Andrea Twaddle

Andrea is an experienced, highly effective, specialist employment lawyer and workplace investigator.

Andrea is well known for providing astute, commercially sound and pragmatic advice. Her prior experience in human resources ensures a first-hand understanding that people are essential to an organisation’s success and that there are rewards and challenges that arise from managing staff.

Andrea is recognised as one of few specialists in the greater Waikato region to conduct high quality, independent workplace investigations into allegations of misconduct (including harassment and bullying). She is a member of the Association of Workplace Investigators (AWI), and holds the AWI Institute Certificate in international best practice investigations.

Andrea has a specialist interest and expertise in sectors including health (in particular mental health), sport and recreation, and education. She provides advice and representation in Coronial Inquiries. Andrea was Counsel for respondent employers in the pay equity claim for Support Workers in the mental health sector, from which a successful settlement was negotiated with Government and legislation followed.

Andrea is frequently sought after as a commentator and educator on employment law issues. She presents to client and industry seminars (including the New Zealand Law Society, LexisNexis, ConfereNZ, EMA and various Chambers of Commerce), and provides advice and training to other lawyers, professional advisors, human resources practitioners, directors and leadership teams. Andrea has guest lectured at the University of Waikato, and has served on the (then) Waikato Bay of Plenty District Law Society, and as the Co-Convenor of the Waikato Bay of Plenty Branch NZLS Employment Law Committee.

Andrea is a Trustee and current Deputy Chair of Child Matters, New Zealand’s leading charitable trust dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect through education of whanau, community and workforce. She also contributes governance expertise as a member of the Cambridge Primary School Board of Trustees, where she is presently the Chairperson.

In the past, Andrea has also assisted clients with legal advice about resource management issues. Her work in this area included water allocation, environmental compliance, rural issues, environmental prosecutions, due diligence, advocacy for consent and planning processes, as well as appearances in the District, Environment and Maori Land Courts.

Andrea’s expertise includes:

• Acting for employee and employer clients, recognising the sensitivities involved in workplace relations
  
• Advising on all aspects of employment issues including the resolution of workplace disputes / personal grievances, redundancy and restructuring, dismissals and disciplinary action, performance management, medical issues (including stress and incapacity), bullying and harassment, restraints of trade, IT and social media issues and the employment implications of selling/purchasing a business
  
• Advising on privacy issues associated with employment relationships
  
• Advocacy/dispute resolution, including attending mediations and appearances in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court and Human Rights Review Tribunal
  
• Advising on governance and management health and safety obligations, as well as representation of employers in health and safety investigations and prosecutions
  
• All aspects of pay equity and equal pay matters
  
• Reporting to, as well as representation and advocacy in disciplinary proceedings brought by professional bodies, such as the Education Council Complaints Assessment Committee

• Conducting independent investigations into allegations made within the employment relationship, such as bullying, harassment and workplace stress

• Representing clients before the Coroner in Inquests on the papers and in the Coroner's Court

• Advising Schools regarding Board and Principal obligations; conducting and advising on investigations; dispute resolution; health and safety advice; and assisting with contractual and policy matters

• Advice regarding the management of complaints, adverse events, investigations; the management of health information and information requests; and matters before the Health and Disability Commissioner

• Employment and contracting issues
  
• Commercial law issues, such as sponsorship, restraints of trade and image rights.