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Ben Nettleton

Mobile: 021 020 83888

ben.nettleton@lambtonchambers.co.nz

www.lambtonchambers.co.nz/ben-nettleton/

Panels and List

Farm Debt Mediation, Rural List

Profession

Lawyer, Barrister, Mediator, Facilitator, Negotiator, Adjudicator, Consultant, Farm Specialist, Investigator, Director

Speciality Area

Employment, Farm Debt Mediation, Rural & Primary Industry, Arbitration and Litigation, Banking, Commercial, Business, Management, Employment and Labour Relations, Finance, Government - Local and Central, Real Estate, Sport, Art, Culture, Entertainment, Education, Companies, Complaints, Rural, Forestry, Trusts and Estate Law, Relationship Property, Property

Region covered

Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Taranaki, Manawatu-Whanganui, Wellington, Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast, Canterbury, Otago, Southland, Overseas

Ben is a experienced professional with a strong focus on alternative dispute resolution. As an accredited mediator and skilled negotiator, Ben brings extensive experience to the table. With a background as a Barrister and Professional Company Director, Ben has successfully resolved disputes for a range of significant entities, including NZX listed and Energy sector companies.

Locally and internationally, Ben's expertise in ADR has been honed through his work across diverse sectors and jurisdictions, making him adept at handling complex commercial, contractual, regulatory, rural, and employment disputes. With a practical and results-oriented approach, Ben strives to build consensus and find common ground among parties, effectively facilitating mutually beneficial resolutions.

Present Position
Barrister & Mediator

Professional Experience
Ben is an experienced commercial lawyer and company director. Ben commenced his professional career working for a high profile barrister, before shifting focus to commercial and rural law with an established South Island law firm. He went to the bar as a Barrister Sole in 2021 and is based in Lambton Chambers, Wellington, working across New Zealand and also internationally.

Ben also has significant experience serving on the boards of a range of entities particularly those involved in the primary sector.

Personal Summary
I have diverse experience in mediation as counsel, mediator and on occasion participant, I have been fortunate to have worked with many excellent mediators which have influenced and informed my practice.

I am a firm believer in the idea that "no agreement should be made before its time". The work leading to a mediation can be every bit as important as the mediation itself, influencing the ultimate outcome. I therefore encourage good preparation and like to work collaboratively with all parties from the outset in an engaged manner to assist in reaching a desirable result.

Speciality Areas
Farm Debt Mediation

I have personal interests in a 600 cow dairy farm, with longstanding family farming connections and strong empathy with the primary sector.

In my governance work I served on the board of one of the largest New Zealand owned forestry company’s, as well as appointment to a farm in the North Island through Guardian Trust, and two terms of the board of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing. I am also currently a director of a specialist rural investment management and advisory company.

Ben holds qualifications in the below primary sector economics and financial areas:

Implications of trading in global commodity markets
Role of primary and secondary creditors in farm operations
Land holding and business arrangements, eg family trust, corporate farmers, Maori land, lairage, sharemilking and cross loans
Farm financial and business planning tools
Role of cooperative structures and arrangements
Tax arrangements and obligations
Knowledge of insolvency processes including receiverships, and succession planning
Other Speciality Areas
Commercial/Business/Company Disputes, Rural, Forestry, Education and Sport.

Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (Otago)

Bachelor of Commerce (Otago)

Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand

Chartered Member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors

Associate Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand

Professional Member- Resolution Institute (Australia - New Zealand)

Adjudicative Committee Chair (Racing Integrity Board)

Reviewer and Mediator - Accident Compensation Act

Previous member Ministry of Education Statutory Intervention Panel.