Don't miss out on this invaluable opportunity to get across the latest updates on the critical legal issues impacting schools. Gain clarity on new Code of Conduct, physical restraint rules plus other regulatory requirements in the education space, employment & staff duties & liabilities including managing physical health & safety, & effectively handling social media & reputational risk challenges. Join leading legal & industry experts & unlock the secrets to successfully conquer legal challenges.

Presenters

Ms. Rebecca Laney, Associate, Anderson Lloyd
Rebecca is an Associate in the Employment team at Anderson Lloyd, specialising in employment and health and safety law. Rebecca is directly involved alongside her colleagues in advising principals under the New Zealand Principals' Federation legal Advice and Support Scheme in matters than impact their employment and also works closely with a number of School Boards. She works with a range of clients across a number of sectors including education, agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing advising on all things employment and health and safety related.


Ms. Fiona McMillan, Partner, Lane Neave
Fiona is the Auckland Partner of the Employment Law team and commenced her career with Lane Neave in 2007. Fiona and her team act for both employees and employers in matters involving employment relations, health and safety, human rights, privacy and ACC. Fiona advises on all aspects of termination including performance management, misconduct, serious misconduct, medical incapacity, restructurings and redundancies and negotiated exits. She also specialises in collective bargaining, human rights commission matter and independent external investigations. In 2019, Fiona undertook the certification from the Association of Workplace Investigators in Vail, Colorado, USA. Fiona regularly represents employers in Mediations, Employment Relations Authority Investigation meetings and the Employment Court. She acted as counsel in the leading case on penalties – Borsboom v PVT Limited and the leading case on union discrimination – Lamont and Others v Ritchies Transport Holdings Limited. Fiona was nominated for Young Lawyer of the Year at the 2016 Law Awards. In 2022, she was recognised as an Elite Woman in NZ Lawyer’s annual rankings. Also in 2022, Fiona was named in the Doyle’s Guide as a recommended Employment Lawyer. Fiona has also been recognised in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as a leading employment and health and safety practitioner in New Zealand.


Mr. James Crichton, Employment Law Specialist, Three60
James Crichton logged his first appearance in an employment institution in 1978. His first 10 years of working life were spent in management, culminating in a period as general manager of a local authority. When he commenced legal practice, he developed an interest in working in schools, acting for teachers against schools, and for schools again teachers. He was appointed as a Commissioner or Limited Statutory Manager of a public school on four occasions. In 2004, James was appointed a temporary Member of the Employment Relations Authority and he was reappointed regularly thereafter as a permanent Member of the Authority. After 15 years of service to that institution, culminating with the last four years as Chief, he left the Authority to return to the Bar, specialising in employment law and practice, and alternative dispute resolution.


Ms. Christina England, Deputy Principal, Northcross Intermediate School
Christina England is Deputy Principal at Northcross Intermediate School. She has been with Northcross since 2009. Christina has a Masters in Educational Practices, having worked in education for over 15 years. She has a passion for working with people and in a previous job, her role included working in Human Resourcing and commercial law. As Deputy Principal, Christina works collaboratively with students, staff and families with a focus on facilitating learning through often challenging circumstances. Her diverse role ranges from navigating conflict, challenging behaviours and competency to dealing with social media concerns and employment policy.


Ms. Jessica Higgins, Associate, Anderson Lloyd
Jessica is an Associate in the Employment team at Anderson Lloyd in Dunedin. Jessica acts for employers and employees and is developing a special interest in education law within an employment law context.


Ms. Gretchen Stone, Partner, Harrison Stone
Gretchen Stone specialises in employment and education law. She advises secondary principals through the Secondary Principals Association of New Zealand and with primary principals as the Honorary Solicitor for Auckland Primary Principals Association. Gretchen has extensive experience advising Principals and Board of Trustees in relation to employment and disciplinary issues, governance and management, student discipline issues, social media, and all areas of legal liability within the education sector.


Ms. Rachael Judge, Senior Associate, Simpson Grierson
Rachael Judge is a senior associate at Simpson Grierson, specialising in employment and education law. Rachael acts for several independent and state schools on matters such as terms of enrolment, student disciplinary issues, student human rights claims, school policies and the Children’s Act 2014. She also advises schools in relation to their employment agreements and staff disciplinary issues. Rachael regularly attends mediations and represents clients in Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court and Human Rights Review Tribunal matters.


Ms. Marg Joiner, Partner, SenateSHJ
Partner Marg Joiner is a public policy specialist in SenateSHJ’s Auckland office and has a leading role in both our government relations practice and energy and resources practice. Marg has extensive experience in strategy, stakeholder relations and issues management. Before joining SenateSHJ, Marg was at the Office of Treaty Settlements supporting the Crown to negotiate and successfully conclude historical Treaty of Waitangi Settlements with Māori groups across New Zealand. Marg is experienced at mediation and conflict resolution in a bi-cultural setting. Marg is a member of the Asia New Zealand Foundation Young Leaders Network and has an MA (First Class, First Division) in Political Studies from the University of Auckland. She is also a contributing author in Oxford University Press’ New Zealand Government and Politics.


Ms. Georgia Moselen-Sloog, Client Director, SenateSHJ
Georgia is a Client Director in our Auckland office. Before joining SenateSHJ, she worked in the technology, healthcare and education sectors in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. She brings deep experience in media, stakeholder, crisis, marketing and customer communications, with a strong focus on reputation management. Georgia has led the communications function for organisations through periods of crisis and change, providing counsel to senior leaders and ensuring appropriate care of stakeholders. She holds an Accreditation in Public Relations from the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand and a Bachelor of Communications Studies majoring in Journalism from Auckland University of Technology.


Ms. Helen Pryde, Senior Associate, Duncan Cotterill
Helen is a very experienced lawyer who has been practising for 20 years and specialises in health and safety law and employment law. Helen advises employer and employee clients across a broad range of industries. She has significant dispute resolution experience and regularly represents clients at mediation, in the Employment Relations Authority, and in court. Helen also undertakes independent investigations and is an accredited mediator.