NEW ZEALAND ASIAN LAWYERS APPOINTS NEW CO-PRESIDENT AND CO-VICE PRESIDENT.
28 July 2026 – At the New Zealand Asian Lawyers annual general meeting earlier in July, Founder President Dr. Mai Chen announced to members that she would be requested the Board to make two new appointments as soon as practicable after the adoption of constitutional amendments. Those appointments were confirmed after the most recent Board meeting held yesterday
“After consideration, I asked our current Secretary Takeshi Ito if he would consider taking on the role of Co-President alongside me and he indicated that if the Board approved it, he would. Similarly, I asked David Liu if he would accept nomination as Co-Vice President and he also indicated that if he received Board approval he would”, she said. “I am very pleased that both of these important appointments were approved yesterday”.
“Since the relaunch of New Zealand Asian Lawyers, Takeshi has been one of the organisation’s strongest supporters having helped me and the Board with a raft of tasks and issues. He has also been a critical part of our Law Awards over the past two years and I am delighted that he has agreed to be our Co-President”, said Dr. Chen.
“I am also delighted that David has agreed to be our Co-Vice President supporting our current Vice President Pam Davidson. David’s contribution to our organisation over the last two years in particular has been immense not only as an Awards sponsor but also as a fundraising and sponsorship champion in order to secure our organisation’s future”.
Takeshi is currently the Vice President Legal and Company Secretary for NZX-listed hotel owner / operator Millennium & Copthorne Hotels New Zealand Limited.
“I’m greatly honoured to accept the role at Mai’s request to support her and our Board. The importance of New Zealand Asian Lawyers for our members and the legal profession generally can’t be overstated and I look forward to making an enduring contribution as Co-President”, he said.
David is a director and the litigation partner at Heritage Law, a boutique law firm in Auckland specialising in civil and commercial law.
“New Zealand Asian Lawyers is an essential organisation at a time when the diversity of our legal profession needs to be recognised. As Co-Vice President, I am very much looking forward to actively engaging with internal and external stakeholders to and advance our aims and goals. We have many things to do and many opportunities to pursue”, he said.
