The Legal 500

The ‘very experienced and knowledgeable’ Rob Towner leads Bell Gully’s ‘excellent’ employment team. The practice acted on behalf of McCain Foods in a dispute with the Service and Food Workers Union regarding the union’s attempt to recruit members at the company’s sites. In 2009, it also advised clients such as Carter Holt Harvey and Sealord Group on procedure and employment issues. The practice continues to provide a range of employment advice to Auckland Regional Transport Authority and Auckland Regional Council. According to clients, Rob Towner offers ‘good, well-researched and practical’ advice and has good ‘impact in a courtroom
setting’.

Buddle Findlay’s level of service rates ‘highly’ with clients. ‘Highly competent’ Peter Chemis and Hamish Kynaston are praised for their ‘accurate, appropriate and pragmatic’ advice. In December 2008, the practice advised Chevron New Zealand on restructuring its workforce and relocating its head office. Another highlight was assisting KiwiRail with the merger of its infrastructure
and rail transport businesses. The practice also advised GE Money on the implications of downsizing.

Chapman Tripp’s employment practice is praised by clients for its ‘pragmatic’ approach. Doug Alderslade is particularly recommended by clients for disputes. Following the Mangatepopo canyoning tragedy, the practice acted for the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre during extensive investigations by the police and Department of Labour. The practice also continues to advise a variety of receivers and administrators in insolvency cases, such as the Kleins administration and Bridgecorp.

Kensington Swan’s employment team was successful in acting for The Radio Network in an employee dismissal action. The practice was successful in obtaining the dismissal of a case brought by an employee of its client, Open Cloud. The team also gained an injunction against the NZ Ambulance Association’s threat to strike on behalf of its client, St John. Anthony Drake is ‘excellent’, Susan Hornsby is described by clients as ‘sublime’ and Carl Reaich ‘tailors advice really
well’.

Led by Peter Kiely and Bernard Banks, Kiely Thompson Caisley’s five partners are split between Auckland and Wellington. The practice’s work in 2008 and 2009 varied from advising ABN AMRO on redundancy processes and employment restructuring, to acting for employers such as SCA Hygiene Australasia to determine the legality of proposed strike action proposed by the Pulp and Paper Union.

Providing ‘fabulous’ service, Langton Hudson led an appeal to the High Court on behalf of The Supply Chain, arguing fines imposed by the department of labour were excessive. The practice also acted for Cabco in claims of breaches of fiduciary duty against its former CEO. The practice acted for Tourism Holdings in its defense of claims of wage arrears put forth by the Service and Food Workers Union, involving counterclaims. Stephen Langton ‘has a particularly fine grasp of complex collective bargaining procedural issues’. Clients also recommend Shannon Kelly and Andrew Schirnack.

Minter Ellison Rudd Watts represented Hirequip in defence of a misrepresentation claim put forward by a former employee for more than NZ$6m. In September 2008, the team represented South Pacific Tyres in an internal investigation following an employee fatality. According to clients, the ‘very strong’ employment team offers an ‘excellent’ level of service and is ‘an excellent source of historical information’. Karen Spackman is singled out for her ‘exceptional legal
advice’.

Clients praise Russell McVeagh’s employment practice for its ‘top notch’ level of service and ‘sound advice’. Richard McIlraith and Gillian Service are ‘impressive’. A major client for the practice has been Television New Zealand, whom it has advised on its restructuring. Another highlight was acting for Ports of Auckland on the employment implications of consolidating two terminals. The practice also acted for Sky City on the reorganisation of its workforce.

Phillipa Muir’s employment practice at Simpson Grierson is one to watch according to clients. In February 2009, the practice successfully defended Telecom New Zealand against a NZ$50,000 claim of unfair dismissal brought by a former employee. The practice was also successful in acting for Toll NZ Consolidated, Auckland City Council and the University of Auckland in
2008.

With ‘good industry knowledge’, DLA Phillips Fox’s John Hannan is praised for ‘excellent client service’ and ‘good advice’.

Clients go to Duncan Cotterill’s Mark Lawlor, who is rated as ‘particularly good’.

Paul McBride of McBride Davenport James is ‘very accessible’.

Offering ‘practical, solid advice’, Swarbrick Beck Mackinnon’s Don Mackinnon is ‘very good’.