Our people

SPECIALISATION:

Arbitration & alternative dispute resolution (ADR); Property & construction; Employment law

Employment Law:

Sean O'Sullivan has acted for clients in personal grievance and employment contract disputes brought in the Employment Authority and has represented clients in both the Employment Court and the Court of Appeal.

Sean provides strategic advice for clients undertaking change management processes (restructuring and redundancy).  He has depth of experience in collective bargaining, preparation and negotiation of collective agreements and multi-employer collective agreements, preparation and review of human resource and health and safety policies, training and seminars on employment law and occupational health and safety issues.

Litigation:

Sean also has a wide range of experience in the resolution of commercial disputes. He has particular expertise in the area of property litigation. He has acted in several of the leading cases which clarified the on-going obligations of guarantors of leases where the tenant had defaulted or been liquidated.

Sean is also the pro bono partner for the Wellington Office of DLA Phillips Fox.

RECENT WORK

Wellington City Council:

All personal grievance and employment contract disputes in the Employment Tribunal, Employment Court, Court of Appeal and in arbitrations.  He acted for the Council in claims brought by bus drivers for redundancy on the transfer of their employment to a local authority trading enterprise in both the Employment Court and the Court of Appeal.  Advises Council in all aspects for the negotiation and formation of employment contracts and their termination or renewal.  Extensive experience advising on the legal consequences of change management including restructuring and redundancy.

Other Local Government:

Advised in regards to senior management team restructure and acted for the Council in all issues that arose out of the change process.

Capital Coast Health Limited:

Acted on behalf of Capital Coast Health Limited in the Employment Court on several interim injunction applications to halt restructuring following the transfer of employees to the Crown Health Enterprise.

Property Litigation:

Represented a client from the High Court through to the Supreme Court on issues relating to the obligations of a vendor to meet subdivision consent requirements under a conditional Agreement for Sale and Purchase.

Landlords and Tenants:

Acted for landlords and tenants on arbitrations and expert determinations following a disputed rent review process.  Represented various landlords on the enforcement of obligations under the lease against guarantors in circumstances where the tenant had defaulted.

MEMBERSHIPS

Lawyers Engaged in Alternative Dispute Resolution (LEADR)
Lawyers Engaged in Alternative Dispute Resolution (LEADR) Mediators
Wellington District Law Society (Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee)
Past convenor of the Civil Legal Aid Committee in Wellington

PRESENTATIONS

New Zealand Law Society seminar presentation on Kiwisaver