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.

Carol has recently joined PBEL in a newly created role of Office Manager/Advocate. Carol will be the first point of contact for clients seeking information on their cases and accounts; and for people seeking free advice on employment problems.

Carol has worked in the area of employment law for a number of years centred on the tertiary education sector. In having worked in this sector she is acutely aware of the dynamics in employment relationships and the working lives of educational professionals.

Carol was the coordinator in Canterbury for the campaign to retain MMP. She was very successful in this role. Carol therefore brings to the job a keen interest in politics as well as the rights of both employees and employers.

Carol will also be providing advocacy services focusing on employees facing restructuring or disciplinary action.

Joe is our first reserve. He works 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. He has a BSc and is continuing to study.

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.