19 February 2009: Simpson Grierson litigation partner Willy Akel was in excellent company at the MEDIABIZ/09 Conference in Auckland today, with a star-studded speaker line-up that included television, radio and print notables - Paul Holmes, Cameron Bennett, Rob Harley, Kevin Milne, Liam Jeory and Fran O'Sullivan.

The ultimate conference for business people seeking more effective use of the news media, MEDIABIZ/09 offered attendees two days of blue-chip speakers and workshops at SKYCITY Convention Centre on Wednesday and Thursday.

Well-known as one of New Zealand's leading media lawyers, Willy presented a paper entitled 'Walking Through the Legal Minefield'. Here he examined the clash of competing interests in crisis management and how in most situations, there are no easy answers. But careful management using the law both on attack and defence, raises the odds of a successful outcome or at least mitigate potential damage.

"Strategies for risk management must be well thought out. Invariably you will not have the luxury of time, and quick value judgments will have to be made," said Willy. "But do not lose sight of some real basic legal principles that should protect your business. If we are not aware of these fundamentals it will become so much harder to manage the crisis as it unfolds."