LITIGATION
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High stakes employment disputes
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Senior level advocacy
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Strategy driven litigation
Notable Litigation
> McCormack v Reserve Bank of New Zealand [2025] NZERA 754 (Joseph Plunket junior counsel): Acting for former employee of the Reserve Bank who was successful in his claim that the RBNZ’s General Counsel had unlawfully outed the employee as a whistleblower in breach of the confidentiality provisions of s 17 Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act 2022. Determination subject to current challenge in the Employment Court.
> Taylor v Jetstar Airways Limited [2025] NZERA 282: Successful opposition to application for interim reinstalment by a pilot with important public interest factors considered.
> UJX v KQB [2025] NZERA 700 (Joseph Plunket junior counsel): Acting on successful application for interim reinstatement of employee of public sector organisation dismissed for medical incapacity based on neurodivergence issues.
> Bowen v Bank of New Zealand [2024] NZERA 361: Acting for a former manager at the BNZ who was successful in her claim that that the bank had unlawfully retaliated against her as a whistleblower for making a protected disclosure, which included the BNZ concocting a sham redundancy proposal and unlawfully dismissing her. Read more about it: www.lawfuel.com
> Bowen v Bank of New Zealand [2025] NZERA 380 (Remedies) (Joseph Plunket junior counsel): Subsequent Remedies Determination in which Ms Bowen was awarded two and a half years’ lost income, $105,000 damages for humiliation, loss of dignity, and injury to feelings. Also finding of a penalty against BNZ for breach of god faith obligations. (Remedies Determination subject to current challenge in the Employment Court)
> Gate Gourmet NZ Ltd v Sandhu & Ors [2020] NZEmpC 237: Acting for employees in Employment Court in relation to issues involving alleged breaches of Minimum Wage Act 1983 during Covid-19 pandemic. Split decision of the Employment Court with the employees’ argument successful in subsequent appeal before Court of Appeal - [2021] NZCA 591.
> Tru-Test Ltd v Callingham [2018] NZEmpC 15: Achieving without notice (ex-parte) preservation orders against the former employee of the Tru-test Group and the employee’s new company in response to breach of confidentiality and fidelity. It was the first time the Employment Court had made such orders on a without notice basis.
> Aon New Zealand v West [2016] Auckland NZERA 74: Successfully acting for Aon in its claim against a former employee for breaches of his restraint of trade obligations, and obtaining significant penalty awards.
> Jetstar Airways Ltd v Greenslade [2015] NZCA 432: Acting for Jetstar in the Court of Appeal on litigation concerning the status of regulated rest breaks for pilots under aviation legislation and the interface with the rest and meal break requirements under the Employment Relations Act 2000. The case also considered the phrase ‘other enactment’ and the status of the Australian aviation legislation for Australian airline operators flying in New Zealand under the then Civil Aviation Act 1990.
> Edwards v Two Degrees Ltd [2012] NZEmpC 111: Acting for the founder of Two Degrees Mobile Limited to obtain an urgent injunction in the Employment Court preventing his dismissal on the ground of alleged redundancy.
> Smith v Evolution E-Business Ltd [2010] ERNZ 514: Successfully acting to have the Employment Court remove proceedings filed in the Employment Relations Authority given the important issues of law raised in relation to inequity as a defence to breach of confidentiality.
> The Internet Company of New Zealand [2009] ERNZ 1: Acting for a major New Zealand employer to obtain pre-proceeding disclosure from an internet service provider to establish the identity of an account that an abusive and anonymous email from an employee was sent from.
> Te Runga O Ngati Whatau v Brence [2009] NZEmpC 26 – Obtaining the first search order (Anton Piller) order after the Employment Court became imbued with the jurisdiction to award such orders.
Recent Litigation
> WFX v VQU [2026] NZEmpC 37 (Joseph Plunket junior counsel): Acting for an employee after a search order was executed against them. Mater settled and employee successfully obtained permanent non-publication of their name and identifying details. Joseph Plunket junior counsel.
> Bryham v Electrix Limited (trading as Omexom New Zealand) [2026] NZERA 147 (Joseph Plunket junior counsel): Acting for a manager who successfully obtained interim reinstatement.
> UJX v KQB [2025] NZERA 700 (Joseph Plunket junior counsel): Acting on successful application for interim reinstatement of employee of public sector organisation dismissed for medical incapacity based on neurodivergence issues.
> Jetconnect Limited v Tighe-Umbers [2026] NZCA 115 (Joseph Plunket junior counsel): Client successful in application for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal. Matter concerns interrelationship between now repealed Schedule 3A of Employment Relations Act 2000 (relating to COVID-19 vaccinations) and s 103A of the Act.
