Employment
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : New Zealand
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+64 9 353 9700About
Provided by MinterEllisonRuddWatts
MinterEllisonRuddWatts has one of the largest employment teams in New Zealand, providing practical legal advice on all employment-related matters.
The team advises on the full spectrum of employment law, including employee and industrial relations, HR, employment law, disciplinary investigations and dismissals, restructuring and redundancies, managing poor performance and long term illness, Holidays Act advice, executive remuneration, health and safety, immigration law, privacy issues, and equal employment opportunities and discrimination law.
With a reputation for providing high quality, strategic assistance, the team is renowned for understanding their clients’ business – which allows the team to provide advice that is practical, easy to understand, commercially astute and easily implemented.
MinterEllisonRuddWatts is connected to a global network of offices and can help clients find experts to assist with global HR and legal needs.
- Advised Raiser New Zealand Limited (Uber) in their litigation with four Uber drivers in their application to be recognised as employees.
- Advised Electrix to provide strategic guidance and support on employee conduct issues.
- Advise Metlifecare’s executive leadership and human resources teams on ongoing day-to-day employment, industrial relations, and crisis management advice. Recently, we assisted Metlifecare with the acquisition of six retirement villages across New Zealand’s North Island.
Chambers Review
MinterEllisonRuddWatts has notable expertise in employment agreement reviews and business restructuring matters. The team acts for an impressive clientele from the agriculture, transport and technology sectors on health and safety, industrial relations and privacy matters. The firm operates a strong practice out of offices in both Auckland and Wellington, specialising in immigration, disciplinary proceedings, employee terminations and workplace investigations.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"MinterEllisonRuddWatts is outstanding when it comes to delivering and turning around matters to meet seemingly impossible deadlines and meeting demanding customer requirements."
"The team is always available with short notice, and the service level never drops even with tight timeframes."
"MinterEllisonRuddWatts is outstanding when it comes to delivering and turning around matters to meet seemingly impossible deadlines and meeting demanding customer requirements."
"The team is always available with short notice, and the service level never drops even with tight timeframes."
Notable Practitioners
Gillian Service handles workplace investigations into compliance breaches, bullying and harassment, as well as complex litigation. She is particularly noted for her expertise covering flexible working and Holidays Act issues.
"Gillian is great work to with. She's commercial, strategic, technical and is able to translate complex legal principles into practical solutions."
"Gillian is an impressive lawyer who does not disappoint. Her written advice is clear and easy to follow. In litigation, she is quick on her feet and able to adeptly handle all that comes her way."
Megan Richards advises on a wide array of employment matters, including compliance with changing legislation, disciplinary processes, redundancy and post-employment restrictions.
"Megan is great to work with and very friendly. I always feel relaxed, supported and safe."
"She is very responsive, with clear communication. This undoubtedly helped us manage our situation to a satisfactory conclusion."
June Hardacre is known for her expertise in health and safety, remuneration and matters relating to employee privacy. She advises a wide range of both public and private sector clients.
"I really enjoy working with June. I feel she's a safe pair of hands and is highly capable in her field."
"June is reliable and very pragmatic in her thinking. She's good at mapping pathways to solutions."
Ranked Lawyers at
MinterEllisonRuddWatts
New Zealand
Members
Provided by MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Clients
Provided by MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Aon Insurance
Auckland District Health Board
Colliers International
Fonterra Co-Operative Group
IAG New Zealand Limited
IBM
Johnson & Johnson
The Warehouse Group
Uber
Warner Brothers Discovery Inc