Staff

Phil Butler has many years experience in industrial and employment relations and is the Director of Phil Butler and Associates Limited. While he has been admitted to the Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, he does not practise as a lawyer preferring instead to operate a company providing advocacy and consultancy services to employers and employees alike.

Phil is regarded as one of Canterbury’s leading employment advocates. He is known for having both an excellent understanding of his client’s case, the law and what it provides and advocacy skills that are amongst the best.

Phil is a parent of three children in their twenties.

His experience as a parent allows him to appreciate the competing demands of work and family facing many employers and employees.

Joe will be the first point of contact for many clients in the count down to Christmas. He will be working closely with Phil and Peter particularly when gathering and marshalling the essential facts and arguments in clients' cases. He brings to the job an acute awareness of what it is to be employed having worked in various businesses in the construction, retail and hospitality sectors prior to attending university.

Peter Moore has wide experience as both an employer and employee. He has been a union delegate and activist in the education sector, as well as a self-employed entrepreneur. He brings to the job an excellent understanding of both business and the risks facing employers and what it is to be an employee.

After earning an LLB (Hons) in 2008, Peter was admitted to the Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. However, he prefers the more accessible approach of representing his clients as an employment advocate rather than as a lawyer.
As a former teacher, Peter combines strong advocacy skills with rigorous intellectual analysis to get the best outcomes for his clients. Having travelled to over 40 countries, Peter enjoys meeting new people and getting to understand them on their own terms and from their own point of view.

Peter is the father of three children, aged 5 to 14. He originally hails from America, but has been in New Zealand for 19 years.
 

Val has extensive experience in the small business sector. She appreciates the financial and adminstrative difficulties facing small business owners. She understands the dynamics of employment in that sector.

if you want an update on your account or your case then contact Val. If she does not know the answer immediately you can rely on her to get you the answer.

Her calm and professional manner gives you confidence that you are in safe hands.