Resolution: In Brief Permanent Court in the Hague being regarded as a supranational institution under EU data protection law that GDPR obligations would arise whenever there was a transfer of personal data between the PCA and the arbitral tribunal. On that basis, it sought procedural orders applying the GDPR regulations to the arbitral procedure. Canada, on the other hand, objected to the proposed GDPR related provisions in the procedural order saying that NAFTA fell outside the material scope of the GDPR as the EU is not a state party to that treaty. Having considered the issue, the arbitral tribunal accepted Canada’s submissions and refused to include the GDPR related provisions in the procedural order. That said, the importance of ensuring a high level of data security was recognised.
Building & Construction Regulation and Law Conference Every large-scale construction project involves countless companies having to collaborate with one another to achieve a common success. This is how the sector thrives, and this is how individual businesses create legacies. However, in New Zealand, the building and construction sector has a well-documented history of fragmentation. Over the last few years, this fragmentation has led to inefficiencies and bad project management, creating an unreliable industry for both directors, workers and clients. Additionally, due to high competition in a small market, companies had established a pattern of placing low bids for tender contracts in an effort to outbid one another. This therefore led to these companies operating on low margins with high risks due to limited budget for further development in areas such as training and development of staff, technology and equipment. Consequently, even major key stakeholders went insolvent in the last few years. New Zealand is taking steps to rectify these long-established problems, with the Government re-shaping the regulatory landscape via the Building System Legislative Reform. Awareness, knowledge and discussion of these issues is imperative in order for the sector to not repeat the same mistakes. We need to learn from the past, act in the present and prepare for the future. In order to do so, steps should be taken to seek out knowledge, such as attending events in which these issues are addressed. The 2019 Building and Construction Regulation and Law Conference is the principal event for companies to stay compliant and succeed, and one such event. This conference aims to have those in the construction and building industry acquire in-depth knowledge about the latest legal developments, in order to make sure that the sector has the knowledge to grow and thrive. There will be a wide range of experts giving their insights, from legal experts to well-known industry leaders, to academics, who will share their wisdom and advice. The conference is on the 22nd and 23rd of October, at the Crowne Plaza in Auckland. A full agenda is online now with detailed session outlines and confirmed speakers. Visit www.conferenz.co.nz/events/building-and-construction-regulation-and-law-conference-2019