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When it comes to company valuations for legal disputes in New Zealand, the parties to a dispute, working with their professional advisors, face an important decision at the outset of the engagement: should they commission an AES-2 valuation or opt for an indicative valuation?

New Zealand company tax changes mean that unused tax losses, previously lost following more than a 49% change of business ownership, may now survive. This means that while any existing tax losses for a sale above that threshold could previously be ignored during M&A negotiations, buyers and sellers should now consider potential price impacts when such losses exist.

An increasing trend towards the appointment of a single joint forensic accounting expert (SJE) for relationship property matters has emerged in New Zealand, compared to the traditional approach where each party appoints their own forensic accounting expert.

The NZ Property (Relationships) Act contains various provisions for compensatory adjustments in the division of relationship property.

What are the professional attributes that relationship property lawyers look for most in their forensic accountant? The latest New Zealand Relationship Property Survey by Grant Thornton and the New Zealand Law Society asked practitioners to list the three most important attributes a forensic accountant should have in giving expert advice in relationship property matters.

An increasing trend towards the appointment of a single joint forensic accounting expert (SJE) for relationship property matters has emerged in New Zealand, compared to the traditional approach where each party appoints their own forensic accounting expert.

The New Zealand Relationship Property Survey 2021 is based on the views of over 270 family law practitioners. It is one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind.

The New Zealand Relationship Property Survey 2019 is based on the views of over 250 family law practitioners. It is one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind.

The New Zealand Relationship Property Survey 2017 is based on the views of nearly 400 family law practitioners. It is one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind

There is no doubt International Accounting Standards have contributed significantly to the globalisation of the business world, crucially providing reliable and comparable information to investors for decision-making purposes.

The principles informing the valuation of professional practice interests have been relatively settled for some years. While this does not prevent differences in opinion regarding the value of a particular practice, it is helpful in ensuring the approach to valuation is (or should be) similar. This article explores some of the issues around their valuation.

Although the tax implications of relationship property settlements are rarely front-of-mind, they can have significant consequences. It is important any tax implications are properly considered and reflected in the agreement to achieve a fair settlement. This article discusses the general tax principles relating to the settlement of relationship property, including the potential effect of the new ‘bright line’ test for residential property recently introduced on 1 October 2015.

In New Zealand relationship property proceedings, forensic accountants and other expert witnesses are almost always appointed on behalf of one of the parties (a ‘party appointed expert’, or PAE). In comparison, where expert evidence is required in matrimonial cases in the United Kingdom and Australia, the parties normally jointly appoint a single expert (a ‘single joint expert’, or SJE).

With nearly 150,000 small to medium businesses operating in New Zealand, an ownership interest in a family business features in many relationship property settlements. The interest held in that business can represent a significant proportion of the relationship property, and in some cases it can make settlement proceedings considerably more complicated.