Joshua Kimpton

Senior Associate Pouarataki Pāhake

Joshua is an employment, health and safety, and immigration law expert, with broad experience in advisory and contentious matters. He advises on all aspects of the law involving workers.

He is passionate about people and takes the time to get to know his clients – what they need and how they operate. Joshua recognises that every business is different and likes to work alongside his clients to problem solve and help achieve desired outcomes. As a trusted adviser to many organisations, Joshua provides clear, accurate, and commercially pragmatic legal advice to support the needs of his clients.

Joshua acts for clients in both the public and private sector. He has particular experience in the financial services, public transport, infrastructure, aged care, horticulture, and health sectors. He advises clients on a range of different employment matters, including restraints of trade and protection of confidential information, performance and disciplinary processes, medical incapacity processes, workplace bullying and discrimination claims, restructuring and redundancy, and Holidays Act compliance. He is also experienced with industrial relations and collective bargaining matters.

Joshua is regularly involved in the negotiation and settlement of employment disputes and has a wealth of experience in mediation and litigation of employment matters.

An expert on health and safety, Joshua reviews contracts and policies, advises on strategic health and safety compliance, and negotiates and drafts enforceable undertakings. He also represents clients in health and safety litigation.

Joshua also provides strategic advice to clients on immigration matters. He regularly works with Immigration New Zealand to ensure that his clients secure the right talent for their businesses. Joshua has experience supporting businesses and individuals with obtaining a range of different visas, including visitor visas, work visas, and residence visas (e.g., skilled migrant category visas and investor visas). He supports clients with obtaining visa variations and accreditation with Immigration New Zealand.

Career highlights

Assisting a range of clients navigating complex issues arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic and its interplay with employment, health and safety, and privacy law. Key areas of advice and support include restructures, Government subsidy schemes, vaccination mandates, dismissals for unvaccinated employees, and associated disputes.

Representing numerous clients in employment mediations, including claims relating to unjustified dismissal, unjustified disadvantage, wage arrears, workplace bullying, and collective bargaining.

Working with clients to successfully navigate complex restructures, including strategic advice and support regarding restructure proposals, consultation processes (including selection processes), redeployment, and redundancies.

Advising clients on employment matters in the various stages of corporate transactions, including due diligence, sale and purchase agreement reviews, employee transfers, and bulk visa variation applications.

Supporting visa applications for key employees of clients, managing bulk visa variation applications, assisting clients with obtaining accreditation, supporting individuals with obtaining residency in New Zealand, and providing guidance to businesses in the midst of New Zealand’s COVID-19 border restrictions.

Achievements and recognition
  • Tier 1 team, Labour and Employment, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific