Christie is a Partner at Copeland Ashcroft. She specialises in employment law, having practised as a lawyer for over 20 years.
Christie’s experience spans various employment law roles, including most recently as Partner of a large Bay of Plenty law firm, where she led their employment team. She also held employment law roles at pwc Sydney and at Buddle Findlay in Auckland.
A passionate, bold advocate for her clients, Christie is, at the same time, known for her sensible, plain English, commercial advice. Getting to the heart of an issue to find pragmatic, cost-effective solutions is what she does best.
Christie acts for both employers and employees. She has acted for many of the larger employers in the Bay of Plenty, including in health, transport, education, local body and Māori land trusts. She has also advocated on behalf of employees and has significant experience acting for senior executives and other employees, including those in regulated professions.
Her experience includes all aspects of employment law, including restructures, acquisitions, personal grievance claims, compliance, human rights and privacy issues. She is especially experienced and skilful at providing strategic advice on employment issues and those involving employee wellbeing.
Christie regularly attends mediations and has represented clients at tribunals and courts of all levels, including the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court and Court of Appeal.
Having practised as in employment lawyer in Sydney for nearly six years, Christie has gained experience advising on global acquisitions, restructures and international assignments. She has also worked with other specialist advisors on associated commercial and tax issues, including relating to employee incentives and share schemes. Her experience has exposed her to all manner of clients from individual employees and small business to large corporates.
She is admitted to the bar in New Zealand and New South Wales, Australia, and is admitted to the High Court of Australia.
Christie sits on the Waikato, Bay of Plenty District Law Society Employment Law Subcommittee and is a member of the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand. She is also on the Board of Tautoko Mai, which provides sexual harm support services through Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.