Sarah Simmers

Sarah joined Anderson Lloyd in 2002 and has been a Partner in the corporate and commercial team since 2008.  She provides advice on a wide range of commercial law matters, with a particular focus on procurements, competition law (Commerce Act), consumer finance and insolvency issues.

Examples of Sarah’s recent work:

• Acting for HES Aotearoa Ltd on the sales of 10 of its grid-scale solar developments.
• Acting for three local authorities on solid waste and kerbside collection contracts, including advice on procurement processes.
• Providing specialist Commerce Act advice to businesses with substantial market power on their interactions with customers, suppliers and competitors, including reviewing contracts and providing Commerce Act training sessions and Commerce Act advice on proposed acquisitions (including obtaining clearance).
• Providing advice to Farmlands Co-operative’s Board on its legal and governance structure.
• Acting for a health sector client on the purchase of a number of medical practices and on joint venture developments of new facilities.
• Providing legislative compliance advice, including on the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCFA), Personal Property Securities Act (PPSA) and Fair Trading Act (including misleading and deceptive conduct and unfair contract terms).

Sarah is Anderson Lloyd’s lead partner for a number of corporate and institutions.  Her broad experience helps her to find pragmatic solutions to complex problems.  She is a strong proponent of Plain English drafting.

Sarah presents guest lectures for the University of Otago’s Advanced Company Law and Competition Law classes. She has presented seminars for the New Zealand Law Society and written for numerous legal publications on consumer finance issues.  She is a Trustee of the Otago Youth Wellness Trust, Chairs the Cancer Society Spring Ball organising committee and is on the Tahuna Normal Intermediate School Board of Trustees.  She is a member of the Institute of Directors.

Publications

• The New Standard for Construction roadshow
• Re-registration of incorporated societies
• ‘No refund’ cancellation clauses highlighted as potential Unfair Contract Terms under the Fair Trading Act 1986
• Key changes to note in the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022
• Impact of the Fair Trading Amendment Act 2022
• Directors and senior managers of consumer credit providers now under a personal due diligence obligation
• COVID-19 in the community 2.0 – legislative responses
• Commerce Act – Failing firms in the context of COVID-19
• Coronavirus: Headline thoughts for New Zealand businesses
• Consumer credit law changes and their impact on lenders
• Commerce Act 1986: Recent significant developments
• Fair Trading Amendment Bill