Asset Protection Update Forum 2025

Asset planning and protection has become increasingly complex in a rapidly evolving landscape. This forum will provide an update on the latest developments and will include:

• Protecting private wealth
• Options for protecting pre-relationship assets including s 21 agreements and the use of trusts
• Section 44 Property (Relationships) Act (PRA) and s 182 Family Proceedings Act (FPA)
• Trust and estate litigation
• Common pitfalls
• Key case law developments.

The panel of presenters look forward to sharing these latest developments with you and providing practical tips on asset planning and protection.

Programme outline

Session 1: A Guide to Protecting Private Wealth - Presenter Henry Brandts-Giesen

This session will cover:

• What is asset protection planning?
• Why do asset protection planning?
• What are the common risks to private wealth?
• How to assess these risks
• How do these risks manifest themselves?
• How to respond to these risks
• Ethical considerations
• Current trends and future developments.

Session 2: Options for Protecting Pre-relationship Assets - Presenter Jennie Hawker

Protecting pre-relationship assets can be front of mind when beginning a new relationship. This session will cover:

• Ways asset protection structures can be attacked under legislation including s 21 PRA and s 182 FPA
• Options for protecting pre-relationship assets including s 21 agreements and the use of trusts
• Family dynamics eg parent and child
• Loans v gifts.

Session 3: Trust & Estate Litigation - Presenter Georgia Angus

Developments in the law can change how we structure assets to best protect them and avoid a claim. This session will look at:

• Trends in trust and estate litigation, including an analysis of recent case law
• The impact of these cases and how to avoid claims, particularly on death.

Session 4: Key Case Law Developments - Presenter Stephanie Ambler

Many lessons can be learned from recent case law. This session will include:

• An update of key case law under:
  − Section 182 FPA
  − Sections 44 and 44C PRA
  − “Bundle of rights” cases
• What case law can tell us about how the structure of asset protection can be attacked.

Learning objectives

By attending this half-day forum you will:

• Learn ways to best advise clients on how to structure their assets to ensure utmost protection.
• Gain an understanding of how to best protect pre-relationship assets.
• Be aware of potential complications relating to current law when protecting assets eg claims under the FPA and the PRA.
• Practical tips and common pitfalls.

Who should attend

Practitioners from the civil litigation, family, property and trusts & estates practice areas.

Time

• 1.00pm-5.00pm

Book

A background book written by the presenters is available in hard copy, PDF, or both. Please indicate your choice upon registration.

• Hard Copy - Your book will be couriered to you - no extra charge
• PDF - You will be emailed a PDF copy of the book 3 working days before the event - no extra charge
• Both Hard Copy & PDF - You will be emailed a PDF copy of the book 3 working days before the event, and couriered the hard copy book - additional $45 charge

Format

This event will provide attendees with a blend of presentations and discussion. Held in-person & online.

For information on what is required to participate in the live web stream, click here.

Fee (incl GST)

Law Society Members benefit from up to 30% off

In-Person

• $445 – Law Society members & associate members
• $635 – Non-members

Live Web Stream

• $425 – Law Society members & associate members
• $605 – Non-members
• 2+1 Live web stream registrations – more info (must be arranged at time of booking)

Do you want to register more than one person for this course? Use the 'register others' button below or Click here
Download PDF Registration Form

Presenters

	Stephanie Ambler, Tompkins Wake, Hamilton Stephanie is a partner at Tompkins Wake. She specialises in family, matrimonial and trust law, particularly in the areas of relationship property disputes and claims against estates and trusts. Stephanie has been named as a recommended lawyer in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific rankings and a preeminent family lawyer by Doyles. Stephanie has presented a number of seminars.
	Georgia Angus Morris, Auckland Georgia is a partner at Morris and specialises in trust, estate and relationship property disputes. She has extensive experience representing professional trustees, charities and high net worth (HNW) individuals in contentious matters and has acted for clients in numerous offshore jurisdictions.
	Henry Brandts-Giesen Dentons, Auckland Henry is general counsel and strategic advisor to family offices, investor migrants and foreign investors, multi-family offices and trust companies, entrepreneurs and family businesses, private fund managers and investors, philanthropists and grant makers, and athletes and sports agents. He is jurisdictionally neutral and consults globally to develop global strategies and provide/procure global solutions for global clients from within and beyond the Dentons platform.
	Jennie Hawker Haigh Lyon, Auckland Jennie is a principal at Haigh Lyon and leads the firm’s thriving and specialist family law team together with Amanda Donovan. Jennie has experience in all family law matters but now focuses her practice on relationship property matters. She is a contributing author to the Westlaw commentaries on the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 and family law procedure.

Cancellation and refund policy

You may cancel your registration eight working days in advance of an event, and you will receive a refund less a 25% administration fee. If you cancel less than eight working days in advance of the event, no refund is payable. If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your registration to another person. If you wish to do so you must advise CLE in writing of the change. NZLS CLE Ltd reserves the right to close registrations and cancel or reschedule an event as necessary. Where an event is cancelled by CLE, a full refund is payable.