Emma has been with the firm since 2002, and has undertaken a wide variety of work in the areas of employment law, health and safety, public law and education law. Emma's areas of expertise include drafting employment documentation, representing both private and public sector employers at mediation, the Employment Relations Authority and the Employment Court, and providing legal opinions on employment, health and safety and public law issues.
Some of Emma's major projects
Representing employers in, and drafting court documents and submissions for, the Employment Tribunal, the Employment Relations Authority, the Employment Court and the Court of Appeal, and undertaking discovery and other necessary pre-trial preparation
Drafting, reviewing and interpreting collective and individual employment agreements and human resources policies
Representing employers at mediation
Advising on the impact of legislative change in relation to health and safety, holidays entitlements and obligations to employees in the event of a restructuring
Conducting research and providing legal opinions on the full range of employment and human resources related issues including leave and bonus entitlements, discrimination issues, grounds for discipline and dismissal of employees, and redundancy issues
Advising employers regarding the management, and eventual medical retirement, of employees on long term sick leave
Facilitating training on a wide range of employment related matters
Providing advice regarding the various duties owed by different parties under the Health and Safety in Employment Act, both generally and in relation to specific situations, and reviewing and amending health and safety policies and procedures
Researching and advising central Government agencies and Crown entities on a variety of issues arising under legislation including the State Sector Act, the Crown Entities Act, the Privacy Act, the Official Information Act, the Education Act and the Human Rights Act
Assisting employers in conducting employment investigations, including advising regarding grounds for discipline and/or dismissal
Providing advice to central Government agencies and Crown entities regarding public law issues, including the delegation and exercise of statutory powers, and responses to parliamentary and Select Committee questions
Advising employers regarding accident compensation issues, including representing an employer in a challenge to a decision by ACC to classify an employee's injury as work-related
Advising employers on strategic and legal issues arising out of proposed industrial action
Providing advice in relation to issues arising at the various stages of the collective bargaining process, including reviewing and commenting upon proposed documents
Providing advice to both public and private sector organisations regarding privacy issues, including responding to Privacy Act requests and complaints
Advising a number of employers, both in the public and private sectors, regarding restructuring and redundancy processes, including issues relating to relocating employees
Undertaking employment due diligence and advising on all employment related aspects of the sale and transfer of a business
Advising in relation to employment law issues for businesses in receivership
Memberships and directorships
Committee Member, Auckland District Law Society (ADLS) Employment Law Committee
Committee Member, Employment Law Institute
Member, Human Resources Institute of New Zealand (HRINZ)
Seminars and publications
Author/co-author of various employment law articles, including Employment Today and Employment Law Bulletin
Regular presenter at training and seminars on a wide range of employment law matters
