19 Employment Law Partners Across Australia and NZ
Employment law sits close to the work of building organisations people would move cities to work at. This current directory brings together partners and senior employment specialists across Australia and New Zealand.
If you are thinking about how employment practice connects with leadership teams, culture and working relationships, you may also enjoy this practical culture guide and this Working Genius piece.
The people to know.
1. Samantha Betzien
Partner, Allens.
Samantha Betzien is a Partner at Allens.
Her practice covers strategic, complex and sensitive workplace issues, including employment advocacy.
2. Dan Trindade
Partner, Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety, Clayton Utz.
Dan Trindade is a Partner, Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety at Clayton Utz.
His work sits across workplace relations, employment and safety, which makes him relevant when several people issues meet at once.
3. Ruth Hart
Partner, Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
Ruth Hart is a Partner at Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
She brings more than 20 years of experience advising on contentious workplace matters across Australia.
4. Jason Noakes
Partner, Global Co-Head and Team Leader of Employment & Labour, Norton Rose Fulbright.
Jason Noakes is a Partner, Global Co-Head and Team Leader of Employment & Labour at Norton Rose Fulbright.
That combination gives him both a global employment perspective and leadership of the Australian employment and labour team.
5. Nicholas Turner
Partner and Head of Employment, Australia, DLA Piper.
Nicholas Turner is a Partner and Head of Employment, Australia at DLA Piper.
His experience spans Australia, Asia and London, giving his workplace advice an international lens.
6. Talia Firth
Partner, Ashurst Perkins Coie.
Talia Firth is a Partner at Ashurst Perkins Coie.
Her practice covers industrial relations strategy, bargaining, investigations and workplace disputes.
7. Andrew Gray
Partner, Mallesons.
Andrew Gray is a Partner at Mallesons.
He focuses on complex strategic employee relations and executive employment matters.
8. Leila Moddel
Partner, Labour, Employment and Workplace Safety, K&L Gates.
Leila Moddel is a Partner, Labour, Employment and Workplace Safety at K&L Gates.
Her work is closely connected to the practical workplace safety and employment questions leaders face.
9. Daniel Proietto
Chief Executive Partner, Lander & Rogers.
Daniel Proietto is a Chief Executive Partner at Lander & Rogers.
He maintains an employment practice covering workplace relationships, restraints, investigations and industrial disputes.
10. Lindy Richardson
Partner, Maddocks.
Lindy Richardson is a Partner at Maddocks.
Her work brings together industrial relations, employment and anti-discrimination law.
11. Liz Coats
Partner, Bell Gully.
Liz Coats is a Partner at Bell Gully.
Bell Gully describes her as a specialist employment lawyer who gives practical and commercial advice.
12. Emma Peterson
Partner, Employment, Health & Safety, Russell McVeagh.
Emma Peterson is a Partner, Employment, Health & Safety at Russell McVeagh.
Her focus covers employment law and health and safety, two areas that often need to be considered together.
13. Marie Wisker
Partner, Chapman Tripp.
Marie Wisker is a Partner at Chapman Tripp.
She sits within Chapman Tripp’s employment and health and safety capability, with a national team perspective.
14. Emma von Veh
Partner, Employment, Buddle Findlay.
Emma von Veh is a Partner, Employment at Buddle Findlay.
She advises public and private sector clients across the employment relationship and related public law and contract questions.
15. Phillipa Muir
Chair and employment partner, Simpson Grierson.
Phillipa Muir is a Chair and employment partner at Simpson Grierson.
She has led major employment reviews and co-authored employment law texts.
16. Megan Evans
Partner, MinterEllisonRuddWatts.
Megan Evans is a Partner at MinterEllisonRuddWatts.
Her profile records more than 30 years of experience across employment and public law.
17. Fiona McMillan
Partner, Employment Law, Lane Neave.
Fiona McMillan is a Partner, Employment Law at Lane Neave.
Her advice spans employment relations, health and safety, human rights, privacy and ACC.
18. Alastair Espie
Partner and Head of Employment Practice, Duncan Cotterill.
Alastair Espie is a Partner and Head of Employment Practice at Duncan Cotterill.
He leads Duncan Cotterill’s employment practice from Auckland.
19. Kathryn Evans
Partner, National Employment Team, Wynn Williams.
Kathryn Evans is a Partner, National Employment Team at Wynn Williams.
She works across the full range of employment matters for clients.
A practical starting point.
The right employment law partner depends on your organisation, your people and the problem in front of you. Use this directory as a starting point for further conversations, then choose the person and firm that best fit your needs.
For more practical ideas for leaders, read 21 practical Working Genius tips for leaders.