Our team – who we are

Simon was a partner at a mid-tier city firm, managing the employment practice before he founded Watermark Employment Law. Simon acts for employers and employees on a wide range of employment matters. Simon has represented clients at investigation meetings, disciplinary meetings, mediations with MBIE, hearings in the Employment Relations Authority, and matters on appeals to the Employment Court. He has also represented clients in proceedings before the Human Rights Tribunal, Office of the Privacy Commissioner, complaints assessment committees, and the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal.

• Advising on employment issues arising during the sale of a New Zealand business to an Australian company which affected over 120 employees throughout New Zealand.
• Acting for numerous employees across a wide range of industries in relation to various matters involving serious misconduct in the workplace, bullying investigations, restraint of trade breaches, use of confidential information, performance management related issues, disciplinary meetings, and claims arising from restructuring.
• Acting for senior executives in cases involving employment relates issues, investigations, the application of ROT clauses, and negotiated exits.
• Acting for a caregiver in regard to a test case involving the interpretation of the Care and Support Workers (Pay Equity) Settlement Act.
• Acting for a Chief Executive in a case that involved an application to remove the matter to the Employment Court.
• Successful application for interim reinstatement of a CEO in the Employment Relations Authority.
• Advising a private health service on a complex redundancy process involving employees engaged to perform services under various health funding contracts.
• Successful determination of personal grievance claim acting for employee dismissed for serious misconduct, further costs awarded in the Employment Court following withdrawal of appeal by the employer.
• Secondment with Auckland Council, advising managers across Auckland Council and related COOs on various employment matters arising.

Kylie started her career in a mid-tier city firm, originally working in general practice before finding her niche as an employment lawyer. Kylie has experience representing clients during exit negotiations, investigation meetings, disciplinary meetings, mediations with MBIE and in the Employment Relations Authority.

Kylie enjoys the technical challenge of employment law and the opportunity it provides for her to provide practical and meaningful help to her clients.

• Guiding employer clients through various employment processes from start to finish such as restructures, termination for medical incapacity, performance management, and the investigation and disciplinary process for misconduct.
• Acting as an independent investigator for complex workplace issues such as bullying and cultural reviews.
• Acting for employees across a broad range of issues such as recovery of minimum entitlements and wage arrears, advocacy at disciplinary meetings, bullying complaints and personal grievance claims.

Geraldine started her career in New Zealand at a top-tier city firm, before moving to London and working in the public sector for 8 years, doing both public law and employment law. On her return to Auckland, she worked in-house as an employment lawyer for one of the city’s biggest employers for five years, before moving to Watermark Employment Law. Geraldine has experience representing both employees and employers across the range of employment law and HR issues, and provides pragmatic advice, taking a holistic view of a client’s situation.

• Advising employer clients through the range of employment processes, including restructures, termination for medical incapacity, performance management, and investigation and disciplinary process for misconduct.
• Acting for employees across a variety of industries in relation to matters involving serious misconduct in the workplace, bullying investigations, medical incapacity, restraint of trade breaches, use of confidential information, performance management related issues, disciplinary meetings, and claims arising from restructuring.
• Negotiating exits for employees in a wide range of situations.
• Acting as an independent investigator for complex workplace situations, such as bullying and harassment allegations.
• Leading collective bargaining on a number of collective employment agreements with unions, and assisting to operationalise the same.
• Developing policies for a large employer, including a Drugs and Alcohol Policy, Children’s Act. Ensuring legislative compliance across the employment relations spectrum, including with the Holidays Act and Children’s Act.
• Involved in the pay equity claim for library assistants, and advising on the same.
• Advising managers across a large public sector organisation, on a range of employment matters, including the executive leadership team and CEO.
• Providing advice to various charities (both on a national and local scale) on policies and employee situations.
• Providing governance oversight and advice as a trustee on several charity boards (both currently and previously)

Erin started her career in a boutique private-client firm before moving to a full-service litigation firm. Erin joined the Watermark team because she is passionate about providing meaningful help to clients through legal expertise. Erin advocates for clients from all backgrounds, and assists employees and employers alike in reaching timely and practical outcomes.

• Assisting employees with a broad range of issues, including advocacy at disciplinary meetings, advice and advocacy in relation to bullying complaints and raising personal grievance claims
• Representing employer and employee clients at mediation and filing in the Employment Relations Authority as required
• Acting as an independent investigator for workplace issues such as bullying.
• Advising employers at all levels, from small businesses to national corporations, on employment-related issues such as redundancy, performance management, investigations, disciplinary processes, HR processes and leave scenarios and resolving personal grievance claims.
• Drafting and advising on the form, content and lawfulness of individual employment agreements (whether permanent, casual or fixed-term), independent contracting agreements, policies, and other HR-related documents.

Jonathan started his career in a mid-tier city firm and throughout his legal career has specialised solely in employment law assisting a broad range of clients at all professional levels – public and private sector businesses, exploited migrants and Chief Executives. Jonathan applies his intricate understanding of employment issues to provide just, efficient and pragmatic solutions for clients. Jonathan is the Practice Manager, organising a number of operational matters and upholding the vision of and values of Watermark – positively impacting the community through providing the highest quality specialist employment law representation, partnering with charitable organisations and committing to affordable access to justice. In addition to his role as Practice Manager Jonathan is a Senior Solicitor at Watermark, representing both employer and employee clients across all types of employment matters.

• Assisting employees with raising personal grievances and negotiating swift and pragmatic settlements, carrying claims through mediation and filing in the Employment Relations Authority if required.
• Assisting exploited migrants and other vulnerable workers with minimum entitlements claims – pursuing minimum wage, holiday entitlement, and penalty claims against offending employers and company Directors.
• Advising employers at all levels in both the public and private sector on employment related matters such as redundancy and restructuring, performance management, disciplinary issues and resolving personal grievance claims.
• Drafting technical documents – employment contracts, policies, personal grievances and Employment Relations Authority and Court documents.
• Managing operational matters at Watermark, driving our values and guiding the practice towards achieving its vision – an impactful law firm, committed to affordable access to justice, making a positive difference in the community.

Andrea started her career in an advisory employment relations company, before moving to Watermark Employment Law. Andrea is passionate about helping clients with their employment matters by explaining the complex employment law framework, in a non-technical manner. Andrea assists employees and employers from all backgrounds and provides practical outcomes to employment issues.

• Assisting employees with raising personal grievances and negotiating swift and pragmatic settlements, carrying claims through mediation and filing in the Employment Relations Authority if required.
• Drafting and advising on the form, content and lawfulness of individual employment agreements (whether permanent, casual or fixed-term), independent contracting agreements, policies, and other HR-related documents.
• Advising employers at all levels, from small businesses to national corporations, on employment-related issues such as redundancy, performance management, and resolving personal grievance claims.

Andrew began his career at Watermark Employment Law and is passionate about employment law and business – assisting the Watermark Team in providing clients with strategic and practical solutions to their employment issues.

• Reviewing and drafting individual employment agreements (whether permanent, casual or fixed-term), policies, and other HR-related documents.
• Drafting applications to the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court, personal grievances, individual employment agreements, and records of settlement.