Penelope was admitted to the Bar in 1990. She has extensive experience in employment law in the private and public sectors. She also has a related involvement in health law including medico-legal work and civil litigation. She was in-house counsel with ECNZ from 1992-1994. She has appeared in the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court, the High Court as counsel, and as second counsel in higher courts. She is experienced in all forms of alternate dispute resolution, including mediation, in employment and commercial disputes.
An experienced advocate, Penelope acted as junior amicus curiae in the Moutoa Gardens (Maori occupation) case. She has presented numerous seminars and training sessions in workplace law, including for the Chamber of Commerce. Between April 2004 and October 2008 she wrote regular columns on employment law which were published in The Dominion Post, The Press (Christchurch), and the Waikato Times. She was a trustee and board member for the New Zealand School of Dance from December 2004 to December 2013 and is still actively involved in the ballet community. She is a trustee of mutual benefit funds for airline pilots and air traffic controllers.
In February 2021 at a NZLS CLE Ltd seminar Penelope co-presented “Employment law in the time of Covid-19” with Carolyn Heaton. The presentation focused mainly on employers having to reconsider staffing levels, key employment issues across payment obligations, working from home and redundancy.
In April 2022 Penelope was featured in Woman magazine. Click here to see the article: https://womanmagazine.co.nz/nz-women/women-reembracing-childhood-passion
Penelope and Carolyn are presenting, together with Dr Simon Ryder-Lewis, Occupational Health specialist doctor (Work Health Solutions Ltd), a series of free webinars (Snapshot Series © ) on employment and health related issues. Email us for more information: lawyer@btlaw.co.nz
