The 2026 listing of leading New Zealand Employment Lawyers details solicitors practising within the areas of employment and industrial relations matters matters across the New Zealand market who have been identified by clients and peers for their expertise and abilities in these areas.
Preeminent
Liz Coats, Bell Gully – Auckland
Kylie Dunn, Smith Dunn – Auckland
Leading
Andrew Caisley, Kiely Thompson Caisley – Auckland
Daniel Erickson, Tompkins Wake – Auckland
David France, Kiely Thompson Caisley – Auckland
Susan Hornsby-Geluk, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers – Wellington
Peter Kiely, Kiely Thompson Caisley – Auckland
Stephen Langton, LangtonHudson – Auckland
Phillipa Muir, Simpson Grierson – Auckland
Gillian Service, MinterEllison Rudd Watts – Auckland
Bridget Smith, Smith Dunn – Auckland
Penny Swarbrick, Wynn Williams – Auckland
Recommended
Andy Bell, Lane Neave – Wellington
Jordan Boyle, Dyhrberg Drayton – Wellington
Emma Butcher, BE Employment Law – Auckland
Peter Chemis, Buddle Findlay – Wellington
Johanna Drayton, Dyhrberg Drayton – Wellington
Blair Edwards, Edwards Sluiters Employment Lawyers – Auckland
Alastair Espie, Duncan Cotterill – Auckland
Angela Evans, BE Employment Law – Auckland
Hannah King, Kiely Thompson Caisley – Auckland
Hamish Kynaston, Buddle Findlay – Wellington
Jessie Lapthorne, Duncan Cotterill – Auckland
Simon Lapthorne, Kiely Thompson Caisley – Auckland
Fiona McMillan, Lane Neave – Auckland
Jim Roberts, Hesketh Henry – Auckland
Blair Scotland, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers – Wellington
The 2026 rankings of leading Employment Lawyers in New Zealand, identified by fellow New Zealand Employment Lawyers. Compiled via our independent, peer-review methodology — rankings cannot be purchased.
Previous editions
2025 edition published March 2025
Preeminent
Liz Coats, Bell Gully - Auckland
Susan Hornsby-Geluk, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Phillipa Muir, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Gillian Service, MinterEllison Rudd Watts - Auckland
Leading
Peter Chemis, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Peter Cranney, Oakley Moran - Wellington
Kylie Dunn, Smith Dunn - Auckland
David France, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Hamish Kynaston, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Stephen Langton, LangtonHudson - Auckland
Blair Scotland, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Bridget Smith, Smith Dunn - Auckland
Penny Swarbrick, SBM Legal - Auckland
Recommended
Emma Butcher, BE Employment Law - Auckland
Andrew Caisley, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Sherridan Cook, Buddle Findlay - Auckland
Daniel Erickson, Tompkins Wake - Auckland
Angela Evans, BE Employment Law - Auckland
June Hardacre, MinterEllisonRuddWatts - Auckland
Peter Kiely, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Jessie Lapthorne, Duncan Cotterill - Auckland
Simon Lapthorne, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Fiona McMillan, Lane Neave - Auckland
Charlotte Parkhill, Dentons - Auckland
Rebecca Rendle, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Megan Richards, MinterEllisonRuddWatts
Jim Roberts, Hesketh Henry - Auckland
Ronelle Tomkinson, LangtonHudson, Auckland
Rosemary Wooders, Bell Gully - Auckland
2024 edition published May 2024
Market Leader
Phillipa Muir, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Preeminent
Liz Coats, Bell Gully - Auckland
Kylie Dunn, Smith Dunn - Auckland
Susan Hornsby-Geluk, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Hamish Kynaston, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Stephen Langton, LangtonHudson - Auckland
Penny Swarbrick, SBM Legal - Auckland
Leading
Emma Butcher, BE Employment Law - Auckland
Andrew Caisley, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Peter Chemis, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Peter Cranney, Oakley Moran - Wellington
Steph Dyhrberg, Dyhrberg Drayton - Wellington
David France, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Peter Kiely, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Mere King, Buddle Findlay - Auckland
Charlotte Parkhill, Dentons - Auckland
Gillian Service, MinterEllison Rudd Watts - Auckland
Bridget Smith, Smith Dunn - Auckland
Recommended
Sherridan Cook, Buddle Findlay - Auckland
Daniel Erickson, Tompkins Wake - Auckland
Angela Evans, BE Employment Law - Auckland
