KPMG Legal believes its name complies

MEDIA STATEMENT 21 JULY 2000

KPMG Legal firmly believes that its name complies with the requirements of the New Zealand Law Society Rules of Professional Conduct, says KPMG Legal Chair Ian Haynes.

KPMG Legal is an independent law firm which is a member of the 70-strong KPMG Legal network worldwide. It is associated with KPMG locally.

"We have relied on a decision of the Ethics and Legal Practice Committee of the Auckland District Law Society in November 1998 that it had no objection to the name. We took that decision in good faith and have been operating under the KPMG Legal name since 1998, well before our recent merger.

"Our clients increasingly operate in an international context. By being part of the KPMG Legal network we are responding to clients' need for globally relevant business solutions and the advantages of an internationally recognised brand name and reputation," Mr Haynes said.

KPMG Legal has applied to the NZLS Board to review the decision of the NZLS Ethics Committee and is confident of the outcome.

The NZLS has confirmed that KPMG Legal may continue to rely on the decision of the Auckland Ethics Committee and continue using the name, pending the decision of the NZLS Board.

For further information, please call: Ian Haynes Chair, KPMG Legal Phone: 09 379 4196 or 021 981134

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