Our People

Susan is the Managing Partner of Dundas Street.

With over 25 years of experience as a specialist employment lawyer, her experience and formidable reputation combine to make her a respected advocate and adviser, whether around the bargaining table, acting in disputes or appearing before the Court.

Susan is seen as the "go to" lawyer for complex and strategic high profile matters and her work is largely at Chief Executive / Board level.

Susan is ranked as one of the top two employment lawyers in New Zealand by international ratings agency Chambers and Partners.

Susan is regularly quoted in the media and writes a column for Stuff / DominionPost. She is the editor of the leading employment law publication, the Employment Law Bulletin.

Blair has over 20 years' experience as a specialist employment lawyer and was a founding Partner at Dundas Street. 

Having spent time working in-house, including in the public sector, he understands organisational drivers and how to use them effectively in the employment arena.

It is this depth of practical experience that enables him to provide valuable strategic and business focused advice.

Blair is consistently engaged in high-profile work in a range of sectors. He has developed particular expertise in the areas of Privacy and Health and Safety.

A sought after trainer and speaker at industry conferences, Blair is also regularly quoted in the media.

International rating agency Chambers and Partners recognises Blair as one of a select group of Band 3 Practitioners.

Ros' significant experience both within the firm and in-house gives her a highly practical approach and allows her to deliver strategic and business focussed outcomes for clients in a way that recognises and manages risk.

This is invaluable to the Dundas Street practice where she leads a number of key public and private sector relationships.

Ros has considerable Industrial Relations experience which supports the strong leadership position that Dundas Street has in this space.

In addition her attention to detail and ability to write succinctly makes Ros a highly respected investigator.

Ros is s skilled trainer and leads the advanced level "Termination of employment " course for Human Resources practitioners on behalf of the HRINZ.

She is individually rated by international agency Chambers and Partners as a Band 4 practitioner.

David has significant experience working as a specialist in all aspects of employment law.

He works with a number of private and public sector agencies including conducting complex investigations and providing strategic advice.

David is pragmatic and solutions focused and works closely with his clients to understand their circumstances and deliver the outcomes they require.

David is a skilled trainer and leads the "Practical Employment Law" course for Human Resources professional development on behalf of Human Resources Institute of NZ.

David is recognised by international ratings agency Chambers and Partners as an Up and Coming leader in his field.

Chloe is a specialist employment lawyer and has worked exclusively in this area throughout her career.

She has significant experience acting for both employers and employees and is well versed in the legislation affecting the application of employment law.

Chloe builds and maintains strong relationships with her clients, is pragmatic and analytical and has an unswerving commitment to excellence.

Chloe is recognised by international ratings agency Legal 500 as a "Next Generation" employment lawyer in New Zealand.

She regularly provides expert commentary in the media, designed professional development in employment law at conferences, presents seminars and webinars and is on the editorial board of the Employment Law Bulletin.

Megan has significant experience in all aspects of employment law.

She has worked both within the firm and in-house at a core Government department. She also has prior experience as a government lawyer working on legislative reform and policy.

Megan's approach is both practical and academic, providing straightforward advice on all aspects of employment law with the ability to delve more deeply into emerging issues when necessary.

Prior to joining Dundas Street in 2017 Barnaby developed several years of valuable public sector experience.

This in-house experience means he knows how to partner with managers to deliver the right outcome for the business.

Barnaby is a highly experienced employment lawyer and advises his employer and employee clients on a wide range of issues.

He brings a strong balance of intellectual acumen, attitude and professional experience to the role.

Barnaby is a member of the Human Resources Institute of NZ.

Alice, Ngāi Tahu, followed her passion for employment law to Dundas Street, having previously practised broader civil litigation in the regions.  She has refined her skills over the years having represented both employers and employees across a vast range of issues and industries, and has experience providing in-house legal services in the public sector.  Alice’s ability to connect with people from all walks of life and identify issues quickly also make her an excellent workplace investigator.  

Her approach to the law is underpinned by her commitment to manaaki; Alice seeks to work collaboratively with clients to ensure that they feel heard and informed at every stage of working with her.  She recognises that every client has different needs and is able to intuitively adapt to provide them with tailored advice and support and assist them through processes in a way that is not only legally sound, but also culturally safe.

Alice is an active member of the Māori Law Society, regularly participating in Ngā Wāhine Rōia Māori mentoring programme and previously sitting as a regional representative on the national executive.  She is currently the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the New Zealand Women’s Law Journal, and is studying te reo Māori with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.  

Since graduating in 2017 Jack, who is of Te Arawa descent, took the opportunity to develop his skills while working for a specialist Maori Legal firm in Wellington before joining Dundas Street to specialise in employment law at the beginning of 2019.

Jack has excellent knowledge of employment law and develops strong relationships with his clients. He also has well honed research and writing skills.

In his spare time Jack volunteers at Community Law and plays Volleyball.

Prior to setting up the firm with Susan, Helen had a commercial background as an Account Director primarily in the IT&T sector.

She is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the marketing and commercial side of the business leaving the Partners to focus on the legal team and the quality of the work they produce.

Esther is responsible for the day to day running of the firm. It's a big responsibility keeping everyone in line!

Esther is the first port of call into our business - any query big or small she will either be able to assist you or find someone who can.