Jude Hardacre, MinterEllisonRuddWatts - Auckland
Jessie Lapthorne, Duncan Cotterill - Auckland
Simon Lapthorne, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
AJ Lodge, Anderson Lloyd - Christchurch
Matthew McGoldrick, SBM Legal - Auckland
Michael Quigg, Quigg Partners - Wellington
Rebecca Rendle, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Jim Roberts, Hesketh Henry - Auckland
Margaret Robins, Workplace Law - Auckland
Laura Scampion, DLA Piper - Auckland
Blair Scotland, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Andrew Shaw, Lane Neave - Christchurch
2023 edition published May 2023
Market Leader
Phillipa Muir, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Preeminent
Liz Coats, Bell Gully - Auckland
Kylie Dunn, Russell McVeagh - Auckland
Susan Hornsby-Geluk, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Hamish Kynaston, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Stephen Langton, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Penny Swarbrick, SBM Legal - Auckland
Leading
Emma Butcher, BE Employment Law - Auckland
Andrew Caisley, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Peter Chemis, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Peter Cranney, Oakley Moran - Wellington
David France, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Peter Kiely, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Mere King, Buddle Findlay - Auckland
Charlotte Parkhill, Dentons - Auckland
Gillian Service, MinterEllison Rudd Watts - Auckland
Bridget Smith, SBM Legal - Auckland
Recommended
Greg Cain, Dentons - Wellington
Tim Clarke, Bell Gully - Auckland
Sherridan Cook, Buddle Findlay - Auckland
Steph Dyhrberg, Dyhrberg Drayton - Wellington
Daniel Erickson, Tompkins Wake - Auckland
Angela Evans, BE Employment Law - Auckland
Jessie Lapthorne, Duncan Cotterill - Auckland
Emma Peterson, Russell McVeagh - Auckland
Rebecca Rendle, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Jim Roberts, Hesketh Henry - Auckland
Laura Scampion, DLA Piper - Auckland
Blair Scotland, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Andrew Schirnack, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Andrew Shaw, Lane Neave - Christchurch
2022 edition published April 2022
Preeminent
Peter Chemis, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Susan Hornsby-Geluk, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Hamish Kynaston, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Phillipa Muir, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Penny Swarbrick, SBM Legal - Auckland
Leading
Emma Butcher, BE Employment Law - Auckland
Andrew Caisley, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Liz Coats, Bell Gully - Auckland
Sherridan Cook, Buddle Findlay - Auckland
Kylie Dunn, Russell McVeagh - Auckland
David France, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Peter Kiely, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Stephen Langton, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Gillian Service, MinterEllison Rudd Watts - Auckland
Bridget Smith, SBM Legal - Auckland
Recommended
Greg Cain, Dentons - Wellington
Tim Clarke, Bell Gully - Auckland
Steph Dyhrberg, Dyhrberg Drayton - Wellington
Daniel Erickson, Tompkins Wake - Auckland
Mere King, Buddle Findlay - Auckland
Simon Lapthorne, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Paul McBride, McBride Davenport James - Wellington
Fiona McMillan, Lane Neave - Auckland
Charlotte Parkhill, Dentons - Auckland
Michael Quigg, Quigg Partners - Wellington
Rebecca Rendle, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Megan Richards, MinterEllisonRuddWatts - Wellington
Susan Rowe, Buddle Findlay - Christchurch
Laura Scampion, DLA Piper - Auckland
Andrew Schirnack, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Andrew Shaw, Lane Neave - Christchurch
Sarah Townsend, Duncan Cotterill - Christchurch
Marie Wisker, Chapman Tripp - Auckland
2021 edition published June 2021
Preeminent
Susan Hornsby-Geluk, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Phillipa Muir, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Gillian Service, MinterEllison Rudd Watts - Auckland
Leading
Peter Chemis, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Liz Coats, Bell Gully - Auckland
David France, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Hamish Kynaston, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Peter Kiely, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Stephen Langton, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Penny Swarbrick, SBM Legal - Auckland
