Commerce Commission member reappointed

Denese Bates, QC has been reappointed as a member of the Commerce Commission for a five year term.

“Denese Bates has been part of a dedicated team of commissioners that has overseen an extensive expansion of the commission’s functions.

"I am pleased that her skills and experience are available to the commission for a second term,” said Commerce Minister Margaret Wilson.

Since her appointment in April 2001 Denese Bates has been involved in a number of major matters including the proposed Air New Zealand / Qantas merger, the Inquiry of Airfield Activities and the regulation of electricity lines businesses.

She is a member of the Commission’s Commerce Act Division, the Fair Trading Division, the Gas Pipelines Inquiry Division and the Dairy Division. She has also participated in numerous business acquisition clearance decisions.

Ms Bates has been practising as a barrister since 1981 and was appointed as a Queen’s Counsel in 1996.

Her practice has encompassed a wide range of litigation before courts and tribunals and she has been counsel in a number of landmark cases.

Ms Bates had a long involvement as a council member of both the Auckland District Law Society and the New Zealand Law Society.

She was, for two years, convenor of the New Zealand Law Society’s Ethics Committee.

As well as practising law, since 1984 she has been an active director of a manufacturing company. In 2003 she was appointed as a trustee of the Melanesian Mission Trust.

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