Best Employment Lawyers in New Zealand
We assessed 55 employment lawyers in New Zealand and ranked the top 5 on their public review record: rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The 10 listed below hold 1,738 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 31 August 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
Employment disputes in NZ are governed by specific legislation and follow a defined process through Mediation and the Employment Relations Authority. Ask whether the lawyer has recent experience with your type of dispute, and check whether an initial consultation is free or fixed-fee.
Top 5 Employment Lawyers in New Zealand
The top 5 employment lawyers in New Zealand are #1 Saunders & Co, #2 The Legal Stuff, #3 Danny Gelb Employment Law Advocacy, #4 Godfreys Law, and #5 KT Law, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you instruct.
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1
Saunders & Co Lawyers
★ 4.9 554 reviews Top5 Score 1885★ 521 4★ 14 3★ 5 2★ 2 1★ 12Saunders & Co works through complicated immigration applications, including work visas, resident visas, and student visas, with lawyers like Jen, Cameron, and Vanessa each taking close personal ownership of individual cases. Clients who arrive after failed attempts elsewhere, or mid-process with added complications, point to a pattern of thorough case preparation and proactive follow-up with Immigration New Zealand until a result is secured.
location_on 131 Victoria Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch
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2
The Legal Stuff
★ 5.0 185 reviews Top5 Score 1775★ 181 4★ 3 2★ 1The Legal Stuff connects clients facing employment situations to Jess, a specialist who guides people through challenging workplace matters with clear explanations and practical advice at every step. Clients who arrive unsure of their position leave with a clear picture of their options, and the firm's habit of routing people to the right person quickly means no time is lost on the wrong advice.
location_on 62 Wake Street, Chartwell, Hamilton
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3
Danny Gelb Employment Law Advocacy
★ 4.9 237 reviews Top5 Score 1725★ 227 4★ 3 3★ 1 2★ 1 1★ 5Danny Gelb Employment Law Advocacy gets employees through unfair dismissals, redundancy disputes, and MBIE mediation processes with a clear-eyed focus on outcomes rather than drawn-out process. Danny sets realistic expectations from the outset, keeps clients informed at each step, and has a track record of securing exit packages and mediation wins where clients felt they had little leverage.
location_on 70 Coates Avenue, Orakei, Auckland
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4
Godfreys Law
★ 4.8 143 reviews Top5 Score 1645★ 131 4★ 3 3★ 2 1★ 7Godfreys Law draws strong signals around client communication and accessibility, with staff across the team noted for responding quickly, explaining clearly, and making clients feel supported throughout unfamiliar processes. Lawyers including Sally take on matters where emotional support matters as much as legal precision, with clients pointing to patience and genuine care as consistent features of the experience.
location_on Level 3/22 Moorhouse Avenue, Addington, Christchurch
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5
KT Law
★ 4.7 123 reviews Top5 Score 1625★ 109 4★ 6 3★ 1 1★ 7KT Law gets clients through property transactions, will preparation, and business contract negotiations with prompt turnaround and clear explanations at each step. Reviewers across multiple matter types point to staff who answer questions patiently, keep clients informed, and reach settlement on tight timeframes without losing the personal touch.
location_on 2/575 Wairakei Road, Burnside, Christchurch
Before you instruct an employment lawyer in New Zealand
Drawn from 200 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What does an employment lawyer typically cost? expand_more
Hourly rates for employment lawyers in New Zealand run from $250 to $600, with senior specialists sitting at the top of that range. For a personal grievance, total costs commonly land between $3,000 and $15,000 depending on how far the matter runs, whether it settles at mediation or proceeds to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), and how much preparation is needed. The ERA filing fee is $71.56 for most applicants, which is separate from any lawyer fees you incur. If cost is a concern, Community Law Centres around the country offer free employment law advice, and MBIE's free Employment Mediation Services resolve a significant number of disputes before legal fees escalate.
How do I know if my situation is worth pursuing with a lawyer? expand_more
The 90-day rule matters here: a personal grievance must be raised with your employer within 90 days of the act that caused it, so act quickly if you think your rights have been breached under the Employment Relations Act 2000. Before committing to legal fees, start with MBIE's free Employment Mediation Services, which resolves a large proportion of disputes and keeps statements confidential, meaning nothing said there can be used against you if the matter proceeds further. A lawyer who gives an honest first assessment, including when a case is weak, is far more useful than one who simply tells you what you want to hear, and several reviews highlight that the best practitioners set realistic expectations from the very first meeting. The strength of your documentary evidence, the clarity of the employer's procedural breach, and the likely compensation available, which can include lost wages and humiliation damages, are the practical factors worth weighing before deciding to proceed.
How do I know if my employment lawyer will push for early settlement or run up hours in a drawn-out process? expand_more
Ask the lawyer directly in your first meeting what their preferred approach is and at what point they would recommend accepting a settlement rather than proceeding to the ERA. Reviews point to a clear pattern: lawyers who explain the cost-benefit of each stage and keep clients informed at every step tend to resolve matters efficiently, while those who are vague about strategy or slow to progress matters create unnecessary stress and cost. One reviewer noted that after months of chasing their representative for updates, no progress had been made, which is a reliable signal that a lawyer is not actively managing your file. A fixed-fee arrangement, where available, can align the lawyer's incentives with yours, since several reviewers found it removed anxiety about costs for individual calls and kept the process moving.
