Penny Swarbrick

Specialist areas of practice:

Employment law

Health and safety

Privacy

Dispute resolution

As an employment law specialist for decades, Penny has advised and represented the full range of employers, including many of New Zealand’s largest corporates, as well as government departments and local government agencies, in all manner of employment law issues. She also regularly acts for executives and other individuals. Her practice covers both contentious and non-contentious issues, and includes collective bargaining, dispute resolution, restructuring, change management, investigations and litigation.

Penny has appeared in many leading cases during her career. She is widely regarded for not only her technical expertise but also her pragmatic advice, and her clients value her extensive insight into the practical implications of employment relationship problems.

Penny has been a regular presenter on employment law matters to the legal profession. She was a founding partner of SBM Legal, which, after 20 years as a specialist employment law firm, merged with Wynn Williams in 2025.