Hannah King

Senior Associate Pouarataki Pāhake

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Hannah is a solutions-driven employment law expert. Her experience spans the full range of contentious and advisory employment law and worker relations issues, as well as privacy, health and safety and immigration work.

Hannah works closely with her clients as a trusted partner to understand and meet their needs. When it comes to the most confronting and sensitive issues that arise in the workplace, Hannah is particularly adept at supporting clients to manage risk, find practical solutions and deliver the best outcomes. She balances a high level of technical proficiency and skill in dealing with complex legal issues, with a pragmatic and commercial approach. Clients value her personable manner and excellent communication.

She advises employers across a number of industries, as well as senior employees. Hannah has experience in defending personal grievance claims, pursuing and defending interim applications and advising clients on workplace investigations, bullying, discrimination, and harassment issues. She also assists with disciplinary, performance management, and restructuring and redundancy processes, as well as protection of confidential employer information, restraints of trade and complex Holidays Act advice.

Hannah brings a wealth of experience in dispute resolution. She regularly represents parties at mediation, working collaboratively and strategically with clients to achieve desired outcomes. Hannah’s practice has a strong litigation focus, and she draws on significant experience appearing before the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court, District Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal.

Hannah works collaboratively with other legal teams to provide clients with comprehensive, multifaceted advice, including the protection of employer intellectual property rights and on significant M&A transactions.

Career highlights

Representing clients at investigation meetings and hearings, pursuing and defending claims relating to unjustified dismissal, unjustified disadvantage, fixed term employment and discrimination, as well as urgent interim applications for reinstatement and injunctions to enforce restraints of trade.

Carrying out independent investigations into bullying and sexual harassment complaints. Advising employer clients about the commencement, throughout the duration, and in the aftermath, of independent investigations and culture reviews, including confidentiality and privacy issues (both internal and external, including managing media interest), responding to findings and implementation of recommendations.

Representing clients at mediation in the employment and human rights jurisdictions, including discrimination, bullying and harassment, termination of employment, medical incapacity, protection of confidential information and collective employment agreement interpretation issues.

Working with clients to effectively navigate the full range of employment processes, including disciplinary processes for serious misconduct, medical incapacity, performance management and restructuring processes.

Advising employers on complex issues relating to compliance with the Holidays Act, including irregular and/or non-standard work patterns, Labour Inspector engagement and legislation’s impact on discretionary bonus and incentive schemes.

Achievements and recognition
  • Rising Star, Employment & WHS Law, Doyles Guide, 2022 and 2023
  • Tier 1 team, Employment, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific