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Biography

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

  • Principal of  Wellington law firm  FRANKS & OGILVIE (Commercial & Public Law Ltd).
  • Former Partner and Chairman of national law firm Chapman Tripp.
  • ACT List Member of Parliament from 1999 to 2005
  • Lawyer, aged 58, married, four children, ages 21 to 28
  • Educated: Taihape College, Victoria University Qualifications: BA/LLB (Hons), Dip.Acc., Victoria University of Wellington.
  • Admitted to the Bar: 1975
  • Born in Wellington

GENERAL

Stephen is a frequent speaker and writer on legal subjects with a particular focus on company and securities law, criminal justice and constitutional issues.

RECREATIONAL INTERESTS

Family activities, farming, manuka honey beekeeping, deer hunting, sailing, skiing, kayaking, mountain biking, tennis, formerly Lieutenant – Territorials (Artillery)

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

Before entering Parliament in 1999:  Member of the Securities Commission; Council member of the Institute of Directors in NZ (inc); Deputy Chairman of the Stock Exchange's Market Surveillance Panel 1995 – 1995 and a member from its inception for nine years.

Recently retired as Chairman, Wellington Rugby League Inc and Management Board of Samuel Marsden Collegiate School.

Director of: Electronic Transaction Services Ltd, Manuka Honey Ltd.

Active member and adviser to the Sensible Sentencing Trust

CAREER

Stephen is a former Chairman, Partner and senior commercial lawyer at Chapman Tripp, which he joined in 1979. He began practising law in 1973, travelled overseas extensively in 1976 and spent two years in the Office of the Ombudsman. Stephen is recognised nationally as an expert in company law, having specialised in flotations and securities market work, including takeovers and State sector reform.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS BEFORE PARLIAMENT

  • 1999: advised Ministry of Commerce on regulatory features of Accident Insurance Act
  • 1998: advised Ministry of Commerce on drafting of Electricity Industry Reform Act. Developed the listed index investment product TeNZ for the NZ Stock Exchange, and all other NZ listed index funds.
  • 1989-1993: member of Law Society's Commercial and Business Law Committee (convenor 1989-1991); Advised Community Trusts on float of Trust Bank; advisor to the Investment Savings and Insurance Association (and its predecessors) on securities law matters.
  • 1992-94: oversaw the legal structuring of the Blood Transfusion Services.
  • 1992-1993: advised on legal risks, procedures and administrative law criteria affecting establishment of electricity distribution companies;
  • 1993: led Chapman Tripp team which (with Ernst & Young) reported to Crown Health Enterprises Chairpersons' consultative committee on CHE's risk management strategies; commissioned by the World Bank to co-author report on the NZ divestiture experience; presented Law Society submissions on Companies Act 1993 to a Parliamentary Select Committee;
  • 1992: study at the Law School of the University of Chicago; Advised Telecom NZ during its initial international public offering.
  • 1991: advised on the Government securities law reform programme (one of four private sector representatives); presented papers to World Bank seminars in Washington on corporatisation and privatisation.

Selection CV

2008 National Candidate Selection CV  

This brochure was published for the National Party delegates who subsequently selected me as candidate for Wellington Central for the 2008 General Election.

Click on the photo to see the brochure.  (940 kb takes a while to download)

 


Campaign Photos

 

Wellington Central Campaign Photos 2008

After the meeting.  Photo: Matthew Plummer Aro Valley candidates meeting.  Photo: Matthew Plummer
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Let’s go Wellington Central and New Zealand! Our car is painted.  
   
 100th anniversary of the first Wellington rugby league game.  Before the midwinter swim…..hurry up!
   
 Campaign photo with Cathy  Rainbow group dinner at Parliament
   
 Student cottage meeting Thorndon  Irene Ferguson art exhibition
   
 Celebrating the end of this government  Waving to traffic near Parliament
   
Lydia says it best They look like they could put up a sign or two
   
   

 



Photos

Click on thumbnails to view photos
Wellington Rugby League

 

 

100th anniversary of the first Wellington rugby league game at Athletic Park 2008 Wellington Rugby League table, including Patron, Winnie Laban, at the Wellington Sportsperson of the Year dinner 2008
National Party conference Chinese fundraising dinner Proud father
National Party conference May 2008 Wellington Chinese fundraising dinner May 2008  Proud father at Otago graduation May 2008
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After the Anzac Service with photographer Simon Woolf and Cr Ian McKinnon April 2008 Our 1955 Classic VW Beetle.  It makes people smile.
On our deck in the rain July 2007 harry.jpg joke-with-daughter-2.JPG
On our new deck in the rain Wellington July 2007 Harry 1992-2006 "You’re not serious", our oldest daughter.
Collecting for the Karori Sanctuary April 2008 Routeburn with friends 2008 Speaking 2008
Collecting for the Karori Sanctuary April 2008 On the Routeburn with friends Feb 2008 Speaking 2008
New brakes for the motor bike at Wairangi Back to politics? dsc00520.JPG
Fixing brakes at Wairangi Station At home in Wellington 2005 "Can I have a go?" A1 motor racing at Taupo 2007
media2005.jpg Constituents request better law and order heraldonsunday-july-31-2005.gif
  Media scrum 2005 Listening to Wellington Central constituents concerned about law and order 2005 Herald on Sunday 2005
karori-lost-property.jpg Easter egg hunt on the farm 2008 onthephone.jpg
MC at the Karori fair 2005 Easter egg hunt on the farm 2008 An approachable MP  2005
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 Cottage meeting 2005   With Catharine 2005 Rural self defence Kapiti Coast 2005