Employment

I have been an employment specialist for many years and have extensive experience in this area acting for a range of clients in different sectors – both public and private.

The range of employment services which I have been involved in for over 30 years include:

HR

Drafting and reviewing employment agreements, HR policy/procedures and other documentation which form part of an organisation’s employment framework

Advocacy

Advocacy services that may include representation through disciplinary, restructuring and employment investigation/review processes.

Advice

Strategic advice and representation around restructure, negotiations or prosecutions

Health and Safety

Assistance with Health and Safety/MBIE investigations and prosecutions

Dispute Resolution

Dispute resolution including representation at mediation

Emplyment Representation

Representation at the Employment Relations

Authority and Employment Court level

The employment services may involve working alongside managers or those involved in an employment dispute, and while the legislative and case law framework is well known to me, my approach is focused on practical and cost-effective outcomes. 

I have been legal counsel in a number of notable cases in the Employment Court for both employers and employees concerned with personal grievances, leave issues, wage arrears and restraints of trade.


Education

The education sector is covered by a number of legal practice areas - employment law, human rights and privacy, public law issues (notably stand downs, suspensions and exclusions) as well as aspects of contract law and the application of statutes and regulations. 

My practice has been to provide advice and representation in these practice areas including:

-      Judicial review and interlocutory applications to the High Court

-      Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner complaints and investigations

-      Human Rights claims

-      Teachers Council Complaints Assessment Committee investigation and Tribunal hearings

-      Contract disputes with suppliers to schools

-      Drafting of contracts and policies/procedures.

I have been associated with the Secondary Principals Association of New Zealand (SPANZ) and currently provide advice to secondary principals through SPANZ and to school boards 


“Common sense often makes good law”

(William O. Douglas)

Civil Litigation

There are a range of areas in which I assist businesses, organisations and individuals concerning contractual issues and disputes, negligence, debt recovery, insurance issues. 

I appear in the District Court, High Court and occasionally Court of Appeal, along with considerable involvement in mediation and alternative dispute resolution processes over various legal areas. 

Public and administrative law are areas of practice I have considerable experience. The advocacy areas include judicial review processes. I also have much experience dealing with government agencies on behalf of those who may be subject to claims in areas such as official information, privacy, human rights and the exercise of statutory powers by public bodies. 

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