New Zealand companies are part of the global growth in the outsourcing of IT functions a move some predict will be the rule rather than the exception by 2010. In this article we examine some of the key issues to consider in an outsourcing agreement when it comes to the potential need to sever the relationship - and the positives of dealing with these upfront.

Landmark agreement in Treaty settlement process
The signing of an agreement in principle to settle a large number of Te Arawa's Treaty of Waitangi historical claims is a milestone in New Zealand's Treaty settlement history. The agreement in principle is not only significant in its own right, but also in the broader Treaty settlement framework, according to Bell Gully senior associate Damian Stone, who provided legal advice to the Te Arawa negotiation team. "The agreement between the Crown and groups within Te Arawa, a confederation of major North Island tribes, seeks to settle the largest number of claims in one deal and also within the shortest timeframe to date. This signals what can be achieved within a relatively short timeframe even in the most complex of situations," he says.

New Zealand law firm leader participates in China legal first
Bell Gully Chief Executive Stephen Macliver is playing a key role in shaping a significant milestone for China's legal profession. He is part of the inaugural visit by the leadership of the International Bar Association (IBA) to China and will lead the first law firm management conference conducted by the IBA in China in November.

Stephen is the worldwide Chairman of the Law Firm Management Committee of the IBA, the global voice of the legal profession. At the beginning of November IBA leaders made an inaugural visit to China to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the All China Lawyers Association (ACLA), to forge stronger links and relations between the two organisations and its members.

Off the shelf
Other useful articles and publications from Bell Gully.

Enquiries and information

For more information on any of the cases, articles and features in Financial Services Quarterly, please email Rachel Gowing or call on 64 9 916 8825.