Delivered by leading practitioners, this is an essential update for lawyers seeking to strengthen their commercial drafting and deal structuring and negotiation skills. Learn how to structure business sale and purchase agreements, manage warranties and indemnities and draft clear, enforceable contracts that anticipate risk and avoid disputes. You will also gain guidance on preparing trust deeds.

Presenters

James Stewart, Director, Steindle Williams
James practises across a broad range of areas including commercial and company law, sale and purchase of businesses, property, leasing, insolvency and general structuring. He represents a diverse client base from small businesses to international companies giving him a unique perspective on sale of business transactions. His recent experience spans from the sale and purchase of small businesses such as liquor stores to complex transactions including sales of large international tourism businesses. James is currently a member of the Law Associations Documents and Precedents Committee.


Julika Wahlmann-Smith, Partner, Hesketh Henry
Julika is a partner in the Corporate and Commercial Team. She has extensive experience advising clients across a range of industries on mergers and acquisitions, foreign investment and joint ventures. Julika works closely with clients to structure transactions that align with their strategic goals, manage risk, and ensure regulatory compliance. In addition to transaction work, Julika brings specialist knowledge in privacy law, intellectual property and advertising law. Her practical, solutions-focused approach helps clients navigate complex legal frameworks with confidence. Julika provides clear, commercially attuned advice to both domestic and international clients. She is recognised by The Legal500 Asia Pacific Directory as a Next Generation Partner in the Corporate and M&A practice area.


Aasha Foley, Managing Director, Foley Douglas
Aasha Foley is an experienced and specialized general practice and commercial lawyer, renowned for her skills in contract drafting, interpretation, and negotiation. As the Managing Director of Foley Douglas, she leads and mentors a team across a wide range of practice areas, delivering strategic, practical, and tailored legal advice through contract creation, development, and negotiation. With extensive experience—particularly in property, business and commercial law—her expertise spans private and corporate relationships, ownership, investment, mergers and acquisitions, and the commercialisation of intellectual property, trade, and commerce. Aasha understands the complexities involved in crafting clear, effective, and enforceable contract terms. Aasha’s approach to documentation focuses on truly ‘knowing your client’, understanding their needs, anticipating outcomes, and mitigating risks to protect their interests; including future-proofing relationships and unlocking opportunities. Known as a 'contract specialist’, she combines strategic thinking, problem-solving and interpretive skills to produce clear, concise, and practical agreements. As a leader, mentor, and practitioner, Aasha is passionate about helping her team and clients draft precise, balanced terms that position them for success. In her day-to-day role, she manages leadership, operational logistics, and people. Her ability to identify opportunities and anticipate outcomes makes her an insightful, pragmatic legal advisor and dedicated business owner.


Ben Hickson, Partner, Hesketh Henry
Ben is a partner in the Corporate and Commercial Team. He advises on a wide range of business transactions including mergers and acquisitions, foreign investment, joint ventures, corporate governance matters and regulatory compliance. Ben has particular expertise in the telecommunications, forestry, maritime, and aviation sectors. In addition to his corporate and cross border M&A expertise, with an early grounding and extensive experience in NZ property law, Ben advises real estate developers, hotel operators and other property investors on acquisitions, disposals, leasing and other property related legal work. Ben re-joined Hesketh Henry after seven years practising as a corporate lawyer at international law firms in Southeast Asia, where he focussed on cross-border corporate transactions and foreign direct investments. His international experience and regional insight strengthen the firm’s Asia network and Ben regularly assists Asia based clients with investments into New Zealand. Ben is closely involved with Hesketh Henry’s Pacific Islands practice. He is an executive committee member of the New Zealand-Fiji Business Council and advises clients with commercial operations across the Pacific Islands.


Claudia Shan, Partner and Founder, Avancier Legal
Claudia is a private client and commercial lawyer with extensive experience advising on complex commercial arrangements, cross border transactions, and family and owner managed businesses. She regularly advises clients on negotiating and documenting commercial arrangements that balance legal risk with commercial reality. Claudia provides expert advice on preserving and enhancing family wealth, including asset protection and the establishment and restructuring of trust and corporate structures for personal assets, investments, and operating businesses. She frequently acts as “in house counsel” to family offices and family businesses, working collaboratively with clients’ existing lawyers, accountants, bankers, and other advisors on governance, transactions, compliance, and cross border structuring. Her practice spans corporate and family governance, commercial and shareholder agreements, asset and investment transactions, regulatory compliance, and trust structuring. Claudia is Deputy Convenor of the AML/CFT Committee, a committee member of NZ Asian Lawyers, an accredited advisor with the Family Business Association NZ, a committee member of STEP’s Global Business Families SIG and member of the International Bar Association, and the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association.