Asian Women Lawyers Subcommittee of New Zealand Asian Lawyers warmly invites you to an exciting evening of conversation, connection, and celebration of leadership, on Thursday, 9 October 2025 at 5:30pm, hosted by Simpson Grierson, Level 27, 88 Shortland Street, Auckland CBD.
Join us for a panel discussion featuring three pioneering Asian women leaders in the legal profession. Our panellists will share their inspiring journeys, the challenges they have faced, and their unique insights into leadership in senior roles in the legal community.
Meet the panellists:
- Tina Liu, Partner at Tompkins Wake
Tina Liu is a partner at Tompkins Wake and leads the firm’s life science, biotechnology and food & beverage practice groups. Her expertise encompasses a wide range of legal areas, including commercial contracts, complex regulatory matters, and substantial projects within these sectors. Tina has been recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ by NZ Lawyer (2022), an Excellence Awardee for Young Private Practice Lawyer of the Year (NZ Law Awards 2022), and the New Zealand Asian Lawyer of the Year (inaugural 2024 NZ Asian Lawyers Award).
She regularly advises global and local clients on all aspects of the sale, distribution and marketing of innovative therapeutic and food & beverage products, including product categorisation, pre-market approval, advertising, pharmacovigilance, licensing, commercialisation, data protection and joint ventures. Tina has negotiated pharmaceutical supply arrangements with Pharmac (New Zealand’s government drug purchasing organisation) and has advised on the New Zealand aspects of global pharmaceutical recalls.
She serves as a trusted advisor to major New Zealand exporters and well-known FMCG companies on all aspects of their commercial operations, regulatory compliance matters (including food labelling and promotion) and complex cross-border transactions.
- Helen Chung, Special Counsel at Lane Neave
Helen Chung is a Special Counsel in the Auckland office of Lane Neave, specialising in construction and unit title disputes. She is a senior member of the firm’s litigation team.
Helen began her career in 2005 with a focus on litigation. Over time, she has expanded her practice to include both contentious and advisory work, offering clients practical and strategic guidance. In the construction sector, Helen regularly advises on contract negotiation and risk management. In the unit titles space, she provides specialist advice on statutory processes and governance challenges.
Of Chinese heritage, Helen is fluent in both Cantonese and Mandarin. As participation by Chinese-speaking individuals in New Zealand’s property and construction sectors continues to grow, she is increasingly sought after to support Chinese clients navigating these industries.
- Anchali Anandanayagam, Partner at Hudson Gavin Martin
Anchali is a leading expert in technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) law, with more than 20 years’ experience advising both public and private sector clients on complex corporate and commercial transactions. She has particular expertise in subsea and terrestrial cable infrastructure, privacy and data protection, biometrics, and the development and commercialisation of technology and content.
Her work has been recognised globally by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, and Media Law International, with referees noting that Anchali is “an experienced lawyer with amazing technical skills,” but also “a relationship builder” who “can deal with people at all levels” both within and between organisations, an attribute which means “there’s a real benefit having her on our side.”
Anchali is an advocate for purpose-driven organisations and serves on the board of Women in Film and Television (WIFT) New Zealand, supporting growth and sustainability in the screen sector with a focus on equal opportunity and participation for women.
The event timeline is as follows:
5:30pm – Arrival drinks and nibbles
5:50pm – Welcome and introduction to the evening
6:00pm – Panel discussion; Asian women in leadership
7:00pm – Questions from the floor
7:15pm – Further informal networking and refreshments
8:00pm – End of event
This will be a great opportunity to hear firsthand from inspiring Asian women lawyers, ask questions, and engage in meaningful dialogue about representation, leadership and diversity in the legal profession.
This event is free of charge and open to anyone and everyone!
Special thanks to Simpson Grierson for supporting and sponsoring this event. Simpson Grierson is one of New Zealand’s largest and leading commercial law firms, and a strong promoter of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Register here – https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/leading-the-way-asian-women-lawyers-in-leadership-tickets-1667915061849?aff=oddtdtcreator
