Qualifications
BA, LLB (Hons), University of Auckland
Admitted
2009, New Zealand
Vonda advises clients on all aspects of employment law and health and safety.
She assists a number of the firm’s key clients on a full range of contentious and non-contentious employment matters, and has represented clients in the Employment Court, Employment Relations Authority and in mediation with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Vonda has a keen interest in employment investigations and has carried out a number of independent investigations into conduct and culture issues. She has completed the Association of Workplace Investigators Training Institute and is a Certificate Holder.
Vonda also has experience in assisting clients to manage their health and safety risks by providing compliance advice and training. She also has experience in assisting employers with health and safety investigations and responding to prosecutions by WorkSafe.
Vonda was a senior solicitor at Chapman Tripp from 2013 to 2015 and re-joined in 2018 after three years in London where she was in the Employment team of major US law firm, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
Recent highlights
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Conducted independent workplace investigations for major New Zealand companies on allegations of bullying, harassment and misconduct.
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Advised corporate clients on the full range of employment issues including restraints of trade, redundancy, personal grievances, disciplinary processes, senior management employment agreements and incentive scheme.
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Acted as counsel for a number of large New Zealand corporates in matters before the Employment Relations Authority including drafting statements of problem and statements in reply and appearing in the Authority.
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Advised large New Zealand and international corporates on agreeing enforceable undertakings with MBIE relating to holiday pay remediation.
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Advised a number of the firm’s key clients on the employment aspects of numerous large, commercial acquisitions.
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Assisting clients to agree enforceable undertakings with WorkSafe following charges being laid under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
