Employment Law

Phil handled an unfair performance improvement plan (“PIP”) against me. Something like that knocks your confidence, makes you doubt yourself and you question your worth. When it feels like everyone is against you, it was a great feeling to have Phil in my corner. He lifted a burden. The way he approached my employer was professional and the engagement with them was short and sharp which made me feel that he managed the costs well. His experience was evident from the start. He absolutely knows how companies operate in NZ and this set me at ease. By representing me, he also represented my team of 20+ staff. My employer overlooked critical factors and tried to penalise me (and my staff) unfairly. Phil worked with them and showed them their mistakes and they dropped the PIP as a result. He assured me a fair and reasonable outcome, however, I received way more than that. You just can’t put a price on your dignity, your confidence and your mana. I highly encourage anyone who is considering Phil to engage him. Not only did he save my career, he restored my confidence and worth in my role. I can’t thank Phil enough!
Hone Karitane
Senior Manager

Phil handled an unfair performance improvement plan (“PIP”) against me. Something like that knocks your confidence, makes you doubt yourself and you question your worth. When it feels like everyone is against you, it was a great feeling to have Phil in my corner. He lifted a burden. The way he approached my employer was professional and the engagement with them was short and sharp which made me feel that he managed the costs well. His experience was evident from the start. He absolutely knows how companies operate in NZ and this set me at ease. By representing me, he also represented my team of 20+ staff. My employer overlooked critical factors and tried to penalise me (and my staff) unfairly. Phil worked with them and showed them their mistakes and they dropped the PIP as a result. He assured me a fair and reasonable outcome, however, I received way more than that. You just can’t put a price on your dignity, your confidence and your mana. I highly encourage anyone who is considering Phil to engage him. Not only did he save my career, he restored my confidence and worth in my role. I can’t thank Phil enough!
Hone Karitane
Senior Manager

Phil made the worst time in my career disappear. I felt trapped, afraid and totally lacked the confidence to know what to do about it. I had one conversation with Phil and felt hope. Phil explained my options to me with simplicity and empathy and gave me a really realistic understanding of how I could proceed. I took my time to decide on my next steps and when I was ready, Phil took the reigns and handled everything respectfully and professionally, leaving me to process things emotionally without additional pressure. Several weeks later I’m so relieved, and absolutely sure I made the right decisions, thanks to Phil.
Scarlett Johnston,
Senior Manager,

I was in a senior role in an international finance company. I made a terrible error of judgment that resulted in a police investigation and serious criminal charges arising. I resigned immediately. I instructed Phil to work on both the criminal and employment law aspects of my case. Phil negotiated a settlement of the case against me that was before the Employment Relations Authority. Phil also negotiated with the Police at length and had the charge reduced and he secured a discharge without conviction and permanent name suppression, (which provided me and my family an opportunity to rebuild our lives). My situation took about 14 months from start to conclusion. Phil supported us the whole way. We developed a great working relationship and Phil was always available to talk – we even met on weekends. Phil has a thorough understanding of the law and how the “system” works . HE mapped out a strategy, executed it, and got an amazing result. He was efficient with his time and work to keep costs under control. Even the sentencing judge said he was impressed with Phil’s arguments. Phil achieved the impossible and I have no hesitation in recommending Phil to anybody in serious trouble who needs a committed lawyer who will focus on their case with compassion and interest.

Phil believed in me, and at that stage that was really what I needed. I knew I had not done what the police were alleging but I was terrified I would get some disinterested lawyer who would not argue my case properly. But Phil did, and we won in the District Court, and then against my employer as well in the Employment Relations Authority

Thank you so much Phil! You’re amazing and the thing that never changed was your word: you promised you would get results and look after me and you definitely delivered on that.

I am so grateful for Phil’s support in dealing with an employment issue. I was employed for five years by a health board. I had felt bullied by the employer and Phil was very understanding.

From the moment I first met Phil I knew he was the right man for the job. Phil was instantly likeable but more importantly with his prior career I knew he would be tough.

I had a major issue with a diplomatic mission and was adamant on taking them on but not without some trepidation. The best decision I made in this whole episode was taking on Phil Mitchell as my lawyer.

Phil displayed great skill in assisting me with a very complex work issue. He quickly got to grips with the issues maintaining a professional yet pragmatic approach throughout. Would highly recommend

I was a senior manager in a national company. I came to see Phil in early December after becoming the subject of a corporate employment investigation. Phil took over the correspondence between the company and myself which was a huge stress relief for me and my family.

Thank you so much for all your help. You made a difficult and potentially unpleasant process easy, quick and painless. I was impressed by your intuitive understanding of the issues and professional way in which you handled the process.

It’s great to meet a lawyer that while very professional also has a heart and compassion for people going through very stressful situations. After meeting with Phil the stress seemed to instantly melt away.

We recently worked with Phil after my husband, a senior executive in a major IT firm, was suddenly sidelined by the company. We had never been in this position before and were quite overcome with the enormity of what happened and the way it was done.

I was made redundant from my employer of 25 years. It was totally out of the blue. I’m a solo mum with an 11 year old child and a large mortgage. I was at breakdown point. The company offered me a redundancy payment, but I wasn’t too sure if this amount really represented 25 years of service to the company.

Thank you Phil – for the legal stuff but just as importantly for your understanding of the whanau / familial thing – separating it without dismissing their importance to me. Very cool.

I recently required the services of an Employment Lawyer due to an unforeseen redundancy. After doing some research I decided to use Phil Mitchell.

I was in a senior management role at a large Maori charitable trust when we had to deal with a major restructure and a personal grievance brought by one of the managers whose position was dis-established.

Through Phil acting for me I felt I regained my self-respect; it was more important than the money. Because I’ve elected to stay working for my employer they have to respect me going forward.

I recently contacted Phil Mitchell to discuss a confusing employment situation on recommendation from a friend.

Friendly, helpful and effective. I was able to move on after Phil quickly sorted my personal grievance against my former employer.

I don’t know any other lawyer who answers his phone at the weekend or after hours. Being able to contact Phil when it suited me, was of great assistance.

Phil has a pragmatic and common-sense approach to employment issues that has certainly helped us resolve staff problems in a quick and effective manner.

Phil was a rock when I was completely stressed out; he didn’t mind me crying in his office!

Phil was personable and approachable. He provided good, common-sense advice that enabled us to resolve our employment problem quickly.

I was in a senior legal role with a large organisation. I came to see Phil when the relationship between myself and my employer became complex as a consequence of different expectations of what the role entailed.

Phil helped me through a crucial time in my employment situation. I came to him for assistance and advice with my employment issue, unsure what to do.

I was unfairly dismissed from my position from a major NZ corporate and Phil’s confidence in the strength of my case encouraged me to pursue the case.

I would highly recommend Phil Mitchell for your employment related matter. Phil provided me with excellent legal advice, knowledge and expertise.

I approached Phil for urgent advice on an employment matter – I had recently (and unexpectedly!) been advised that my Senior Executive role was being restructured. 

I engaged Phil as my lawyer at a time when my workplace had become untenable for me to continue working there. I’d never gone to a lawyer for a work related issue before and was very unsure what options I would even have for exiting my work.

I would have no hesitation in recommending Phil Mitchell to potential clients.

I was in a lot of trouble with my employer taking unreasonable steps to remove me from my position.