ABOUT
ABOUT
The Team
Welcome
We are experts in all areas of employment law, so we understand the complexities of this area of law well. Whether you are an employer or an employee, there can be challenges navigating employment issues. Our goal is to ensure you are given timely and accurate advice, in a way that is easy to understand and cost-effective.
The lawyers working in this firm are very experienced, with Helen as the Principal, having over 30 years in practice, and Tracey coming from a union background where she advised on a myriad of complex employee issues. If you need advice with any employment issue, please give us a call as we are sure we can help.
Senior and Experienced
Helen Gilbert
Over the years I have acted as legal counsel for an expansive range of employer & employee clients, from very large public and private organisations, all the way down to new entry junior employees. Given my 30+ years’ experience, there are very few issues that I have not previously encountered.
Employment Law is one of my passions, and I love finding creative approaches to complex problems. My experience includes assistance with raising personal grievances and responding to grievances; restructuring/redundancy (for both employer and employee clients); conducting independent investigations for a wide variety of organisations (aided by my past criminal prosecution experience in dealing with conflicting evidence); assisting clients instigating investigations or those who are the subject of the investigation; restraint of trade issues (including having recently presented a restraint paper for the Auckland District Law Society); Mediations and Employment Authority and Court proceedings; Privacy Act and Human Rights complaint issues; Education Council issues; negotiating settlements and exits and tailor-making employment agreements and policies for employer clients, and reviewing employment agreements for employees.
In recent times, our team has been heavily involved in issues relating to mandatory vaccinations, including issuing legal proceedings for a large group challenging the validity of their employer’s mandatory vaccination and Covid-19 policy.
The majority of employment related disputes are resolved in mediation, as this is usually the fastest and most cost-effective method for addressing problems for both parties. However, I also have the experience to know when negotiation is no longer feasible or advisable, and with significant Court experience behind me (including well over 50 jury trials and a significant number of High Court appeals), I can ably and confidently represent your case; and if the truth were to be told, Court litigation is something I really enjoy.
For those who need details – here’s a quick summary:
I appreciate that selecting the best person to provide sound employment advice can be challenging, so feel free to call me for an initial 15 minute chat, free of charge.
We have been using Helen for employment guidance since 2018. She is incredibly knowledgeable and is professional to deal with. Working with Helen has given us the confidence to build up our internal framework and address issues as they arise.
Hustle Labour Hire & Collective Contractors
When I made the bold decision to pursue a personal grievance employment matter, I truly believed that it was to be the start of a very long 'David and Goliath' legal battle against my ex-employer, and I was thus told by many to make sure I choose a 'bulldog' Lawyer, which was my full intention. Well that was until I had a phone discussion with Helen who was the complete opposite of that; she was calm, she listened, she understood, she was genuinely empathetic and interested to hear my story; and finally, Helen knew the law, inside and out. It was solely because of Helen's expertise and genuine understanding of my case, that her skills shone through at my mediation, along with how she was able to articulate my case with such ease and clarity, that resulted in a settlement being agreed to on the same day. There was no long battle through the court, and for that, I have only got Helen to thank for the seamless and extremely professional approach throughout the process. A standout for me was how Helen's calm and professional demeanor enabled me to cope well during the mediation process. I cannot recommend Helen highly enough, she was my saving grace through a process that I never believed would end in such a successful way. Thank you Helen
Ange - Employee
Extensive Union Background
Tracey Gallagher
I came to Helen Gilbert Employment Lawyers with a varied work background. I have worked in industrial relations for 17 years and my work has involved advocating for employers, employees and unions. This includes:
Most recently I worked as an in-house Solicitor for New Zealand’s largest private sector trade union E tū Incorporated (formerly the SFWU and the Engineering and Printing and Manufacturing Union). During this time, I was involved in preparing and presenting internal training for E tū staff on a variety of employment law topics. Advising on the interpretation of Collective Employment Agreement terms, personal grievances, the Holidays Act, restructuring/redundancy, collective bargaining, strikes (including notice preparation) and more. All of these experiences provide me with a broad and unique insight about employment and union issues.
