Uncover key employment concerns, so you are across all the issues you need to be for your practice. You’ll receive practical guidance on the crucial issues concerning independent contractor vs employee, best practice in dealing with workplace mental health & wellbeing in the workplace. Plus, understand the significance of Tikanga on employers. Finally, know the developments in the relation to workplace investigations. This highly informative afternoon will expand your knowledge, and in turn benefit your clients.

Presenters

James Warren, Partner, Dentons
James is a partner with Dentons' employment and workplace health & safety team, based in Auckland with extensive experience in both the UK and New Zealand. He is regularly instructed on multi-jurisdictional matters and business transformations, while also dealing with investigations, dismissals and personal grievances. James is an approachable and responsive advocate when dealing with disputes, prosecutions and claims, focused on delivering practical and commercial solutions. James has been consistently recommended in The Legal 500 and has been described in various editions as a ’clear thinking adviser’ providing ’great customer service’, along with ’robust and practical advice’.


Andrew Scott-Howman, Barrister, Port Nicholson Chambers 
Andrew Scott-Howman is a Wellington based barrister specialising in workplace investigations. He is a graduate of the Association of Workplace Investigator's Training Instititute, and is a member of that specialist interest organisation. He is also a co-author of the Thomson Reuters text "Workplace Bullying in New Zealand".He acts as investigator in both the public and private sectors, and has wide experience in investigating bullying, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct claims.


Lucy Gallagher, Solicitor, Anderson Lloyd
Lucy graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours (First Class) at the end of 2022 and was admitted to the Bar in December 2023. She initially joined Anderson Lloyd's employment law team as a summer clerk in 2020 and has since become a permanent member of the team, where she assists with a wide range of employment issues. Lucy prepares and presents at both internal and external seminars and has assisted in advising various clients, including public sector employers, employers in the aged care sector, organisations undergoing investigations and prosecutions by WorkSafe, and employers in need of assistance with disciplinary processes and negotiated exits.


Ashley-Jayne Lodge, Partner, Anderson Lloyd
Ashley-Jayne (AJ) advises clients in all aspects of employment law working with them to provide practical, pragmatic solutions to often complex employment issues. AJ can assist employers, employees, and HR professionals with all manner of employment advice, including day to day management of employees, restructures and redundancies, employee claims, advising on and providing representation in human rights matters, health and safety, and employment agreements and policies. AJ represents clients at mediations, in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court, and privacy, human rights and disciplinary jurisdictions as well. AJ is an experienced investigator, having conducted workplace investigations, reviews, and other independent investigations in both the public and private sector. AJ is a certified Association of Workplace Investigators member and Certificate Holder (AWI-CH).


Jonothan Whyte, Staff Barrister, Catherine Stewart Barrister
Jonothan Whyte is a staff barrister in Catherine’s Stewart Barrister’s team. Jonothan advises clients on all aspects of employment law. He regularly represents clients as counsel at mediations and in the Employment Relations Authority and acts as junior/second counsel in the Employment Court. Jonothan has wide-ranging employment law experience having acted for and advised employees, small-to-medium sized employers, and unions across a range of matters including major bullying cases, restraint of trade disputes with commercial elements, regulatory and professional conduct matters for educators and medical professionals, disciplinary and performance concerns, personal grievances, collective and individual bargaining, Labour Inspectorate investigations, and human rights and privacy matters arising in the context of employment.


Alison Maelzer, Partner, Hesketh Henry
Alison has practised exclusively in the employment jurisdiction for approximately 20 years.  Her background includes large firm and in-house local government experience, and she represents clients at mediation, in the Employment Relations Authority, and Employment Court.  Her expertise in the employment law sector has been recognised by the major legal directories, including AsiaLaw, and Chambers Asia-Pacific. Alison’s experience covers the breadth of employment law issues, representing employers, employees, and unions in matters ranging from statutory compliance to negotiated solutions to employment relationship problems. She provides pragmatic, business-focused advice with a view to minimising cost and time for the client.  Alison works hard to ensure that advice is practical, solutions-based and delivered in plain English.