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About Us

Leading employment law practitioners

SBM Legal is independently recognised as one of New Zealand’s most outstanding employment law firms.

All three name partners (Kathryn Beck, Don Mackinnon and Penny Swarbrick) are leading practitioners in employment law. They are supported by an excellent team of specialist employment lawyers with a broad range of experience and skills. We also have close links with a number of consultants, whom we contract on an “as needed” basis.

Our clients think of us as employment law advisers, strategists, risk management negotiators and compliance specialists. Many of our larger employer clients also see us as a key extension of their HR Departments.

Ranked in Chambers Asia Pacific 2014 – Leading Firm Ranked in Chambers Asia Pacific 2014 – Leading Firm

Practical, cost effective advice

Depending on each client’s own unique needs, we can be a ‘one-stop-shop’ or we carry out one-off specialist projects.

Our areas of expertise include:

  • Employment law compliance
  • Mediation and litigation representation
  • Employment relationship problems
  • Collective negotiations
  • Managing business change
  • Training
  • Health and safety (including drug testing)
  • Independent mediations and investigations
  • HR Audits
  • Conducting mediations, facilitations and independent investigations

We also have expertise in the areas of:

  • Education law
  • Medico legal issues
  • Sports law