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Susan has extensive experience advising government departments and Crown companies and agencies whose role as an employer is complicated by public law obligations.
Susan’s expertise extends to all areas of employment law from managing personal grievances and restructuring to providing strategic advice on complex industrial issues. Her real strength is in her ability to develop innovative solutions to problems and provide advice in a practical and accessible manner.
During her career Susan spent 4 years at Industrial Relations firm, Greene Hansen, specialising in collective bargaining and union issues. From this Susan has built a unique practice around collective bargaining and strategic industrial relations. She has led the bargaining strategy for a large number of public and private sector agencies and also acts as lead advocate for many employers in negotiations. This combination of practical and legal expertise sets Susan apart from other practitioners in this area.
Susan has also been instrumental in developing the law in relation to collective bargaining, as counsel in a number of leading cases.
Susan has established strong relationships with her clients such that she is seen as a trusted adviser, and as part of their management teams. Susan recognises that every employer has a different workplace culture and approach to managing employee relations. She sees herself as a facilitator of her clients’ business objectives, but is also prepared to challenge and question in order to assist her clients to achieve the most robust solution.
Susan does not think just like a lawyer, but as a driver of business outcomes.
Susan is a highly regarded public speaker and has been asked to chair/speak at the Brightstar industrial relations conference for each of the past 10 years. She is also a regular speaker at the NZ Law Society Employment Law Conference, and undertakes a number of other speaking engagements.
She also enjoys smaller group presentations and is frequently called upon to provide interactive seminars to Executive teams, HR and line managers to up-skill them in Employment Law. Her ability to explain legal concepts in a practical and down to earth manner makes her highly effective in this context.
Susan is often asked to provide expert media commentary on Employment Law issues and is a regular DominionPost columnist.
Susan is an accomplished litigator and has appeared in a number of high profile cases up to the Court of Appeal. Her appearances include:
Housing New Zealand Corporation v PSA Inc WA 174/10
Rosenberg v Air New Zealand AA 431/10
NZPSA v Inland Revenue Department WA 85A/10
Whitten v Ogilvy NZ Ltd AA 200A/10
Christchurch City Council v SLGOU [2007] ERNZ 37, CA
Kerr v Associated Aviation Ltd [2005] ERNZ 632
Lloyd v Museum of NZ Te Papa Tongawera [2003] 2 ERNZ 685
AMI insurance Ltd v FINSEC [2003] 1 ERNZ 1
Teague v Wallace Corporation Ltd [2002] 2 ERNZ 830
Telecom Directories Ltd v Wynne [1999] 1 ERNZ 85
Susan has been named as one of New Zealand’s leading Employment Lawyers in a range of publications and international directories including ALB magazine, Legal 500, Asia Pacific Law Directory and the Chambers International Law Directory.
Areas of Practice
Industrial Relations Strategies/Collective Bargaining/Transfer of Employees/Restructuring/Mergers and Acquisitions/Performance and Disciplinary Issues/Employment Disputes/Contractual Interpretation/Privacy and OIA issues/Human Rights Issues/Health and Safety in Employment
Qualifications
LLB (First Class Honours) Otago
Admitted to Bar 1992
Appointments and Associations
Board member, Kensington Swan 2009 - 2010
Partner, Kensington Swan 2005 – 2010
DominionPost columnist 2010
NZLS Employment Law Conference Committee
Employment Law Institute
Member of HRINZ
Honours and Scholarships
Finalist, NZ Law Awards Employment Practice of the year 2010
Named as leading NZ Employment Lawyer in International Directories 2007 – 2010
IRR Conference Presenter of the Year 2003
Rudd Watts & Stone Company Law Prize for top student 1991
Kensington Swan Scholarship 1991
Head Prefect, Runner up Dux, Best all round student, Wanganui Girls College 1987
Manawatu Speechmaker of the year 1987
NZ Secondary Schools Debating Champions 1987
Les Mills Regional Aerobics Presenter 2000 - 2008
Wanganui Representative Cricket and Basketball 1986-1987
Publications
Currently writing NZLS educational booklet on issues relating to key employees
Fortnightly DominionPost articles
Regular contributor to Employment Today, Management Magazine and HRINZ magazine
