You are invited to the Auckland launch of Mai Chen’s book, The Public Law Toolbox. Mai is the Business School’s Adjunct Professor in Commercial and Public Law and will be talking about how The Public Law Toolbox makes business more successful with government (and profitable).

• Date: Thursday 7 June 2012
• Time: 6pm for a 6.15pm start. Refreshments will be available after the presentation
• Venue: The University of Auckland Business School, Level 0, Owen G Glenn Building, 12Grafton Road,Auckland
• Please RSVP online by Tuesday 5 June.

The business case for working with government

The Public Law Toolbox helps to “level the playing field for businesses dealing with government and makes them more successful, ultimately benefiting the bottom line”. With more than 25 years’ experience in public law, Mai has created what will be an indispensable resource for business people, lawyers, advocates, industry associations, citizens, Maori and non-governmental organisations to more successfully interface with government.

Often working with government can be a daunting process but Mai has created an entire “toolbox” of public law mechanisms that sit alongside traditional commercial law remedies, which can help businesses successfully resolve government, regulatory or policy and law reform issues.

The Public Law Toolbox will assist those wanting to influence policy and law reform issues for business by describing the tools available for them to make the most of these avenues. It will also help those wanting to resolve disputes around administrative and government decision-making, and advise businesses on how to use the toolbox to resolve disputes with competitors. The book sets out the government’s unique legal, transparency and accountability obligations and the risks that they face, taking political and public opinion factors into account, when interfacing with business.

“The book provides formidable evidence of the depth of Mai’s knowledge and experience and the examples cited are relevant and topical. I believe it is not only a ‘must read’ for business people in New Zealand but it is also a ‘must keep’ in that it is unmatched as an ongoing reference tool on the subject.” Joan Withers, Chair Auckland International Airport Ltd, Chair Mighty River Power Ltd, Deputy Chair TVNZ Ltd, Director The Treasury Advisory Board

“An appropriately named book and ‘must have’ for directors and CEO’s to increase their understanding of the dynamics of Government. The book is diverse and all encompassing. An easy read, and a great reference tool as well, that establishes the history and framework of decision making, and offers a set of directions for all to traverse the Government maze.” Janine Smith, Chair of AsureQuality and Cerno NZ Limited, Director of Warehouse Group and Steel and Tube Limited, Principal The Boardroom Practice Limited