Have a Dedicated & Proven Team At Your Service
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Empowering Human Resource Teams & Business Owners
MGZ Employment Law’s aim is to provide Canterbury and New Zealand companies with peace of mind, and proven and practical solutions to employment law matters across the board.
MGZ’s approach to workplace issues is to seek a pragmatic solution wherever possible, while still recognising that there will always be situations where litigation may be inevitable or necessary.
Client
Testimonials
Employment Relations
Training
Jane Taylor, LL.B, B.A.
Director
MEET JANE, director
Jane has a broad range of experience in employment law and industrial relations. A qualified and experienced lawyer, Jane has held specialist employment roles in New Zealand and internationally.
Jane has a broad range of experience in all employment matters. As well as regularly representing clients at Mediation, she has also appeared in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court, High Court, and the District Court.
Jane's expertise includes:
- Performance management & disciplinary matters
- Contract drafting and negotiation
- Holidays and leave
- Workplace investigations
- Restructuring and collective bargaining
Jane provides solutions-focused commercial advice to employers across all sectors including:
- Education
- Manufacturing
- Retail & Hospitality
- Charities
- Aged Care
- Transport & Agriculture
- Tourism
jane@mgz.co.nz
PHONE
021 153 9147
Dean Kilpatrick, LL.B
Director
Meet Dean, director
With more than 20 years of experience in employment law and a reputation for remedy and results, Dean is knowledgeable and adept at all facets of his role. After completing his legal qualifications Dean joined McPhail Gibson & Zwart in 2001, learning his craft from the highly experienced team of Neil McPhail, Raewyn Gibson and Peter Zwart. In 2006 Dean left McPhail Gibson & Zwart to broaden his legal expertise, returning in 2018 to become a Director. In his time, Dean has acted for international and national businesses of all sizes and varieties and worked in two national law firms. An employment law specialist, his practice includes related laws such as Health & Safety, Holidays Act and ACC (acting for employers in reviews and challenges in respect of ACC claims).
Dean’s expertise includes:
- Collective agreement bargaining with trade unions
- Drafting and facilitating employment agreements
- Representation in Mediation, Employment Relations Authority/Employment court and related jurisdictions
- Restructuring & Redundancy
dean@mgz.co.nz
PHONE
027 279 1353
Jane Freeman, LL.B
Associate
Meet Jane FREEMAN, associate
Jane Freeman is currently on parental leave - returning February 2027.
Jane Freeman initially joined the team at MGZ Employment Law in April 2022 as Senior Solicitor from her previous role acting for clients across a range of areas of law. In December 2023 Jane was promoted to the role of Associate. As well as focusing on employment law Jane has valuable knowledge and experience in related areas, including ACC, health and safety, and privacy law. Jane acts for clients in employment and other matters from the initial stages of providing advice through to appearances at Mediation and the Employment Relations Authority. Jane has a calm, pragmatic, straightforward and approachable manner, assisting clients to reach a resolution in any disputes that arise.
jane.freeman@mgz.co.nz
PHONE
027 279 4936
Nick McKessar
Senior Associate
Meet Nick McKessar, SENIOR associate
With over a decade of experience in employment law, combined with a broad background in civil litigation across a diverse range of industries, Nick provides practical, strategic, and solutions-focused legal advice to employers and businesses throughout New Zealand. Inspired by a pragmatic approach to workplace issues, Nick is committed to achieving commercially sound outcomes while recognising when formal dispute resolution processes are necessary.
Nick has extensive experience advising clients on the full spectrum of employment law matters, including employment agreements, disciplinary and performance management processes, restructures, workplace investigations, redundancies and leave entitlements. Equally experienced in dispute resolution, Nick regularly assists clients with employment disputes and personal grievances, reaching resolution through negotiated settlements or at mediation, and when necessary, representing clients in the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court.
Nick's expertise includes:
- Employment agreements and contracts
- Performance management and disciplinary processes
- Personal grievances and employment disputes
- Restructuring and redundancy
Industry Experience:
Nick has advised employers and organisations across a wide range of sectors, including:
- Building and construction
- Hospitality and tourism
- Healthcare and aged care
- Education
- Local government
- Agriculture and farming
Nick.McKessar@mgz.co.nz
PHONE
027 279 1926
Carey Poulter
Office Manager
Meet Carey, office manager
Carey has been with the company since day one. As MGZ’s Office Manager Carey single- handedly takes care of the day-to-day running of the office, preparation of accounts, organising the Training Courses, compilation of our monthly newsletter, ‘The Advocate', and other promotional material and flyers. An integral part of her role is nagging the rest of the team to ensure that they are doing what they are supposed to be doing!
Prior to commencing with MGZ, Carey spent 13 years with the Canterbury Employers' Association in a variety of secretarial and administrative roles.
carey@mgz.co.nz
Trusted by a diverse range of employers for more than 25 years
In 1995, following extensive careers working in employment law and industrial relations, the founding directors, Neil McPhail, Raewyn Gibson and Peter Zwart saw a niche in the market for specialised employment law advocates for employers, who were focussed on dealing with workplace issues on a pragmatic basis, where possible, however recognising that there are situations where litigation may be inevitable.
As the founding directors neared retirement, the succession of the business was steered by Dean Kilpatrick and Jane Taylor. Dean was appointed a Director in June 2018, when Neil McPhail retired. Jane Taylor joined MGZ in early 2019, and was appointed a Director in March 2020, when Raewyn Gibson retired.
Out of this idea formed the company McPhail, Gibson & Zwart Ltd which Neil, Peter and Raewyn built up over the next 25 years to become one of the leading employment law firms in New Zealand.
When Peter Zwart retired in March 2021, Dean and Jane committed to maintaining the practical approach of the former Directors and meet the continued needs of clients.
As the business has grown, which includes becoming a law firm in December 2021, it has maintained the core values of providing practical, solution-based advice to clients in an ever-evolving area of law.
In June 2022 Dean and Jane were joined by Jane Freeman who is now an Associate, and in October 2026 by Nick McKessar as Senior Associate.
