Shaun Brookes

Profile

Shaun specialises in employment law, industrial relations, human rights, privacy, and health and safety, as well as dispute resolution and regulatory enforcement.

He advises clients on a wide range of employment matters, including terminations, investigations, bullying and harassment, redundancy and restructuring, Holiday Act entitlements, and industrial relations. He regularly provides training and seminars on health and safety, employment, human rights, and privacy topics.

Shaun also represents a number of councils on regulatory enforcement and prosecutions. He advises clients on health and safety matters and has experience with WorkSafe investigations and prosecutions.

Shaun is an Association of Workplace Investigators Certificate Holder (AWI-CH) and can investigate a wide range of matters, including bullying, harassment, employee theft, breaches of health and safety, and other issues.

He is an experienced litigator and appears in the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court, Human Rights Commission, and at mediation on behalf of clients.

Market recognition

"Shaun Brookes is measured, calm and an excellent cross-examiner. He analyses the case early on and executes the strategy very effectively. You always feel like he is in complete control. Always supported by talented, conscientious juniors." - Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

"Shaun Brookes is a great operator. Very approachable, bright and focused on a solution." - Legal 500 Asia-Pacific

Shaun is listed as a 'leading associate' for labour and employment by Legal 500, and as a 'leading individual' for employment by Chambers

Pegasus Scholarship recipient

Captain in the New Zealand Army territorial force

Association of Workplace Investigators Certificate Holder (AWI-CH) designation

Work highlights

Acting for Alliance Group

in a claim by a meatworker that he was unjustifiably disadvantaged by the Alliance's handling of his ACC claim (Scott v Alliance Group Limited)

Acting for employers and employees

on underpaid holiday and wage claims

Acting for Christchurch International Airport

in an urgent reference for facilitation in relation to collective bargaining with the New Zealand Public Service Association

Acting for Alliance Group

in a claim made by the New Zealand Meat Workers Union for an additional weeks' annual holiday based on the interpretation of successive collective agreements (New Zealand Meatworkers & Related Trades Union Incorporated v Alliance Group Limited)

Acting for Fire and Emergency New Zealand

on various employment claims brought by employees, volunteers and unions

Advising and training clients

on health and safety matters, including assisting clients to manage and respond to serious accidents and subsequent WorkSafe investigations and prosecutions

Acting for clients

in the Employment Relations Authority, the Employment Court, Court of Appeal and at mediations

Prosecuting regulatory offences

on behalf of territorial authorities, including breaches of the Resource Management Act 1991, Building Act 2004, Land Transport Act 1998, and Dog Control Act 1996

Advising local authorities

in relation to health and safety liability, in particular, on issues of asbestos exposure, liability for public roads, high hazard facilities, and public events

Providing advice on employment disputes

including industrial action, restructuring, redundancies, restraint of trades, dismissals, negotiated exits, pay and holiday allowances

Experience

Sector/Expertise

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