Profile
Nicola is a Partner based in our Christchurch office, specialising in employment law, health law, privacy law, and dispute resolution. She advises employers, government agencies, healthcare organisations, and private businesses on workplace issues, regulatory matters, investigations, and complex disputes.
She has extensive private practice experience as an employment law specialist, as well as significant in-house experience having been Principal Legal Advisor Employee Relations at New Zealand Police and General Counsel at District Health Boards New Zealand.
Employment & Workplace Issues
Nicola undertakes workplace investigations and advises on misconduct allegations, disciplinary processes, performance management, restructuring, personal grievance claims and alternative dispute resolution. She helps employers navigate difficult workplace issues and employment disputes in a practical and commercially focused way.
Privacy, Health & Safety, and Regulatory Matters
Nicola advises organisations on Privacy Act compliance, health information privacy, privacy investigations, and broader privacy risk management. She also assists organisations with WorkSafe investigations, workplace incidents, health and safety compliance, governance obligations, and regulatory responses.
Health Sector Expertise
Nicola advises healthcare organisations on professional conduct matters, patient safety incidents, workplace issues, complaints, and adverse events. She also has extensive experience in high-profile government, regulatory and coronial inquiry work.
Approach & Experience
Known for her pragmatic and solutions-focused approach, Nicola helps clients navigate difficult situations without damaging ongoing relationships.
In addition to her New Zealand experience, Nicola has worked in London as in-house counsel to investment banks. She also holds graduate qualifications in viticulture, wine science, and Spanish.
Experience / Work Highlights
- Appearing before the Coroner at the Inquest into 19 deaths arising out of the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Weekend and Cyclone Gabrielle weather events.
- Representing the Attorney-General on behalf of New Zealand Police in High Court defamation proceedings brought in the context of an ongoing employment relationship.
- Appearing before the Government Inquiry into Havelock North Drinking Water.
