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.

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.

• 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 on employment-related issues such as redundancy, performance management, and resolving personal grievance claims.