Auckland District Law Society: Consumer Law Reform Webinar

Auckland District Law Society Announces Consumer Law Reform Webinar

Auckland, 5 May 2014 – Significant changes to consumer law come into effect next month.

“For lawyers interested in developing their practice, this represents a good opportunity to contact clients to ensure their existing practices comply with the reforms,” says Melissa Fini, Manager CPD & Learning Solutions, Auckland District Law Society Inc.

New powers given to the Commerce Commission, together with an approximate three-fold increase in penalties for breach, should encourage clients to become informed of the new legislative provisions to ensure that they do not inadvertently fall foul of them.

“These reforms create strong incentives for lawyers to familiarise themselves with the changes so that they can prepare their clients.”

Changes which come into force on 1 June 2014 include:
• provisions enabling parties in trade to negotiate out of Fair Trading Act obligations in business–to-business transactions
• a requirement to explain protections over and above those existing under the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) in an extended warranty
• a requirement for persons “in trade” to identify themselves as such when offering goods or services for sale via the internet
• extension of the CGA to online auction sites such as TradeMe
• the insertion into the CGA of a new guarantee in situations where a supplier is responsible for delivering goods to a consumer.

Fini says that ADLSI is holding a webinar addressing key points and giving practical guidance to update lawyers in a time-effective way.

“We are fortunate to be able to offer two perspectives; that of a highly experienced prosecutor and a senior Commerce Commission lawyer who will provide useful insight into the likely approach by those overseeing the correct implementation of the legislation.”

Presenter, John Dixon, is a partner in Meredith Connell’s Commerce Compliance group and the leader of the Fair Trading and Commerce Act practice. Brett Carter is the Principal Counsel Competition, NZ Commerce Commission. He leads the Commission’s consumer law legal team.

What: Preparing Clients for Consumer Law Reform
When: 12:00pm to 1:00pm, Wednesday 28 May
Where: Online – at your desk or on your portable device
Price: $95 (non-members)/ $75 (members)
For more information visit http://www.adls.org.nz/cpd/cpd-events/86/preparing-clients-for-consumer-law-reform

(ADLSI also has an on demand recording of its seminar on the new unfair contract terms legislation which will come into force in March 2015.)

ENDS

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