Termination of employment remains one of the most legally sensitive and high-risk areas in workplace relations and with major legislative changes on the horizon, employers need to be more vigilant than ever. Explore the “golden rule” of New Zealand employment law: that every dismissal must be both substantively justified and procedurally fair and examine what that means in today’s landscape. Gain practical insights into upcoming reforms affecting termination processes plus examine redundancy, redeployment and incapacity due to stress or mental illness. Be guided through the latest cases, changing remedies and key compliance steps to mitigate risk and ensure fair and lawful outcomes.

Presenters

Daniel Church, Senior Staff Barrister, Catherine Stewart Barrister
Daniel Church is a Senior Staff Barrister in Catherine's team. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree with First Class Honours and a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2015, and joined Catherine's practice in early 2017 to further his passion for practising in employment law. Daniel regularly appears as counsel in the Employment Relations Authority and as second counsel to Catherine in the Employment Court. He has also appeared as counsel before the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal defending charges brought by the Complaints Assessment Committee. Daniel regularly assists clients with investigations in the Employment Relations Authority, mediations, reviewing and amending employment agreements and policies to ensure compliance with current legislation, personal grievances, redundancies and negotiated exits. He has assisted companies with major restructurings and represented them in union negotiations, as well as representing both employers and employees in disciplinary and performance management processes. Daniel also has conflict resolution experience and is able to assist with mediating disputes between employees. In addition he has experience in independent contractor disputes and civil mediations and arbitrations. He presents seminars at conferences on employment law, as well as education law matters which are topical and of particular interest to school leaders.

Kirsti Laird, Special Counsel, Wynn Williams
Kirsti is a Senior Associate at SBM Legal. She commenced practice as an employment lawyer in 2003 at a national firm having graduated from the University of Canterbury with an LLB (hons) and BA in History and Classical Studies. She also spent several years working in the employment law teams of multi-national firms in London before returning to New Zealand. Kirsti is an experienced employment lawyer who advises both employers and employees in a wide range of employment law issues. Her advice is always practical and designed to find solutions to problems that arise in workplaces. Her expertise includes advising on restructuring, disciplinary and performance issues, discrimination, the employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions and dispute resolution.

Ruvin Pattiaratchi, Senior Associate, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Ruvin is a senior associate in our employment team. He provides advice on a broad range of employment law and health and safety matters to clients across the business spectrum. Ruvin can guide you through disciplinary matters, personal grievances, Holidays Act, individual and collective employment agreements, restructuring and redeployment, and business sale or acquisition. Ruvin can also act as the investigator in employment investigations. Ruvin assists clients to improve their health and safety performance and understand their obligations and risks under the Health and Safety at Work Act. He has particular interest in health-related matters, including workplace bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Ruvin has appeared as legal counsel in the Employment Relations Authority. He has extensive litigation experience and regularly appeared in the Family Court in his previous roles.