What are the warning signs of an employment lawyer you shouldn't use? expand_more
- –Fees are not clearly explained upfront, and you only understand the cost structure after receiving the bill.
- –Calls and emails go unanswered for days or weeks, particularly at critical stages of your matter.
- –The lawyer asks you repeatedly for information or documents you have already provided, suggesting your file is not being read.
- –Advice changes significantly between conversations without any new facts having emerged, which signals inconsistent or poorly considered guidance.
- –The lawyer shows little interest in your individual circumstances and focuses mainly on whether the case has commercial value to them.
- –You find yourself doing the substantive work, such as drafting correspondence or researching legislation, while the lawyer forwards emails and adds little of their own expertise.
What should you ask before hiring an employment lawyer? expand_more
- –Ask for an honest assessment of your claim's strengths and weaknesses, and treat a lawyer who identifies real risks as more credible than one who guarantees a good outcome.
- –Ask how they charge: hourly, fixed fee, or a hybrid, and whether they can give a realistic estimate of total costs from initial advice through to mediation or an ERA hearing.
- –Ask how quickly they respond to messages and what their preferred communication channel is, since slow responses during time-sensitive employment matters can cost you real ground.
- –Ask whether they will explain MBIE's Employment Mediation Services process and at what point they would advise you to settle rather than proceed further.
- –Ask whether they have handled cases similar to yours, including the type of employer, the nature of the grievance, and the likely forum, since experience in comparable matters directly affects the quality of advice you receive.
- –Ask who will actually work on your file day to day, since in some firms a senior lawyer takes the initial meeting but a less experienced team member handles the matter from that point on.
Employment Lawyers ranked 6 to 10 in New Zealand
They scored below the top 5 on the same public review record.
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6
Turner Hopkins
verified Verified★ 4.5 137 reviews Top5 Score 1605★ 113 4★ 5 3★ 3 2★ 2 1★ 14Turner Hopkins takes on employment-related legal cases where the process is long and emotionally demanding, with lawyers like Catherine noted for keeping clients grounded through drawn-out disputes and delivering positive outcomes after months of difficulty. Clients across multiple matters point to lawyers who explain options clearly, stay genuinely available, and treat each situation as more than a routine file.
Reviews most often describe: Employment matters needing sustained, empathetic one-on-one guidance
- ✓ Lawyers stay available and communicative across long-running cases
- ✓ Clients feel heard and supported during highly stressful legal situations
- ✓ Clear explanations given at each stage without legal jargon
location_on Level 1, 1/7 The Strand, Takapuna, Auckland schedule Mon–Fri 8:30am–5:30pm · Sat–Sun Closed
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7
Queen City Law
★ 4.8 125 reviews Top5 Score 1605★ 115 4★ 4 2★ 2 1★ 4Queen City Law moves clients through visitor visas, student visas, and residence applications with detailed document preparation and clear step-by-step guidance throughout. Staff including Hannah and Henny are noted for answering questions before any payment is asked, and for keeping families informed at every stage until a decision lands.
location_on Level 8/19 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland
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8
Pawson Law Ltd
★ 5.0 72 reviews Top5 Score 157 +15★ 72Pawson Law takes on cases where the odds feel long, with Ellie and David noted for working hard in the background, staying reachable after hours, and securing outcomes clients describe as better than they expected. Their fixed-fee arrangement, raised by more than one client, meant people could call freely without watching the clock, which kept communication open throughout.
location_on 20 Park Street, Central, Tauranga
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9
McVeagh Fleming
★ 4.8 97 reviews Top5 Score 1555★ 88 4★ 4 1★ 5McVeagh Fleming's employment work centres on Michael, who has guided clients through complex work issues with patience, fought for their interests directly, and delivered advice that clients describe as spot on. Reviewers point specifically to his willingness to listen carefully before acting, and to a style that prioritises the client's best outcome over a drawn-out process.
location_on Level 9/188 Quay Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland
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10
I R Thompson Associates Ltd (unfair dismissal)
★ 4.7 65 reviews Top5 Score 1525★ 57 4★ 3 3★ 1 1★ 4I R Thompson Associates resolves workplace disputes, including unfair dismissal matters and employment negotiations, with a team where Graeme, Jacob, and Chrissie each take close personal ownership of cases. Clients across different matters point to plain-language explanations throughout the process and a consistent pattern of reaching outcomes clients describe as favourable, even in situations that felt unresolvable at the start.
location_on 28 Travis Road, Burwood, Christchurch
Related New Zealand rankings
About this ranking
How are the top employment lawyers in New Zealand chosen? expand_more
This national page is built from our city rankings, so a business appears here only if it already ranks in one of the cities we cover. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out. See how we rank for the full method.
How often are rankings updated? expand_more
Every category and city is recrawled on a rolling cycle, about every two months. This page was last checked on 31 August 2026.
Can a business pay to appear in this list? expand_more
No. Top 5 and Also Recommended positions are merit-only and cannot be purchased. Verifying a business is free. A subscription adds a website link on the card, a public profile page, and competitor and ranking history in the owner's dashboard, none of which affects ranking position. See what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
This national page is built from our city rankings, so a business appears here only if it already ranks in one of the cities we cover. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. At the last update, the smallest review count among the 10 businesses listed here was 65. Check where you rank or read how rankings work.