June is a respected employment specialist who advises private and public sector clients on all aspects of New Zealand employment law.
She acts for some of New Zealand’s best known organisations, such as Television New Zealand, The Warehouse Group, Metlifecare, Deloitte, Qantas, and Rabobank, as well as clients in the tech, start-up, and cryptocurrency space. Her practice also includes advising on health and safety, remuneration and incentives, data protection, and employee privacy matters. June has international expertise, having practised at Linklaters in London for several years.
June has a personal and friendly style. She provides accessible and commercially sound advice to her clients and achieves outcomes for clients that do not compromise values. She has applied this approach during negotiations with unions on collective bargaining and industrial disputes, and while advising on conduct, bullying, and harassment investigations for a range of major New Zealand organisations. June represents her clients at mediations through to Employment Court hearings and has significant litigation experience.
Ranked as a Next Generation Partner for data protection in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, June is an expert in the interface between technology, privacy, and employment laws. She assists clients with the challenges of managing data privacy concerns (including how to future-proof a workforce within the existing legal framework and how to respond to major data breach incidents) and has worked closely with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner on several investigations.
Described by clients as “great to work with” (The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022), June works alongside her clients as a trusted adviser to find solutions for their needs.
A frequent media commentator on employment law, health and safety, general privacy and data protection, and governance matters, June enjoys presenting at external conferences and holds industry and sector training.
Career highlights
Providing collective bargaining advice to the Qantas Group, as well as day-to-day advice across a range of employment and health and safety matters.
Acting as Television New Zealand’s trusted adviser on all employment and contractor related matters, as well as advising on workforce privacy matters.
Providing Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children with critical support to defend personal grievances involving the use of force in the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court.
Advising banks on the compliance of remuneration policies and on risk for the bank at the board level, advising financial services clients in respect of incentivisation and conduct standards in light of the current regulatory climate.
Acting as a trusted adviser to The Warehouse Group, working closely with the leadership team on various strategically important projects and appearing as counsel in the Employment Relations Authority.
Acted for Deloitte in ongoing litigation that was brought by a former employee. This litigation involved disputes with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, the Human Rights Review Tribunal, and the Employment Relations Authority. The matter was heard in a week-long trial before the Employment Court in August 2021.
Appearing as counsel for Crombie Lockwood in the Employment Relations Authority on several disputes to enforce post-employment restraints of trade.
Achievements and recognition
- Recognised, Employment, Chambers Asia-Pacific
- Next Generation Partner, Data Protection, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
- Next Generation Partner, Labour and Employment, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
- Tier 1 team, Labour and Employment, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific
- Recognised, Labour and Employment Law, Best Lawyers