Expertise
From employment agreements and restructures to disputes and exits, our advice is pragmatic, honest, and grounded in real-world outcomes.
Drafting and reviewing employment agreements
Helping employers and employees understand their obligations from day one.
Contractor vs employee advice
Ensuring you get the classification right and avoid future risk.
Managing disciplinary and performance issues
Clear guidance to keep the process fair and legally sound.
Risk Management and Documentation
We assist with documentation and decision-making to reduce personal grievance risk.
Restructure Planning and Consultation
We advise on lawful restructure processes and employee consultation requirements.
Implementation and Risk Mitigation
We help implement redundancies while managing legal and reputational risk.
Early Resolution and Strategy
We advise on dispute resolution strategy and represent parties in mediation.
Settlement and Documentation
We assist with negotiating and documenting binding settlement outcomes.
Policy Development and Review
We draft and review workplace policies to meet legal obligations.
Ongoing Compliance Support
We help ensure policies remain compliant as laws and workplaces change.
Exit negotiations
Supporting employers or employees through final terms and clean exits.
Enforceable Agreements
We prepare and certify settlement agreements to ensure finality and enforceability.
Advocacy and Representation
At Bramwell Bate, we represent employers and employees in Employment Relations Authority proceedings.
Case Preparation and Strategy
We manage evidence, submissions, and hearing strategy.
Entitlement Advice and Calculations
We advise on Holidays Act compliance and leave calculations.
Risk Identification and Remediation
We help identify and fix entitlement issues before disputes arise.
Compliance and Risk Management
We advise on Health and Safety at Work Act obligations.
Incidents, Investigations and Enforcement
We assist with incident response, investigations, and regulator engagement.
Yes. All employees have the right to bring a support person or representative. It’s a key part of a fair process.
A personal grievance is a formal claim that an employee has been treated unfairly - such as being unjustifiably dismissed or disadvantaged.
Only if the employment agreement allows for it, or with the employee’s agreement. We’ll help you get it right and avoid legal risk.
The label doesn’t decide the legal status. We look at how the relationship operates in practice and advise accordingly.
Most are resolved through informal negotiation or mediation. If necessary, we can represent you in the Employment Relations Authority.
Director
Christine Symes
Property Law & Conveyancing | Trusts, Wills & EPOAs | Employment Law | Estates
About Christine Symes
Christine was born and raised on a farm in Southland before attending boarding school in Dunedin. She obtained her double degree in Law and Commerce from the University of Otago and, after a period of travel, moved to Hawke’s Bay with her husband, a Bay local. With over two decades of legal experience, Christine was appointed Managing Director in 2021 and has ably guided the firm through a series of improvements, setting it up for stability and growth. Outside work, Christine enjoys spending time with her family embracing the Hawke’s Bay lifestyle.
Christine works in the following areas:
Christine Symes works in the following areas: Property Law & Conveyancing | Trusts, Wills & EPOAs | Employment Law | Estates
Director
Roger Philip
Property Law & Conveyancing | Trusts, Wills & EPOAs | Corporate & Commercial Law | Criminal Law & Traffic Offences | Employment Law
About Roger Philip
Roger has been practising law in Hawke’s Bay since 1996. Roger provides services in corporate and commercial, property, civil litigation, criminal litigation, traffic, estates, family, wills, trusts and powers of attorney. He brings clarity to complex legal processes and is focused on achieving the right outcome for his clients.
Roger Philip works in the following areas: Property Law & Conveyancing | Trusts, Wills & EPOAs | Corporate & Commercial Law | Criminal Law & Traffic Offences | Employment Law
Associate
Lois McLintock
Employment Law | Property Law & Conveyancing | Relationship Property | Trusts, Wills & EPOAs
About Lois McLintock
Lois was born and raised in Hawke’s Bay, attending Hastings Girls’ High School before leaving for university. She graduated from Auckland University of Technology in 2020 with a Bachelor of Laws and then from The University of Auckland in 2021 with a Master of Laws. Lois returned to the Bay in mid-2021 and joined the team at Bramwell Bate in October 2021. Outside of work, Lois enjoys spending time with her husband and extended family, playing classical piano, watching the NBA, and soaking up the Hawke’s Bay sun with her dog Winnie in tow.
Lois McLintock works in the following areas: Employment Law | Property Law & Conveyancing | Relationship Property | Trusts, Wills & EPOAs
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