Recommended
Kathryn Beck, SBM Legal - Auckland
Emma Butcher, BE Employment Law - Auckland
Greg Cain, Dentons - Wellington
Andrew Caisley, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Tim Clarke, Bell Gully - Auckland
Sherridan Cook, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Kylie Dunn, Russell McVeagh - Auckland
Steph Dyhrberg, Dyhrberg Drayton - Wellington
Daniel Erickson, Douglas Erickson - Auckland
Simon Lapthorne, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Fiona McMillan, Lane Neave - Auckland
Charlotte Parkhill, Dentons - Auckland
Megan Richards, MinterEllisonRuddWatts - Wellington
John Rooney, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Andrew Schirnack, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Blair Scotland, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Bridget Smith, SBM Legal - Auckland
Scott Wilson, Duncan Cotterill - Christchurch
Marie Wisker, Chapman Tripp - Auckland
2020 edition published February 2020
Preeminent
Susan Hornsby-Geluk, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Stephen Langton, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Gillian Service, MinterEllison Rudd Watts - Auckland
Leading
Kathryn Beck, SBM Legal - Auckland
Andrew Caisley, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Peter Chemis, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Hamish Kynaston, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Peter Kiely, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Phillipa Muir, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Penny Swarbrick, SBM Legal - Auckland
Recommended
Emma Butcher, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Greg Cain, Dentons - Wellington
Tim Clarke, Bell Gully - Auckland
Sherridan Cook, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Liz Coats, Bell Gully - Auckland
Peter Cullen, Cullen - Wellington
Johanna Drayton, Dyhrberg Drayton - Wellington
Kylie Dunn, Russell McVeagh - Auckland
Steph Dyhrberg, Dyhrberg Drayton - Wellington
Daniel Erickson, Douglas Erickson - Auckland
David France, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Paul McBride, McBride Davenport James
Michael Quigg, Quigg Partners - Wellington
Megan Richards, MinterEllisonRuddWatts - Wellington
John Rooney, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Andrew Schirnack, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Blair Scotland, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Andrew Shaw, Lane Neave - Christchurch
Bridget Smith, SBM Legal - Auckland
Samantha Turner, Simpson Grierson - Wellington
Scott Wilson, Duncan Cotterill - Christchurch
2019 edition published May 2019
Preeminent
Kathryn Beck, SBM Legal - Auckland
Susan Hornsby-Geluk, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Phillipa Muir, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Leading
Peter Chemis, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Hamish Kynaston, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Stephen Langton, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Peter Kiely, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Gillian Service, MinterEllison Rudd Watts - Auckland
Penny Swarbrick, SBM Legal - Auckland
Recommended
Emma Butcher, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Andrew Caisley, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Tim Clarke, Bell Gully - Auckland
Sherridan Cook, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Liz Coats, Bell Gully - Auckland
Steph Dyhrberg, Dyhrberg Drayton - Wellington
Daniel Erickson, Douglas Erickson - Auckland
Don Mackinnon SBM Legal - Auckland
Paul McBride, McBride Davenport James
Jennifer Mills, Anthony Harper - Auckland
Michael Quigg, Quigg Partners - Wellington
Megan Richards, MinterEllisonRuddWatts - Wellington
Andrew Schirnack, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Blair Scotland, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Andrew Shaw, Lane Neave - Christchurch
Bridget Smith, SBM Legal - Auckland
Samantha Turner, Simpson Grierson - Wellington
Marie Wisker, Chapman Tripp - Auckland
2018 edition published April 2018
Preeminent
Peter Chemis, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Susan Hornsby-Geluk, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Phillipa Muir, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Penny Swarbrick, SBM Legal - Auckland
