Venkat Raman
Auckland, May 30, 2023
As a part of its efforts to find new avenues of service to communities, Indian Newslink is happy to announce the formation of a Legal Panel comprising prominent barristers, solicitors and lawyers who provide an extensive range of services.
The Indian Newslink Legal Panel of Communities comprises Brian Henry, Dev Ananth, Raj Pardeep Singh, Ashima Singh and Arvind Nair. We expect a few more to join the Panel.
Our lawyers account for decades of experience providing advice and counsel on almost all aspects of law, including Commercial, Company, Criminal, Litigation, Property, Wills and Trusts, Litigation, Immigration, Accounting and Taxation
Our lawyers will provide services on a pro bono basis to Indian Newslink readers. Questions or issues should be raised briefly with Indian Newslink and these will be referred to the Panel for advice. We expect questions to be general in nature, although they may relate to a group, association or an individual. We will refer the questions to one or more members of the Panel and their answers will be published in Indian Newslink (names and personal references will be removed to protect privacy).
We believe that the Legal Panel will be a boon to our communities since an increasing number of our people often find legal issues baffling, time-consuming and expensive.
“We need general advice on laws relating to property, taxation, immigration and companies but this is hard to find. It is difficult to access the services of lawyers,” they said.
While we do not promise that every question raised by our readers will be answered or answered fully, we will take every effort to do so.
Following the first meeting of the Panel held at our offices recently, the lawyers said that they were pleased to be a part of the Indian Newslink Legal Panel.
Brian Henry
Brian Henry is one of the senior-most Barristers in New Zealand and during his illustrious 50-year-old legal career, he has appeared on behalf of many celebrity clients. He brings with him an impressive record of achievements and expertise.
A Barrister with 50 years of experience, he is noted for his pro bono work, particularly acting for Sue Couch suing corrections after she was severely beaten but survived what has become known as the RSA murders. He successfully won $300,000 compensation for her. He is also well known for the case of Peters v Davidson which changed the law for administrative review of government decisions.
Mr Henry is currently lead counsel acting for the Gloriavale leavers which is an ongoing litigation. He entered fund management in 2004 and is the founder of AE KiwiSaver, an Auckland-based boutique fund management group specialising in ethical investment solutions for New Zealand and international investors.
Dave Ananth
Dave Ananth is an expert on taxation issues and company law and has been a consultant in New Zealand and Malaysia. He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaysia with more than 30 years of experience in legal practice in New Zealand and overseas jurisdictions.
He currently practices tax and other legal aspects for Stace Hammond Lawyers. He was earlier a Director at Ernst & Young, Malaysia and Prosecutor for the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).
His extensive experience and level of expertise enable him to directly negotiate with the IRD, accountants and other professional colleagues on tax and commercial matters.
“I am passionate about ensuring that tax law and its financial implications are accessible and understood by a wide audience,” Mr Ananth said.
He conducts seminars on GST and other tax-related matters to local and international audiences. He is the President of the New Zealand Malaysia Business Association.
Raj Pardeep Singh
Raj Pardeep Singh is the Founder and Principal of Legal Associates Barristers & Solicitors which was established by him and his wife Ashima Singh in 2014.
He specialises in all areas of Immigration Law, Immigration and Protection Tribunals, Judicial reviews at the High Court, Ombudsman Office at Parliament, Immigration Minister Appeals, deals in Criminal and Employment law and seeks to provide legal services to ethnic communities and others. He provides counselling and guidance to immigrants and is an active supporter of the Indian community as a sponsor for Indian events.
A graduate of Law from the University of Delhi, Mr Singh completed a course of proficiency at the University of Auckland and the New Zealand Law Society and Professional Legal Studies Course at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Auckland. Thereafter, he was admitted to the High Court of New Zealand.
Before establishing Legal Associates, Mr Singh was a Barrister and Solicitor at an Auckland City law firm for four years and worked as Duty Solicitor for the Auckland, Whangarei and Dargaville District Courts.
Ashima Singh
Ashima Singh is a Co-Founder and Partner at Legal Associates.
She is the first India-born New Zealand lawyer to become a Notary Public and was admitted to the Notaries Society of New Zealand in 2022.
Ms Singh completed her Bachelor of Law from the University of Auckland in 2011 and was admitted to the High Court of New Zealand the same year. She graduated from Delhi University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and obtained her postgraduation degree in Information Technology in 2003. Her areas of specialisation are Notary Public services, Property Law (Conveyancing), Business Sale and Purchase, Leases, Commercial Law, Wills and Trusts, Family Law and Relationship Property.
Ms Singh has won several awards including the Indian Newslink Commemoration Award, the Indian Newslink Best Businesswoman of the Year Award and the Inspiring Ethnic Businesswoman 2022 Award.
Arvind Nair
Arvind Nair is a Disputes Lawyer, with experience in insolvency, taxation, and general commercial matters. He started his career with the litigation team of Dentons Kensington Swan and is now a Junior Barrister working under the supervision of Stephen Lukey.
