Organisational change can expose employers to significant legal and operational risk when redundancy and restructuring processes are not handled correctly. Gain practical guidance on navigating every stage of the process, from establishing a genuine business rationale and conducting meaningful consultation through to redeployment, employee communications and implementation. Explore recent case law shaping employer obligations and learn how courts are scrutinising decision-making, selection processes and procedural fairness. Leave with practical strategies to minimise risk, avoid costly disputes and manage restructures with confidence and clarity.
Thursday, 22 October 2026
Chair:
Steph Dyhrberg, Barrister, Steph Dyhrberg Barrister; Doyle's Guide Leading Junior Counsel Employment Law, New Zealand, 2026 and 2018 Wellingtonian of the Year
1.00pm to 2.00pm Redundancy and Restructuring Case Law Update
- Review recent employment law decisions shaping redundancy and restructuring obligations, with a focus on procedural fairness, consultation and genuine business reasons
- Examine how the courts are approaching employer decision-making during restructures, including selection processes, redeployment obligations and documentation
- Identify practical lessons from recent cases to help employers reduce risk when planning, communicating and implementing redundancies
- Gain insight into emerging trends in redundancy disputes and what they mean for advisers, HR teams and employers managing organisational change
Presented by Jordan Boyle, Partner, Dyhrberg Drayton; Doyle's Guide 2026, Leading Employment Lawyers, New Zealand, 2026
12.00pm to 1.00pm Managing Redundancies and Restructures: A Practical Guide to Getting the Process Right
- Identify when a proposed redundancy is genuine and ensure restructures are supported by a defensible business rationale
- Navigate consultation obligations, redeployment requirements and employee communications to minimise legal risk
- Manage selection processes, documentation and decision-making fairly and consistently throughout the restructure
- Avoid common pitfalls that lead to personal grievances, unjustified dismissal claims and costly post-restructure disputes
Presented by Jeremy Ansell, Special Counsel, Duncan Cotterill
Description
Attend and earn 2 CPD Hours
Learning Objectives:
- Assess whether a proposed redundancy or restructuring process meets legal requirements and is supported by a genuine business rationale
- Apply best-practice approaches to consultation, redeployment and employee communications during organisational change
- Evaluate redundancy and restructuring decisions in light of recent case law and emerging judicial trends
- Implement practical strategies to reduce the risk of personal grievances, unjustified dismissal claims and other employment disputes arising from restructures and redundancies
Presenters
Steph Dyhrberg, Barrister, Steph Dyhrberg BarristerSteph started her legal career working for 7 years at a large law firm, Russell McVeagh in Wellington. After developing her litigation skills and a special interest in employment law, she worked as a Crown Counsel at the Crown Law Office and for a boutique Human Resources company. For 18 years she worked in private practice, first on her own and then as one of the founding partners of Dyhrberg Drayton Employment Law. Since 1 June 2023, she has worked as a barrister (an independent lawyer). Steph specialises in investigations, mediation and facilitation, and resolving complicated situations, including addressing sexual harassment and bullying.
Jeremy Ansell, Special Counsel, Duncan Cotterill
Jeremy specialises in employment law, primarily assisting medium and large employers with the resolution of personal grievances, dealing with challenging staff behaviour and performance issues, restructuring processes, medical incapacity issues and compliance matters. Jeremy also assists clients with investigations and professional discipline (e.g. Law Society and Education Council) matters. He regularly represents clients at mediation and in Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court matters. Jeremy often presents employment law related seminars (including for LegalWise and HRINZ), provides in-house training to clients, and provides commentary on employment law issues in the media (including for the National Business Review).
Jordan Boyle, Partner, Dyhrberg Drayton
Jordan graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 2014 and was admitted to the Bar in September 2014. He joined Dyhrberg Drayton Employment Law in 2016. Jordan strategically advises employers and employees on a range of employment law matters. Jordan is usually able to pragmatically resolve contentious matters through negotiation and mediation. Where matters are not able to be resolved Jordan has consistently achieved successful outcomes through litigation. Jordan has appeared at all levels of courts and authorities, from the Employment Relations Authority to the Supreme Court. Jordan is an experienced workplace investigator, undertaking independent investigations for employers of all sizes in the public and private sector on a range of issues.
