JULIE HARDAKER LAWYERS: EMPLOYMENT LAW, RELATIONSHIP PROPERTY, PUBLIC LAW

JULIE HARDAKER LAWYERS: EMPLOYMENT LAW, RELATIONSHIP PROPERTY, PUBLIC LAW

​Julie Hardaker Limited
Mobile: +64 21 2848618
Email: julie@juliehardaker.co.nz
Postal: PO Box 1105, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240

About Julie

Julie has practiced law for over 25 years and is a specialist in employment law, relationship property and public law. In addition to her legal practice, Julie is a governance professional and holds roles in government, private and community sectors. ​She is recognised as a skilled negotiator and advocate who takes a pragmatic and commercial approach to her work.

Julie has first class honours degrees in law and Masters in business management, and was the top graduating student in her law degree at the University of Waikato.  She was a partner for many years in long established Hamilton law firm McCaw Lewis and in 2017 was a Principal in leading New Zealand public law and employment law firm Chen Palmer.   
  
From 2010 – 2016, Julie served two terms as Mayor of Hamilton. 

Julie provides advice in all aspects of employment law and is a specialist in independent investigations.  She is regularly engaged to conduct employment and workplace investigations and reviews.  She is an expert in local government issues, assisting councils with legal and governance advice, oversight of CEO performance, and conducting independent Code of Conduct investigations and reviews.  

Julie practices in the area of  relationship property and advises clients about dividing property and finances following separation, separation agreements and Family Court proceedings.  Julie assists clients in relationships with contracting our/pre-nuptial agreements.  

Julie has been a finalist in the New Zealand Law Awards Employment Team of the year and in 2016 she was one of the first recipients of the Order of Te Arikinui Queen Te Atairangikaahu (Waikato Tainui) for services to Maori.  She is a regular presenter at conferences on legal issues, women, leadership and governance and facilitates governance training courses. 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • LLB (Hons 1st class), 1994 
  • MMS (Hons 1st class),  2017
  • FCG, FCGNZ  Chartered Fellow, Chartered Governance Institute (CGI), 2017

GOVERNANCE ROLES

  • Deputy Chairperson Auckland Transport - current
  • Deputy Chairperson Bay Venues Limited - current
  • Chairperson Orchestras Central Trust - current
  • Chairperson Women on Boards - current
  • Chairperson / Executive Director Chartered Governance Institute New Zealand  (2018 - 2024)
  • Trustee Common Good Foundation (2018 - 2024)
  • Trustee Te Tamawai Trust: The WaterBoy  (2019 - 2020)
  • Board Member The Good Collective Ltd  (2018 - 2019)
  • Chairperson The Peoples Project (2014 - 2016)
  • Board Member Women in Politics Inc (2014 - 2017)
  • Trustee Vibrant Hamilton Trust (2011 - 2016)
  • Board Member SODA (2010 - 2014)
  • Member Governance Board McCaw Lewis (2008 - 2010)
  • Board Member & Chairperson Waikato NZSPCA (2009 - 2011)
  • Trustee St Peter’s School Board of Trustees (2007 - 2010)
  • Board Member Waikato Chamber of Commerce (2006 - 2008)
  • Board Member Habitat for Humanity Central Nth Island (2005 - 2008) 

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS

  • Water Services Authority - Taumata Arowai - current
  • Winston Churchill Memorial Trust - current
  • Chairperson Environmental Protection Authority  (2018 - 2021)
  • Ministry for the Environment Waste Minimisation Fund Panel  (2017 - 2022)
  • Lotteries  Significant Projects  and Major Community Facilities Funds (2017 - 2020)

​
MEMBERSHIPS

  • New Zealand Law Society
  • Chartered Fellow, Chartered Governance Institute (CGI)
  • Chartered Governance Institute New Zealand (FCGNZ)
  • Women on Boards
  • Global Women 

Services

EMPLOYMENT LAW                                                                                                                            

  • ​Advice on all aspects of the employment relationship and employment law
  • Employment agreements, policies and procedure manuals
  • Restructure and redundancy
  • Collective bargaining and Collective Employment Agreements
  • Personal Grievances
  • Health and Safety, including investigations
  • Mediation, Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court advocacy 


INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS

  • Independent workplace and employment investigations, including complaints, misconduct, culture
  • Independent investigations and reviews in local government including Code of Conduct complaints and CEO relationship 


​​​​GOVERNANCE

  • Development and delivery of governance training courses
  • Legal compliance, including governance best practice
  • Strategic planning
  • Board reviews and restructuring
  • CEO performance reviews and management
RELATIONSHIP PROPERTY
  • Relationship separation
  • Advice on dividing property and finances
  • Relationship Property Agreements, pre-nuptial agreements and contracting out agreements
  • Negotiation, advocacy and Family Court proceedings
​LOCAL GOVERNMENT
  • Governance Advise
  • Independent chairing and project facilitation
  • Statutory compliance, policies and bylaws
  • Local Government Act requirements, including consultation and decision making ​​​
SPECIAL COUNSEL TO EMA
  • Employment law advice and services to EMA Members at EMA member rates
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