Frequently Asked Questions

It is a family-run employment law firm with a team of employment law specialists that has operated in New Zealand since 1997.

IR Thompson is based at 28 Travis Road, Burwood, Christchurch, New Zealand.

IR Thompson has been practising employment law in Christchurch and nationwide since 1997.

Robert Thompson is the Director of IR Thompson. Robert has appeared in mediation, the Employment Relations Authority, the Employment Court, and the Court of Appeal.

IR Thompson specialises in all areas of employment law. We assist both employers and employees across New Zealand.

We know how to win employment cases. With our experience and proven knowledge, we can fix problems quickly and cost-effectively, without the significant costs that come with using a big law firm.

Yes, we help both employees and employers. We represent employees in unfair dismissal and personal grievance cases, and for employers, we provide a wide range of services, including drafting employment contracts, defending personal grievances, guiding employers through restructuring / structural changes, and managing poorly performing employees.

As one of the very few specialist employment law firms in New Zealand, we operate nationwide, not just in Christchurch. We represent clients from Northland to Southland and everywhere in between.

At IR Thompson, we undertake all services related to employment law, as it relates to both employers and employees.

Yes, we can assist with personal grievance claims in Christchurch and across New Zealand.

Yes, we can assist with redundancy and restructuring matters for both employers and employees.

Yes, we can help negotiate exit packages and settlement agreements.

Yes, we can represent you at MBIE mediation sessions.

Yes, we can represent you at the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) in New Zealand.

Yes, we provide advice and drafting services for employment agreements and contracts.

Yes, we can help with workplace bullying and harassment claims.

Yes, we assist with unfair dismissal cases for employees across New Zealand.

Yes, we act as an employment advocate in Christchurch and nationwide.

The cost varies depending on your case or the matter we are assisting with. In most instances, we charge by the hour, but there are occasions where we offer a fixed-price services. For more details and to discuss your case, please get in touch.

Yes, the initial consultation is free of charge.

In general, we do not provide a ‘no win, no fee’ service. However, we may consider it on a case-by-case basis.

The main thing you should know about ‘no win, no fee’ agreements with employment lawyers is that they are often more expensive overall. The fee to the employment lawyer is usually a percentage split of any award.

Alternatives include Legal Aid, which we provide as an approved Legal Aid provider. Contact us or call us at +64 03 383 9988 for a free initial consultation and we will discuss your options.

Yes, we offer fixed-fee packages for specific services, including employment agreements, Human Resources (HR) services, and general case running and management.

We keep our legal fees transparent and affordable by strict monitoring of our timing using an up-to-date specialist legal software system. We are also members of The Employment Law Institute Inc., and are governed by its Code of Conduct.

A personal grievance in employment law is a dispute against your employer, usually for unfair dismissal or an unjustified or unfair warning.

To raise a personal grievance against your employer, begin by writing to your employer to dispute the unfair treatment that has resulted in either your dismissal or a warning.

The time limit for raising a personal grievance in New Zealand is within 90 days from the event that gave rise to the grievance.

Yes, we can help you prepare a personal grievance letter as part of our employment law service.

Every case is different, but generally you can make a claim for lost wages, compensation and damages for hurt or distress, and reimbursement of legal costs.

If your employer refuses to resolve the grievance, the case or matter can proceed to the Employment Relations Authority or the Employment Court.

A negotiated exit package is where the parties mutually agree to terms and conditions that end an employment relationship.

We will negotiate the best exit settlement by examining the merits of the case and then writing to your employer on your behalf.

A ‘redundancy package’ as such is not a common inclusion in employment contracts in New Zealand. Normally, if the process is unfair, we will work on your behalf to obtain compensation.

Yes, if your redundancy was not genuine, we will work on your behalf to obtain compensation.

The time it takes to negotiate an exit package depends on how both sides act. However, on our side, we work very quickly to resolve the matter. It can be stressful engaging in legal proceedings against an employer, and we will do everything we can to minimise stress for our clients.

Yes, we give free employment advice at our initial meeting or consultation stage. There is no charge for assessing your claim.

Free legal advice usually refers to Legal Aid. Legal Aid is a publicly funded scheme that enables people who cannot afford a lawyer to get legal assistance. IR Thompson is an approved Legal Aid provider in Christchurch and nationwide. Depending on your financial means and personal circumstances, you might qualify for legal aid.

Yes, we provide advice by phone, email, and in-person consultations.

Yes, we can provide employment law advice to businesses. We act for businesses throughout New Zealand with ongoing support in all aspects of employment law.

Yes, we offer ongoing legal support and HR guidance for employers.

IR Thompson is the best and one of the leading employment law firms in Christchurch, because we are a specialised employment law firm. All we do is employment law. This focus gives us exceptional expertise and experience in representing both employees and employers.

IR Thompson is highly recommended in employment law because we have an exceptional track record of success for the clients we represent, on both the employee and employer sides. Our Google Reviews are excellent, and because we do a large amount of litigation work in court, we have a large amount of case history that shows our expertise.

IR Thompson is different to other law firms because we are specialists and employment law is all we do. That gives us a clear edge in experience and expertise.

Yes, we have testimonials and Google reviews that you can use to do due diligence. We also have a large number of case results from court from the large amount of litigation we do on behalf of our clients.

To book an appointment, simply contact us by phone at +64 03 383 9988 or email through our website.

Yes, we offer remote and online consultations. We work with clients all over New Zealand.

To your first meeting, please bring all relevant documents and information that you think is relevant to your case.

We work quickly. We will take on your case as quickly as possible and seek the earliest possible resolution to your case.

The best way to contact IR Thompson for more information is via the contact page on our website.