Employers

1

Our employment specialists bring big firm expertise while providing a very personal cost-effective service.  


We advise all types of businesses on many different employment issues. We can help you to achieve your goals whether you’re a family owned business or a large corporate with an HR team managing hundreds of staff around the country. 

We have practical experience in a range of industries, including manufacturers, construction companies, foreign exchange/service providers, retailers, franchisors and not-for-profit organisations.

We specialise in both contentious and non-contentious services. As the law shifts and changes we can provide updates to ensure that you remain at the forefront of your obligations.

Our expertise
Non-Contentious services
We advise all our employer clients that having strong, documented policy and procedures is the best way to ensure compliance and reduce costs.  Taking these steps can simplify areas which can otherwise lead to confusion and disputes. The services we offer include:​
  • Reviewing, updating and drafting employment and contractor agreements
  • Reviewing and drafting internal policy documents
  • Specialist advice about confidentiality, IP protection and restraints of trade
  • Redundancy and restructuring advice and support
  • Advising on employment issues arising on sales or purchases of businesses
  • Providing guidance and resources for investigations
  • Performance Management and disciplinary meetings
  • Health & Safety advice and policy development
  • ACC, Parental leave, Holiday and Kiwisaver obligations
  • Policies and advice relating to workplace stress, bullying, discrimination and harassment
  • Advising on Privacy Act disclosure requests
  • Organisational obligations and statutory compliance 

Contentious Services
Unfortunately, sometimes disputes arising from employment relationships are unavoidable. We have a wide range of tools which we can use to protect your interests and successfully resolve problems. All of our team have significant background experience in general commercial litigation as well as in litigating specialist employment disputes. Contentious situations where we can assist include:

  • Defending Personal Grievance claims
  • Defending claims for unpaid remuneration
  • Enforcing restraints of trade or claims based on breaches of confidentiality
  • Breaches of contract and debt recovery
  • Pursuing recovery action in cases of an employee fraud/theft
  • Filing and defending claims in the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court
  • WorkSafe investigations and prosecutions
​Recent work for employers
  • Advising on a restructuring of management roles for an international professional services enterprise.
  • Proceedings to recover losses caused by unlawful competition by an ex-employee.
  • Rolling out new employment agreements and reviewing internal policies for a major franchise following the sale and purchase of the business.
  • Negotiating and managing the exit of a CEO, director and shareholder of a nationwide retailer.
  • Recovery action against former employee engaged in serious fraud.
  • Advising and assisting with a WorkSafe investigation following the serious injury of an employee.
  • Successfully negotiating confidential settlements of personal grievances.
  • Assisting and managing disciplinary processes for employees involved in potential criminal actions at a large employer.
  • Providing an employment hotline service for franchisees of a nationwide chain.
  • ​Providing advice for clients on changes to the Health and Safety legislation.
Client testimonial
"Glenn has done us sterling service in the matter now just completed – and my fellow Directors and I are very pleased with this and the way it was executed against some good competition. Thank you to Glenn for the service rendered.”
 
Tim Warren
Constructing Excellence NZ Ltd

"Glenn and his team are an invaluable resource for SAFE in helping us through the many and varied issues that we come across in our sector. Glenn is a smart lawyer who knows our business and is able to quickly grasp the issues, explain the law in plain English and help us get pragmatic and successful outcomes.
 
I highly recommend him and his team to anyone needing help with their HR and employment law issues."
 
Jacqui Dillon
CEO, SAFE Network Inc

Key contacts
Glenn Key Contact
Glenn Finnigan
PARTNER
Employment Law
CONTACT US

Level 13, 41 Shortland Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

PO Box 3451, Auckland 1140, New Zealand

+64 9 303 3849

enquiry@jacksonrussell.co.nz

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