Culture & Conduct

Our expert cross practice team assists clients with all "culture and conduct" issues, both in proactively designing governance and compliance frameworks and in responding to "culture and conduct" issues and investigations.

We have significant experience in advising on culture and conduct issues and regulatory reform, both in New Zealand and internationally. Our team draws on deep expertise and experience across practice groups to provide a seamless best-in-class service.

We have proven and productive relationships with MBIE, RBNZ, the FMA and the Commerce Commission. We understand regulators, how they execute their powers, and their expectations and priorities. Our experience of similar regulators overseas also gives us insight into how those powers and priorities are likely to evolve in the future here in New Zealand.

Unlike other consultants operating in this space, our legal advice and investigation work can be subject to legal privilege. Where additional non-legal resource is required, we have strong working relationships with other experts – such as forensic accountants and organisational culture experts.

We work closely with in-house legal teams to deliver the best outcomes, combining the in-house team's expert knowledge of the business, with our depth of experience and relationships with the key regulators. This provides you with an awareness of where issues can arise and the ability to proactively prevent them. 

Our expertise includes advice on:

• Performing “gap analysis”/audits of internal compliance regimes and risk profiles.
• Developing systems for proactive prevention, identification and remediation of conduct issues and risks.
• Assisting in product reviews to identify potential customer outcome issues.
• Reviewing first line of defence quality assurance processes.
• Undertaking root cause analysis and deep dive internal investigations in relation to incidents.
• Designing and implementing training programmes on matters relevant to conduct and culture, including for senior management and boards.
• Assisting in the design of appropriate management and board reporting on conduct risk.
• Strengthening staff reporting channels and whistle-blower regimes.
• Altering sales incentives in a lawful and enforceable manner and related consequence management frameworks.
• Responding to regulator information requests and search warrants.
• Handling regulator prosecutions and settlements.
• Engaging with policy makers and law reform processes to achieve better regulatory regimes.