Presenters

Emma Crowley, Senior Associate, Langton Hudson Butcher
Emma has a background in human resources and employment law and is able to assist with contentious and non-contentious employment related issues. Before qualifying as a practising lawyer, and joining LangtonHudson she worked in HR at an Intellectual Property firm. Emma's background in HR means that her advice is practical and tailored to her clients' needs. Emma has a particular interest in ACC legislation as it relates in the employment context.

Daniel Church, Senior Staff Barrister, Hobson Towers West
Daniel Church is a Senior Staff Barrister in Catherine's team. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree with First Class Honours and a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2015, and joined Catherine's practice in early 2017 to further his passion for practising in employment law. Daniel regularly appears as counsel in the Employment Relations Authority and as second counsel to Catherine in the Employment Court. He has also appeared as counsel before the Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal defending charges brought by the Complaints Assessment Committee. Daniel regularly assists clients with investigations in the Employment Relations Authority, mediations, reviewing and amending employment agreements and policies to ensure compliance with current legislation, personal grievances, redundancies and negotiated exits. He has assisted companies with major restructurings and represented them in union negotiations, as well as representing both employers and employees in disciplinary and performance management processes. Daniel also has conflict resolution experience and is able to assist with mediating disputes between employees. He presents seminars at conferences on employment and education law matters which are topical and of particular interest to school leaders.

Laura Briffett, Partner, Langton Hudson Butcher
Laura has broad experience in employment and commercial law, and her work as an in-house lawyer means that her advice is commercial and pragmatic. She has assisted with litigation in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court and High Court, represented clients at mediation, and advised on a range of individual and collective employment relations matters, including strikes, lockouts and bargaining. Laura has a particular interest in assisting employers to protect their proprietary interests against departing employees, and has advised on search orders, team move issues and the enforcement of restraints of trade.