Stuart Webster

Los Angeles, CA 90049

310 767 6191
stuart@stuartjwebster.com

linkedin.com/in/stuartjwebster
stuartjwebster.com

Attorney | Corporate Director

Proven breadth and depth of experience at the cutting edge of legal and corporate practice
Strong background in commercial property acquisition, financing and leasing
Acknowledged ability in business management and administration
Specialist expertise in matters of corporate governance including preferred advisor to local
government authorities, health providers and private corporations
Extensive experience in the management and trial of business litigation matters in courts at all
levels in cases ranging from simple contract disputes to complicated multi-party litigation involving
commercial leases, insurance, trusts, professional liability and contract enforcement encompassing
first chair role and extensive involvement in all stages of trial preparation
Specialist advisor on matters of risk management, infrastructural planning, project management,
employment, health and safety, and regulatory compliance
Experienced leader having dealt with every type and flavor of business issue
Dynamic, flexible and capable operator. A safe pair of hands in any organization

Career Defining Professional Experience

10/1990 01/2015

Sainsbury Logan & Williams

New Zealand

Equity Partner | Managing Partner

General corporate law and business litigation practice comprising over 350 clients
Responsible for key clients including Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Hawkes Bay District Health
Board, Anglican Diocese and Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga
Specialist in employment law
Liaison with in-house counsel on special projects
Responsible for management of partnership affairs including staff recruitment and personnel
management
Partner in charge of professional indemnity cover, general insurance and regulatory compliance

07/2009 03/2015

Hawkes Bay Airport Limited

New Zealand

Director | Board Member

Government-appointed director on a four member board of directors including interim chair role
Facilitated infrastructure projects including runway extension ($6m), runway resurfacing ($5m),
business park ($3m) and terminal redevelopment ($6m)
Negotiated and secured perpetual lease for runway extension and second commercial airline into
the region
Responsible for regulatory compliance under the Airport Authorities Act 1966

04/2004 04/2006

New Zealand Law Society

New Zealand

Stuart Webster | 310 767 6191 | stuart@stuartjwebster.com

Vice President

One of four Vice Presidents of the New Zealand Law Society (New Zealand's equivalent of the
ABA)
General policy and governance oversight of New Zealand Law Society activities
Involved in legislative reform of the profession culminating in the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act
2006
Reviewer on professional disciplinary panel

04/2003 04/2005

Hawke's Bay District Law Society

New Zealand

President

Responsible for policy and governance of local district law society regulatory and representative
functions
Chairperson of the law society Council and Executive Committee
General oversight of professional discipline
District representative on the New Zealand Law Society

07/2004 12/2014

Iona College Council

New Zealand

Chairperson | Deputy Chairperson

General governance oversight of a private girls' school with a roll of 300

Facilitated infrastructure projects comprising Information Resource Center and Blyth Performing
Arts Center with a combined construction cost of $12m
Member of student disciplinary panel
Development and implementation of school policies

04/2006 12/2014

Justitia Mutual Incorporated

New Zealand

Board Member

Part of twelve-member board representing the legal profession in obtaining professional

indemnity cover for member firms
Member of committee responsible for marketing and website development

07/1989 12/2014

Citizens Advice Bureau

New Zealand

Pro Bono Volunteer

Regular volunteer for Saturday morning sessions providing free legal advice to the general public
Involved in policy and funding issues for the Bureau

11/2002 present

The Village Press Limited

Attorney | Corporate Director | CEO | VP | In-House Legal Counsel

New Zealand

Stuart Webster | 310 767 6191 | stuart@stuartjwebster.com

Director | Shareholder

Foundation director and shareholder of a startup company that is now New Zealand's largest
olive and avocado oil producer and marketer
Director responsible for regulatory compliance, contract drafting and legal issues
Member of the Remuneration Committee

01/1994 10/2002

Eastern Institute of Technology

New Zealand

Lecturer

Lecturer in Litigation Law & Practice and Business Law & Practice for the New Zealand Law
Society's Legal Executive Diploma
Developed comprehensive set of course materials and texts for use in class training

Key Achievements
Provided detailed advice on infrastructure contracts and water user agreements to a regional council
and regional investment company undertaking a $275m dam project
Advised a private investment company on a commercial lease portfolio worth $50m
Facilitated transfer of port company shares to a regional council worth $90m
Advised the Anglican Diocese on an asset portfolio worth $75m
Facilitated infrastructure projects for an airport company including runway extension ($6m), runway
resurfacing ($5m), business park ($3m) and terminal redevelopment ($6m)
Drafted legislation for a local authority involving endowment land interests valued at over $50m
Facilitated infrastructure projects for a private girls school worth $12m
Assisted the Anglican Diocese on return of 50 land parcels to indigenous owners
Advised a regional council on leasehold land portfolio involving 3500 residential and commercial
leases
Assisted members of a district health board with a government inquiry into governance and
management issues
Successfully appealed an Employment Relations Authority decision against an education provider
involving tripartite access rights to a correctional institution
As lead counsel, represented one of four parties in a New Zealand Supreme Court appeal involving
Maori trust lands worth $7m
Successfully mitigated fines and penalties (with a maximum exposure of $500k) for an engineering
company involved in a workplace death
Appeared in the New Zealand Court of Appeal on a major breach of contract case concerning
exclusion clauses and warranty limitations
Successfully defended a class action by nurses against a district health board over a shiftwork pay
dispute
Brought a successful damages action for wrongful dismissal by court stenographer against the
courts department
Assisted teachers and psychiatric specialists facing professional disciplinary proceedings
Professionally involved in over 350 mediations and arbitrations on behalf of clients
Successfully defended injunction proceedings brought against a regional council over pest
destruction poisoning regime
Assisted numerous employees to obtain both interim and permanent reinstatement following
unjustified dismissal

Attorney | Corporate Director | CEO | VP | In-House Legal Counsel

Stuart Webster | 310 767 6191 | stuart@stuartjwebster.com

Successfully defended a private school from a $270k unjustified dismissal claim brought by one of
the teaching staff
Successfully defended a hill subsidence claim brought by adjacent owners
Appeared in the New Zealand Court of Appeal on a significant Maori trust law case involving a
variation of trust and removal of trustees
Participated as a director for 13 years on a private boutique company board with a current turnover
of $4-5m

Core Competencies
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Civil litigation
Corporate governanceo
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Chairmanship
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Employment law
Insurance law
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Health law
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Health and safety

Native land law
Pleadings drafting
Professional
discipline
Contract drafting
Risk management

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Research and report writing

Project management and financial
reporting
Profit/loss analysis and budget control
Staff
recruitment,
training
and
development
Change management
Regulatory compliance

Academic Background

Juris Doctor (J.D.) equivalent: Bachelor of Laws (with Honors) Victoria University of Wellington,
New Zealand
Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
Holder of a current practicing certificate and member in good standing with the New Zealand Law
Society
Diploma in Company Direction and Advanced Company Direction: Institute of Directors,
Wellington, New Zealand

Attorney | Corporate Director | CEO | VP | In-House Legal Counsel