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Employment Law

The Employment Law Committee is comprised of practitioners who specialise in employment law and work for firms, private in-house teams, unions and as sole practitioners and barristers. The Committee liaises closely with a wide range of stakeholders in the employment law sector including the Employment Court, Employment Relations Authority, WorkSafe and other employment-related institutions.

The Committee advocates for balanced and effective employment legislation, engages in law reform, seeks to support legal professionals in their employment law practice, and champions collaboration and innovation in employment law.

The Committee promotes networking events for practitioners and assists with continued professional development.

Contact

Helen Gilbert

[email protected]
Members

Committee members, October 2026 – September 2028:

  1. Helen Gilbert – Barrister, Helen Gilbert Employment Lawyers (Committee Convenor)
  2. Ben Cleland, Principal Advisor – Employment Relations – NZ Transport Agency
  3. Matthew Dearing, Head of Legal – EMA
  4. David Fleming – Director, Fleming Singleton Law
  5. Joshua Kimpton – Senior Associate, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
  6. Hannah King, Partner – Kiely Thompson Caisley
  7. Michael O’Flaherty, Senior Associate – Gibson Sheat Lawyers
  8. Catherine Pendleton – Principal, Turner Hopkins
  9. Helen Pryde, Special Counsel – Buddle Findlay
  10. Astrid Sandberg, Senior Workplace Relations Manager – Air New Zealand
  11. Simon Schofield, Teaching Fellow – University of Auckland
  12. Jodi Sharman, Partner – Hesketh Henry
  13. Catherine Stewart, Barrister – Catherine Stewart Barrister
  14. India Townsend, Senior Associate – Simpson Grierson
  15. Rosemary Wooders, Partner – Bell Gully

 

Special Advisors to the Employment Law Committee:

  • Graeme Colgan – Barrister sole and former Chief Judge of the Employment Court, Graeme Colgan Barrister
  • John Farrow – Partner, Anderson Lloyd
  • John Hannan – Barrister, Bankside Chambers
  • Simon Lapthorne – Partner, Kiely Thompson Caisley
  • Andrew Little – Consultant, Gibson Sheat Lawyers
  • Rupert O’Brien – Solicitor, Community Law Centres Aotearoa
  • Garry Pollak – Director, Garry Pollak & Co Ltd
  • Philip Skelton KC – Barrister, Bankside Chambers
  • David Sparks – Case Worker, Rotorua District Community Law Centre
  • Jenni-Maree Trotman – Barrister, Trotman Law
Submissions
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