Recent reforms are changing the legal and commercial consequences of terminating employment under the Employment Relations Act 2000. Gain a precise understanding of how those changes affect termination rights, liability and risk across high-income employment, serious misconduct, procedural fairness and remedies. Examine the competing obligations that arise under the Privacy Act 2020, Human Rights Act 1993, Holidays Act 2003 and Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 when managing medical incapacity, mental health and psychosocial hazards. Test your approach to restructuring and redundancy against current legal requirements. The result: more rigorous advice, stronger termination processes and a clearer basis for protecting your clients from avoidable claims and liability.

Presenters

Jennifer Mills, Director – Head of Practice, Jennifer Mills & Associates
Jennifer Mills is one of New Zealand's leading employment and health and safety lawyers, with extensive experience in employment litigation, industrial relations, health and safety, complex restructures, large-scale Holidays Act issues, executive remuneration and regulation, executive exits, and immigration. Jennifer advises clients on all employment-related matters including drafting employment agreements and HR policies, managing poor performance, restructuring and redundancy, disciplinary investigations, and dismissals, leave entitlements and secondments. She also advises on fixed term employment arrangements, independent contractor arrangements, KiwiSaver and superannuation, collective bargaining, establishing businesses in New Zealand, recruiting employees, and restraints of trade and other post termination obligations. She has been listed as a 'leading individual' in the Asia Pacific Legal 500 directory, a ‘market leader’ in the Chambers Asia Pacific directory and is rated one of the leading employment lawyers in the world, by Chambers Global.


Hayley Coles, Senior Associate, Duncan Cotterill
Hayley is an employment law specialist who provides clear, practical advice. She provides advice on the full spectrum of employment law matters and has worked for clients across a range of different sectors. Hayley regularly assists clients with advice regarding issues such as restructuring and redundancy, performance management, disciplinary processes, raising or responding to personal grievances or addressing bullying and harassment. She can adeptly represent clients if a claim progresses to mediation, the Employment Relations Authority or further. Hayley also has experience conducting employment investigations, both in New Zealand and in the UK arising from internal complaints including bullying, harassment, racism and sexism. She has conducted investigations into specific misconduct complaints and more broadly into team- or organisation-wide cultural concerns.

Jim Roberts, Partner, Hesketh Henry
Jim is a partner in our Employment Team. He advises on all aspects of employment law, with a focus on helping clients manage risk, resolve disputes, and navigate complex workplace issues. With over 30 years of specialist experience, he works across a broad range of industries, providing strategic advice on employment processes, compliance, and workplace change. He regularly advises on holidays compliance, including issues arising from short-term incentive payments, and supports clients through employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions. Jim is also involved in collective bargaining and union matters. Jim is a highly experienced advocate, with a strong track record in mediation, the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court, and appellate courts. His career includes acting on a number of leading cases, including a benchmark appeal decision. Jim is internationally recognised as a leading expert in employment law, ranked by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Chambers Asia-Pacific, and Doyle’s Guide. He is also recommended by Doyles Guide as a top Workplace Health & Safety Lawyer. Jim is known for his ability to understand the people behind the issues and for delivering clear, practical advice that supports long-term outcomes.

Blair Edwards, Managing Partner, Edwards Sluiters Employment Lawyers
Blair Edwards is the founder of Edwards Sluiters – Employment Lawyers. He has an honours degree in law and Bachelor of Arts degree in English and History. Having practised employment law for many years in one of New Zealand’s largest law firms, Blair joined the independent bar as a barrister sole in 2008, before going on to establish Edwards Sluiters – Employment Lawyers. With significant experience in employment relations, Blair gives practical advice on all contentious and non-contentious legal and human resource issues that arise in your workplace. Blair assists clients to prevent employment problems from arising and represents clients when employment relationships have broken down. Blair regularly attends mediations, Employment Relations Authority investigation meetings, and hearings in the Employment Court. Blair has also appeared in the District Court, the Accident Compensation Review Authority, District Court – ACC Appeals, and the Court of Appeal.

Kate Fitz-John, Senior Associate, Edwards Sluiters Employment Lawyers
Kate has been with Edwards Sluiters – Employment Lawyers since 2018 and is based in the Hamilton office, assisting clients throughout New Zealand and abroad. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Social Sciences from the University of Waikato. She began her career in general practice, gaining experience in commercial and property matters, and civil, criminal, and employment litigation before specialising solely in employment law in 2018. Kate advises both employers and employees on the full spectrum of employment and human resource issues, contentious and non-contentious. Kate works closely with clients to understand their circumstances and develop clear, tailored strategies that fits their specific needs. She is known for simplifying complex legal issues into straightforward, actionable advice. Kate is practical and solutions-focused, but draws confidently on her litigation background when escalation is required. She regularly represents clients in mediation, the Employment Relations Authority, and the Employment Court. Her work includes drafting and advising on employment agreements, workplace policies, records of settlement, employee share schemes, and pleadings. She also assists both employers and employees with restructures, personal grievances, disciplinary and performance processes, workplace investigations, exit negotiations, and restraint of trade issues. Kate also provides advice on technical areas of employment law, including wage issues. Clients value Kate’s approachable, responsive style and her ability to provide advice that is legally robust, practical, and easy to understand. She is committed to building strong, long‑term relationships and guiding clients through both straightforward and complex workplace issues.