January 30, 2014
Law Society clears Donna Hall
The Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal has dismissed charges against prominent Maori lawyer Donna Hall of negligence and incompetence.
Ms Hall was accused of giving advice to three separate parties in a 2006 deal in which a group of Taupo Maori trusts bought properties from Landcorp.
The tribunal says while some of her conduct in terms of her relationship with other lawyers involved might be capable of criticism, she did not breach the rules,
It says trustees received advice from other lawyers opposing the deal, they chose to reject that advice.
Ms Hall welcomed the decision, which lists a shadow over her activities, particularly over her role as solicitor for the New Zealand Maori Council.
She says the importance of the actual transaction was that more traditional lands were brought back into Maori ownership.
Ms Hall says there are special features of multiple ownership Maori land trusts which place special demands on practitioners engaged in advising them.
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