Employment Law, Health & Safety and ACC Legal Services
I offer strategic advice and representation across employment, Health & Safety, ACC and Workplace Law for employers, employees, boards, and people & culture teams throughout New Zealand and world wide.
I am often called upon for training, to present seminars, webinars, and to provide comments in the media on current workplace law topics.
“I act for a wide range of clients, primarily in the State Sector, Multi-national and International companies, SMEs, and senior employees.”
Employment Law Services
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People & Culture Strategy
Strategic employment advice to People & Culture teams, CEOs, and Boards, including workforce planning, policy direction, and governance.
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Drafting Employment Documentation
Pre-employment documentation, including 90 days trial periods.
Offers of employment, including conditional offers.
Employment agreements, permanent, fixed, casual, and CEAs.
Employment policies, codes of conduct, handbooks.
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Redundancy
Advice and representation for company’s undertaking individual or large-scale redundancy processes, including on the sale of a business (technical redundancy) and involving vulnerable employees.
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Employment Law Due Diligence
Employment law advice on business sales and acquisitions, including obligations and risk assessment.
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Disciplinary & Performance
Support for disciplinary and work performance processes — advice, drafting, and representation.
Successfully representing the employer in a dismissal claim (for being influenced by drugs at work) in the ERA in PEX v Lyttelton Port Company [2022].
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Personal Grievance
Assisting with employer responses and pursuing claims on behalf of employees. Representation in negotiation, mediation, and litigation. Pursuing counterclaims against employees.
Successfully represented a senior employee in a three week Employment Court case, (Burrowes v Police [2015]) and an employer in a strike out application in the Employment Court in Christchurch Engine Centre v Gapuzan [2013].
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Post-Employment
Advice, drafting, and representation on restraints of trade, non-solicitation, and confidentiality obligations.
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Collective Employment
Bargaining with unions, drafting bargaining process agreements, varying collective employment agreements, and advice on strikes and lockouts.
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Independent Contractors
Drafting documentation and advising on contractor status.
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Medical Incapacity
Process advice and representation in medical incapacity situations.
Representing the employer in an Employment Court case involving mandatory health assessments in MUNZ v Lyttleton Port Company [2025].
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Human Rights
Advice and representation on human rights matters in the employment context.
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Privacy & Protected Disclosures
Advice, representation, and negotiations with the Privacy Commissioner.
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Holidays Act
Compliance advice, drafting, and representation on Holidays Act entitlements and remediation.
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Interim Injunctions
Advice and representation in urgent injunction applications.
Successfully represented employers in Zhu v Skope [2025] and Creelman v Department of Corrections [2024].
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Minimum Entitlements & Labour Inspectorate
Advice and representation in minimum entitlement matters, including negotiations with the Labour Inspectorate.
Human Resources & Independent Mediation
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Human Resources
I provide high-level bespoke human resources services, including support to people & culture teams, assisting with change and performance management, advice on drafting employment policies, compliance with legal requirements, clarifying payroll issues, and advice on remuneration structures.
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Independent Mediator
As a member of AMINZ, I am available to undertake private mediations to resolve complex employment relationship problems.
I understand complex workplace law issues and am able to get to the root of the problem, expertly navigating a pragmatic solution.
Workplace Law Training & Investigations
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Training
I have extensive experience providing in-house bespoke workplace law training for senior leadership teams, people & culture teams, health & safety teams, employees, and Boards.
Training covers most areas of workplace law, including employment, health & safety, privacy, and ACC — tailored to the organisation's specific needs and risk profile.
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Investigations
I have been retained to undertake independent workplace law investigations in the Government and private sector, including for a major bank, international mining company, State Sector entities, and a luxury lodge.
I provide expert independent law investigation services, conducted in a professional and timely manner.
Health & Safety Law Services
I was junior counsel in New Zealand's first health and safety prosecution under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, Department of Labour v de Spa [1994].
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PCBU Rights & Obligations
Expert advice on obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, Regulations, codes of practice, guidelines, SOPs, and factsheets.
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Documentation
Drafting health and safety policies, procedures, and plans.
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WorkSafe Engagement
Advice on notifications to WorkSafe, health and safety strategy, and officer responsibilities.
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Representation
Representing PCBUs and officers in dealings with WorkSafe, attendance at interviews under caution, advice on enforceable undertakings, and prosecutions.
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Training
Health and safety training for PCBUs, Health and Safety Managers, and Boards.
ACC & Regulatory Matters
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ACC
Advice to accredited employers on ACC rights and obligations, including negotiations with ACC.
Representing claimants and employers in negotiations with ACC, reviews to ICRA/Fairway, and Court litigation.
Successfully representing an ACC accredited employer in the Employment Court in JCE v The CE of the Department of Corrections [2019].
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Regulatory matters
I have experience representing employees and employers in regulatory complaints and investigations, including in the electricity, education, and aviation industries.