President's Welcome

On behalf of the CLANZ committee I warmly invite you to attend our 25^th Annual Conference on May 10 and 11 in Queenstown. This year our theme is The Essential Elements of In-House, looking at the innovation that in-house lawyers bring to their practice. This is a great theme for our exciting venue of Queenstown. As the association of choice for in-house lawyers in New Zealand, CLANZ brings you a highly relevant conference with sessions and workshops tailored for in-house practice that combine inspirational speakers and practical topics. Attending a CLANZ conference also provides the perfect opportunity to network with and learn from other in-house lawyers throughout New Zealand, whether between the conference sessions or the excellent social functions that form part of the conference programme. This year will be no exception with a fabulous Gravitational Function at the exciting AJ Hackett Kawarau Bungy Centre. The Friday Silver Ball gala dinner and CLANZ Awards at the Millennium Ball Room will provide a perfect finale to the conference. I really look forward to welcoming you to Queenstown in May.

Jeremy Valentine, President.

Why You Should Attend

The CLANZ Annual Conference is the most important gathering of in-house lawyers for the year. The conference programme, designed around the theme The Essential Elements of In-House, will be both stimulating and educational.

Who Will Attend?

Each year the conference continues to attract a broad range of participants and leading practitioners including:

• General and Legal Counsel from the largest publicly listed and private companies in NZ
• Chief Legal Advisors and Legal Counsel from government and crown legal departments and crown entities
• General and Legal Counsel from local government and regulatory agencies
• Compliance & legal managers
• Crown counsel
• Corporate services managers
• Academics
• Private law firm partners
• Judges
• Management and HR Consultants

CLANZ Profile

CLANZ was established in 1987 to meet the needs of in-house private sector and government lawyers (in-house lawyers) for national representation and networking. The establishment of CLANZ recognised the distinct interests and needs shared by lawyers providing professional services to their employers.

CLANZ has grown from strength to strength. New Zealand has 2,350 in-house lawyers, and CLANZ therefore represents a significant 21% of the legal profession in New Zealand. Both in New Zealand and overseas, in-house practice is the fastest growing branch of the legal profession. In Australia, 27% of the legal profession practise in-house.

CLANZ is a Section of the New Zealand Law Society and is represented on the NZ Law Society Council, ensuring it speaks for its members at the highest level. CLANZ positions itself, and has cemented its standing and credibility, as the organisation of choice for in-house counsel in New Zealand.

CLANZ holds a variety of educational and social functions throughout the year in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch for its membership, in conjunction with its sponsors. CLANZ also provides members with regular publications and runs a website with articles and resources for in-house lawyers (www.clanzonline.org). CLANZ's profile amongst its members and stakeholders is constant and visible throughout the year and the showpiece of the CLANZ calendar is the Annual Conference.