Buddle Findlay is delighted to announce the appointment of two new partners, building depth and expertise across its employment, and health and safety teams.
Emma von Veh, has been appointed as a Wellington-based partner in the employment team. Emma joined the firm in 2018 and is a respected employment specialist who advises public and private sector clients on all aspects of the employment relationship.
More broadly, Emma often advises clients on their statutory, public law and contractual obligations, including in relation to human rights, conflicts of interest, governance and official information.
Emma has extensive experience advising on collective and individual employment agreements, disciplinary processes, bullying and harassment investigations, restructuring, personal grievances, employment and industrial aspects of mergers, acquisitions and statutory transfers, contractor/employee disputes, health and safety, and human rights and privacy matters.
Emma has represented clients in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court, Court of Appeal, and Human Rights Review Tribunal, and also regularly represents clients at mediation.
Emma also has health law expertise and has worked in-house in the legal teams at the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner. She advises on health information privacy, Health and Disability Commissioner investigations, and professional disciplinary matters.
Helen Pryde has been appointed as a partner in the Auckland employment team, specialising in health and safety, employment, and insurance. Helen joined the firm in early 2024 as a special counsel, and with her broad range of areas of expertise, will complement the partnership.
Helen has particular expertise in handling WorkSafe investigations and prosecutions, performance management, disciplinary matters and processes (especially where issues may overlap with criminal law), restructuring and redundancy, restraints of trade, medical incapacity, and personal grievances. Her insurance experience includes advising on indemnity for employment practice liability and statutory liability claims, as well as representing insured clients.
Helen is skilled in dispute resolution and regularly represents clients at mediations. She has represented clients in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court, District Court and High Court. She is an accredited mediator and undertakes independent investigations into workplace issues.
With the addition of Emma and Helen as partners in our national employment team, Buddle Findlay now has 42% female representation in its partnership. Charlotte von Dadelszen, who serves as a Buddle Findlay board member and is the national chair of the firm's diversity and inclusion committee, commented, "We are so happy to see Emma and Helen step into the partnership. This is a significant accomplishment for them personally and for our firm. Their dedication and hard work have rightly earned them this recognition, and we take great pride in fostering an environment where our female leaders have the right support and opportunities to flourish and reach their full potential." Sherridan Cook, Buddle Findlay national chair and senior partner in the employment team said "We are delighted to welcome Emma and Helen to the partnership, and to strengthen our leading national employment and health and safety practice. They are strong role models for our young female lawyers and their promotion reflects the firm's focus on improving female representation in the partnership".
Buddle Findlay congratulates Emma and Helen on their appointments.
