Charmaine Heyes

Charmaine is an employment lawyer with practical experience advising and representing both employers and employees across a wide range of workplace issues.
Before joining DTI Lawyers, Charmaine worked as an Employed Barrister, Employment Advisor and National Employment Advocate. This has given her hands-on experience across employment disputes, advisory work, mediation and litigation, including matters before the Employment Relations Authority and other statutory tribunals.

Charmaine advises on personal grievances, disciplinary and performance processes, workplace health and safety complaints, independent contractor arrangements, restructuring and redundancy. She also has experience preparing legal submissions, pleadings and evidence, and representing clients through mediation and negotiation.

Charmaine takes a practical, client-focused approach to employment issues and has particular experience working through challenging workplace disputes. Her background includes working with individuals, organisations, government agencies and community organisations.

Based in Hamilton, Charmaine is also interested in the application of tikanga Māori and good faith principles in employment relationships and dispute resolution. She has previously presented on employment rights and compliance, including as a guest lecturer at Auckland University of Technology.