Rob Towner, Bell Gully - Auckland
Leading
Kathryn Beck, SBM Legal - Auckland
Andrew Caisley, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Steph Dyhrberg, Dyhrberg Drayton - Wellington
Hamish Kynaston, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Stephen Langton, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Peter Kiely, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Don Mackinnon SBM Legal - Auckland
Gillian Service, MinterEllison Rudd Watts - Auckland
Recommended
Emma Butcher, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Tim Clarke, Bell Gully - Auckland
Sherridan Cook, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Peter Cullen, Cullen - The Employment Law Firm - Wellington
Geoff Davenport, McBride Davenport James - Wellington
Daniel Erickson, Douglas Erickson - Auckland
David France, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Shima Grice, Sharp Tudhope - Auckland
Richard Harrison, Harrison Stone - Auckland
Jennifer Mills, Anthony Harper - Auckland
Grant Nicholson, Kensington Swan - Auckland
Michael Quigg, Quigg Partners - Wellington
Andrew Schirnack, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Blair Scotland, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Andrew Shaw, Lane Neave - Christchurch
Bridget Smith, SBM Legal - Auckland
Samantha Turner, Simpson Grierson - Wellington
Scott Wilson, Duncan Cotterill - Christchurch
2017 edition published April 2017
Preeminent
Kathryn Beck, SBM Legal - Auckland
Peter Chemis, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Susan Hornsby-Geluk, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Penny Swarbrick, SBM Legal - Auckland
Rob Towner, Bell Gully - Auckland
Leading
Tim Clarke, Bell Gully - Auckland
Hamish Kynaston, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Stephen Langton, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Don Mackinnon SBM Legal - Auckland
Phillipa Muir, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Michael Quigg, Quigg Partners - Wellington
John Rooney, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Gillian Service, MinterEllison Rudd Watts - Auckland
Recommended
Emma Butcher, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Greg Cain, Kensington Swan - Wellington
Andrew Caisley, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Tim Clarke, Bell Gully - Auckland
Sherridan Cook, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Daniel Erickson, Douglas Erickson - Auckland
David France, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Garth Gallaway, Chapman Tripp - Christchurch
John Hannan, DLA Piper New Zealand - Auckland
Peter Kiely, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Grant Nicholson, Kensington Swan - Auckland
Megan Richard, MinterEllison Rudd Watts - Wellington
Andrew Schirnack, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Andrew Shaw, Lane Neave - Christchurch
Bridget Smith, SBM Legal - Auckland
Samantha Turner, Simpson Grierson - Wellington
2016 edition published March 2016
Preeminent
Kathryn Beck, SBM Legal - Auckland
Rob Towner, Bell Gully - Auckland
Leading
Peter Chemis, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Peter Cullen, Cullen - The Employment Law Firm - Wellington
Steph Dyhrberg, Dyhrberg Drayton - Wellington
Peter Kiely, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Hamish Kynaston, Buddle Findlay - Wellington
Stephen Langton, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Don Mackinnon, SBM Legal - Auckland
Phillipa Muir, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Michael Quigg, Quigg Partners - Wellington
Recommended
Emma Butcher, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Andrew Caisley, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Tim Clarke, Bell Gully - Auckland
Sheridan Cook, Buddle Findlay - Auckland
Joanna Drayton, Dyhrberg Drayton - Wellington
Daniel Erickson, Kiely Thompson Caisley - Auckland
Susan Hornsby-Geluk, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Susan Rowe, Buddle Findlay - Christchurch
John Hannan, DLA Piper New Zealand - Auckland
Jennifer Mills, Anthony Harper - Auckland
Sean O'Sullivan, DLA Piper New Zealand - Wellington
Andrew Schirnack, LangtonHudsonButcher - Auckland
Blair Scotland, Dundas Street Employment Lawyers - Wellington
Andrew Shaw, Lane Neave - Christchurch
Penny Swarbrick, SBM Legal - Auckland
Samantha Turner, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Scott Wilson, Duncan Cotterill - Christchurch