About Julie

Julie has practiced law for almost 25 years and is a specialist in employment law, relationship property and public law.  She is recognised as a skilled negotiator and advocate who takes a pragmatic and commercial approach to her legal work.  

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

Julie has a Masters degree in business management.  Julie was a finalist in the New Zealand Law Awards Employment Team of the year in 2008 and in 2016 she was one of the first recipients of Order of Te Arikinui Queen Te Atairangikaahu (Waikato Tainui) for services to Maori.  She is a commentator in the media and a regular presenter at conferences on legal issues, women and leadership and governance.  

In addition to her legal practice, Julie is a governance professional and holds roles in the government, private and community sectors.   

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​QUALIFICATIONS

• LLB (Hons 1st class), 1994 | MMS (Hons 1st class), 2017
• FGNZ  (Chartered Fellow Governance NZ), 2017

GOVERNANCE ROLES

• Chairperson Women on Boards - current
• Board Member Governance New Zealand - current
• Trustee Te Tamawai Trust: The WaterBoy - current
• Trustee Common Good Foundation - current
• Board Member The Good Collective Ltd - current 
• 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 - 2009)
• Board Member Waikato Chamber of Commerce (2006 - 2008)
• Board Member Habitat for Humanity Central Nth Island (2005 - 2007) 

GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS

• Chairperson Environmental Protection Authority - current
• Ministry for the Environment Waste Minimisation Fund Panel - current
• New Zealand Lottery Major Community Facilities Fund - current
• New Zealand Lottery Significant Project Fund - current
• Member Crown Entity CE Remuneration Advisory group - current

MEMBERSHIPS

• Chartered Fellow, Governance New Zealand
• New Zealand Law Society

Services

EMPLOYMENT LAW

• Advice on all aspects of the employment relationship
• Employment Agreements, policies and procedure manuals
• Restructure and redundancy
• Performance management
• Employment investigations, including disciplinary investigations and dismissals
• Collective bargaining and Collective Employment Agreements
• Personal Grievances
• Privacy issues, including media advice
• Human Rights issues
• Health and Safety, including investigations
• Human resources advice and support
• Mediations, Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court advocacy 

​​​​GOVERNANCE

• Legal compliance, including governance best practice
• Strategic planning
• Board restructuring
• CEO performance reviews and management 
• Board training, including unconscious bias and cultural capability training

RELATIONSHIP PROPERTY

• Relationship separation
• Advice on division of relationship property
• Relationship Property Agreements, pre-nuptial agreements, contracting out agreements and property sharing agreements
• Specialist in complex, contentious or protracted dispute resolution
• Negotiation, advocacy and court work​

​LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Strategic advice 
• Statutory compliance
• Policies and bylaws
• Local Government Act requirements, including consultation and decision making 
• Official information
• Submissions and advocacy​​

SPECIAL COUNSEL TO EMA

• Employment law advice and services to EMA Members at EMA member rates