My experience also allows me to view employment issues from both the employer and employee perspective. I have attended numerous mediations on a wide range of employment matters and have appeared in the Employment Relations Authority, including bargaining facilitation. I find it satisfying to help clients resolve their workplace problems and be able to move forward. I will be honest and upfront with you about the merits or weaknesses of your case and I take a pragmatic and considered approach when assisting clients to resolve difficult employment situations.
Tracey, I'd like to thank you for being so lovely to work with, and my wife said I have to add, "for putting up with me". You gave logical, clear and wise advice on a frustrating issue and I was lucky to have you on board. Please thank Helen for filling in when you were away, she was also great. Lawyers are like health insurance; you are glad you have one but hope our paths never cross again.
EmployeR
Tracey and Helen are a formidable team and I would highly recommend them to anyone seeking representation in employment law. Tracey went above and beyond in her efforts to secure the best outcome for me in what was a gruelling legal process that was taxing both mentally and emotionally. Between Tracey and Helen, I felt represented by lawyers who were compassionate, understanding and prioritised my best interests every step of the way, and their expertise and pragmatism throughout the process was invaluable. Also, they're just bloody nice people.
Employee
I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone at Helen Gilbert Employment Law. Your professionalism and dedication to your work have left me extremely satisfied with the outcome. I especially want to thank Tracey for the exceptional expertise she has provided me. Thanks to Tracey's efforts, I was able to turn a challenging situation into a favorable outcome. I truly appreciate all the work she has done on my behalf.
Employee
Employee
Employee
Meet our Newest Team Member
Susana Salusalu
I am passionate about helping people by empowering them with knowledge and understanding of their employment rights and entitlements.
Navigating the way through employment issues can be a challenge for businesses, and extremely stressful for employees. It is concerning to me that so many New Zealanders are unaware of their employment rights.
My strengths include an ability to come along side people, and to give them confidence as they journey through their employment process.
I am a wife and mother of 5 young children. I had my youngest child while I was in my second year of law school, so I know how to deal with stress. I was raised in both the Tongan and New Zealand cultures, which gives me a unique understanding of the dynamics of both.
In 2021, I completed my law degree, and I am committed to staying up to date with the latest legal changes and developments, and I will bring a fresh perspective to the field of employment law. I have a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of New Zealand law.
My areas of expertise include helping employee clients to raise personal grievances and dealing with a wide array of employment disputes, drafting and preparing documents for filing in the Employment Relations Authority, and filing complaints with the Human Rights Commission. I also regularly review and update current employment agreement templates for our employer clients; writing up privacy policies as well as updating and writing up new policies and codes of conduct, to ensure compliance with current employment law.
Please give me a call to talk through any employment concerns you have.
Meet our Business Manager
Stef Anstey
I have had the pleasure of being the Business Manager for the past three years at Helen Gilbert Employment Lawyers. Originally born and raised in South Africa, I then immigrated with my family in 2016. After I finished school, I studied for my diploma in Business Management while working full time.
My previous work experience varies as I have worked in different industries such as IT, recruitment, insurance, software, and telecommunications which helps improve my understanding of our client’s various requirements. I then took some time away from my career, to start a family with my wonderful husband. I now work part-time to allow me to spend time with my two beautiful daughters.
Receiving the opportunity to join Helen Gilbert and help run her practice as the business grew was very exciting for me. I have always been intrigued by law and wanted to learn more within the ever-changing legal sector. Connecting with and helping people is a passion of mine, so I’m always happy to help with any queries that arise during the sometimes-stressful process of addressing employment issues.
My role involves handling the day-to-day running of the practice, business development, managing clients’ enquiries, provide legal administrative support to both Helen and Tracey, together with dealing with all the business invoices and accounts.
Please feel free to contact me if you needed any assistance.
We look forward to speaking with you.
A significant portion of our time is spent in mediations for clients. Due to the confidential nature of settlement, we cannot outline details of those settlements, but a convincing yet balanced presentation of your case can make a significant difference to the view the other side takes of your claim and can impact significantly on the likely sums involved in any settlement.
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