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

EMAIL

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

EMAIL

dean@mgz.co.nz



PHONE

027 279 1353


Deborah Hendry, LL.B, B.A.


Associate


Meet Deborah, associate

Deborah graduated from the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Law degree and a Bachelor of Arts. Beginning her legal career in 2017, she has worked in specialist employment law teams before joining the MGZ team in 2021.


Deborah’s expertise includes:

  • Redundancies
  • Restructuring
  • Disciplinary Processes & Personal Grievances 
  • Employment Agreements & Negotiations


Deborah is also a member of the Canterbury Westland Law Society Employment Law Committee.

EMAIL

deborah@mgz.co.nz


PHONE

027 247 4274


Jane Jarman, LL.B


Associate


Meet Jane Jarman, associate

Jane Jarman 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.

EMAIL

jane.jarman@mgz.co.nz


PHONE

027 279 4936


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. 

EMAIL

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 continue needs of the 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.

Dean and Jane have been joined by Deborah Hendry and Jane Jarman as Associates.

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