The Trustees of the Yvonne A M Smith Charitable Trust are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2013/2014 scholarship is Kristina Bunting.

Kristina will be studying for a Master of Laws at Columbia University.  Kristina will be focusing on financing and securities law, more particularly, regulatory reform following the global financial crisis.

In 2012, Kristina obtained a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours at Victoria University, ranking third in her graduating class of 230 students.  She also obtained a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration majoring in Economics.

While at Victoria University, Kristina received a Summer Research Scholarship to assist Professor John Prebble in his research.  Kristina co-authored a paper with Professor Prebble and Saurabh Jain on beneficial ownership of passive income and conduit companies in the taxation context.  Kristina co-presented this paper at the International Fiscal Association Symposium in Boston in August 2012.  Kristina has also been published in the Victoria University Law Review.  In 2011, Kristina was named in the Faculty of Law Dean’s List for academic excellence.

Kristina also competed in mooting while at University.  Kristina and her partner won the Sir Richard Wild Cup for mooting in 2011.  Kristina was named best speaker.  Kristina and her partner were also grand finalists in the Australian Law Students’ Association National Moot in the same year.

Upon completion of her degrees, Kristina spent two years as a Judges’ Clerk in the Wellington High Court, clerking for Mallon and MacKenzie JJ.  While clerking, Kristina co-ordinated the annual Sentencing Competition, sponsored by the New Zealand Bar Association and the Ministry of Justice.

On the extra-curricular front, Kristina competes around New Zealand in Ballroom, Latin American and New Vogue dancing, winning a number of competitions.

Kristina was chosen out of 45 applicants of a very high standard to be awarded the $60,000 Yvonne A M Smith Charitable Trust Scholarship.