Peer to peer lending (or P2P) looks set to grow in New
Zealand with the introduction of LendMe later this
year. Offering competition for banks and finance companies,
the new P2P finance model is an interesting alternative to
traditional means of lending and borrowing.
By Matt O'Neale - 25 Jun 2015
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The recent case of Timberland Limited v Levin &
Anor is a victory for trade creditors. The case concerned the
voidable preference regime under the Companies Act. Under that
regime, a liquidator of a company can "claw back" payments made to
a creditor within two years of liquidation.
By Claire Mansell - 30 Apr 2015
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Extensive changes to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance
Act 2003 are coming into force on 6 June 2015.
They will have a significant impact on lenders who advance funds to
consumers (for example, home loans, credit cards, vehicle finance
or those who lend money for the purchase of consumer goods and
services).
By Melissa Higham - 27 Mar 2015
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Does your business use standard form consumer contracts? If so,
you need to be aware that unfair contract terms will be prohibited
in standard form consumer contracts from today (17 March 2015).
By Melissa Higham - 17 Mar 2015
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The headlines relating to the Clayton v Clayton case,
the judgment for which the Court of Appeal released in early March
2015, read "Ruling Redraws the Landscape" and "Divorce Case Throws
Doubt on Trusts' Status". Among other things, the Court held that
Mr Clayton's right to remove discretionary beneficiaries, and
therefore leave himself as the sole person entitled to receive
income and capital from the trust, could be property and therefore
relationship property. It also held that the value of that
relationship property was the net value of the trust's assets.
By Lewis Grant - 9 Mar 2015
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Former employee Karen Hammond has just had a massive win against
her former employer Credit Union Baywide. After Karen's friend was
"let go" from Credit Union, Karen decided to throw a dinner party
for her. The pièce de résistance of the evening was a cake with the
phrase "F### U Credit Union" iced on the top.
By Claire Mansell - 5 Mar 2015
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Significant changes to the Building Act 2004 and new regulations
came into effect on 1 January 2015. The legislation contains
far-reaching changes for residential building contracts and some
contracts of sale of residential properties by developers and
investors.
By Kay Keam - 26 Feb 2015
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Under the voidable transaction regime, the liquidator of a
company can "claw back" payments made to a creditor within
the two years prior to liquidation. In order to do so
liquidators must show the payment was made at a time when the
company was insolvent and allowed the creditor to receive more than
they would have in the liquidation.
By Claire Mansell - 18 Feb 2015
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The talk around the water cooler has focused on the couple
filmed having sex in a Christchurch city centre office. As an
employment lawyer, I've been asked whether the couple can "get
fired" for their actions. Well, it depends.
By Claire Mansell - 3 Feb 2015
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We are pleased to announce our new associate, Claire Mansell.
Claire is an experienced litigator with particular expertise in
insolvency and civil litigation. She has been with us since
2009.
By Andrew Steele and Tony Johnson - 2 Feb 2015
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