Explore the latest case law trends and emerging decisions, the implications and practical strategies that employment lawyers and in-house counsel must navigate carefully to avoid risk. Understand how employment law increasingly intersects with areas like criminal, immigration and health and safety law, and learn how to craft clear and effective terms of reference for workplace investigations. Gain a timely understanding of how to avoid risks given whistleblowing reform, outlining key legislative changes, protections and best-practice investigation strategies.
Tuesday, 24 March 2026
Early Bird Discount ends 19 Dec 2025
9.00am to 10.00am Case Law Trends & Key Recent Decisions
Stay up to date with the latest employment law developments. Gain a review of key recent cases and emerging trends shaping workplace rights, obligations and dispute resolution in New Zealand.
Presented by Charlotte Parkhill, Partner, Dentons
11.00am to 11.15am Morning Break
Learning Objectives:
- Keep up to date with case law trends & key recent decisions
- Understand the the relationship between employment law and other areas of law
- Learn to draft clear terms of reference and allegations for fair, legally sound workplace investigations
- Understand the whistleblowing legislation and how to put it into action
11.15am to 12.15pm The Art of Definition: Mastering Terms of Reference in the Investigation Process
A well-run investigation starts with a well drafted, clearly defined terms of reference. Navigate how to carefully draft terms of reference, allegations and define the scope of an investigation.
Presented by Bridget Smith, Partner, Smith Dunn
12.15pm to 1.15pm Whistleblowing Reform: What Employers Need to Know
- Reasons for reform
- Key changes in 2022 Act
- Who is protected and what constitutes protected disclosure
- Protections for whistleblowers and prohibited conduct
- Best practice investigations
- Recent cases
Presented by Tim Clarke, Barrister, Richmond Chambers; Leading barrister in Employment and Industrial Relations, Doyle's Guide 2025
10.00am to 11.00am The Relationship Between Employment Law and Interdisciplinary Issues
Unpack the relationship between employment law and other areas of law including criminal, immigration and health and safety as increasingly employment lawyers are being required to have a good knowledge of other areas of the law in order to be able to advise their clients from an employment law perspective.
Presented by Fiona McMillan, Partner, Lane Neave
Description
Attend and earn 4 CPD hours
Presenters
Fiona McMillan, Partner, Lane Neave
Fiona is the Auckland Partner of the Lane Neave Employment Law team and commenced her career with Lane Neave in 2007. Fiona and her team act for both employees and employers in matters involving employment relations, health and safety, human rights, privacy and ACC. Fiona advises on all aspects of termination including performance management, misconduct, serious misconduct, medical incapacity, restructurings and redundancies and negotiated exits. She also specialises in collective bargaining, human rights commission matter and independent external investigations. In 2019, Fiona undertook the certification from the Association of Workplace Investigators in Vail, Colorado, USA. Fiona regularly represents employers in Mediations, Employment Relations Authority Investigation meetings and the Employment Court. Fiona was nominated for Young Lawyer of the Year at the 2016 Law Awards. In 2022 and 2023, she was recognised as an Elite Woman in NZ Lawyer’s annual rankings. Fiona has also been recognised in Doyle’s Guide, Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as a leading employment and health and safety practitioner in New Zealand.
Charlotte Parkhill, Partner, Dentons
Charlotte Parkhill is a Partner at Dentons, specialising in providing strategic employment advice to a wide range of clients. She is committed to achieving commercial outcomes to difficult employment issues through understanding her client’s business objectives and how they want to manage their people. Charlotte carries out independent investigations into employment issues and has extensive experience with assisting clients with compliance with the Holidays Act and issues that arise under the Human Rights Act. Charlotte is also the Chair of the Board for the Auckland Business Chamber, which gives her valuable insight into matters affecting the New Zealand business sector.
Tim Clarke, Barrister, Richmond Chambers
Tim Clarke is an experienced employment and workplace safety barrister. He appears in appellate courts, the Employment Court, Employment Relations Authority, and Human Rights Review Tribunal. Tim accepts instructions as counsel, mediator, or independent workplace investigator. Tim is an Associate member of AMINZ and the Resolution Institute, a member of the Association of Workplace Investigators, and serves on the TLANZ Health and Safety Committee and the Employment Law and Privacy Committee of the NZ Bar Association.
Bridget Smith, Partner, Smith Dunn
Bridget is a founding partner at Smith Dunn, which she established on 1 May 2024 with Kylie Dunn. Bridget has over 20 years’ experience in employment law acting for both employers and employees. She is recognised in guides such as Chambers, Legal 500 and Doyles.
