Alastair Espie
Partner
Duncan Cotterill
Alastair is a specialist employment lawyer who excels in delivering solution-focused advice that gets results.
He works closely with employees and employers, including a number of New Zealand’s most significant private and public sector entities. Alastair heads up our employment practice group at Duncan Cotterill and his expertise covers all manner of workplace issues.
Alastair regularly represents clients at mediation and in the Courts and is also engaged to undertake independent investigations into workplace complaints, and to act as the employer advocate in collective bargaining with major unions.
SESSIONS
1:45
Breakout Sessions
Breakout A: AI, Employment and Privacy Risk
As employers increasingly adopt AI for recruitment, performance management and workforce planning, new legal risks are emerging across privacy, discrimination and employee monitoring. This session explores how to use AI responsibly while maintaining compliance with employment and privacy obligations.
Topics include:
AI in recruitment and discrimination risk
Employee monitoring and privacy obligations
AI in performance and disciplinary decisions
Transparency and consultation when introducing AI
Governance frameworks for responsible AI use
Auckland: Laura Scampion, Country Managing Partner, DLA Piper
Wellington: Carl Blake, Partner, DLA Piper
Breakout B: Bullying and Harassment – Prevention and Managing a Complaint
This continues to be an issue that both managers and hr professionals are required to manage.
Topics include:
Anti bullying and harassment policies. Considerations for your next review.
Can themes in a workplace survey be enough to trigger an investigation process?
Steps when managing a complaint.
An Employer’s obligation to the complaint and the respondent.
Different outcomes for the employment relationships at the end of the process.
Auckland: Alastair Espie, Partner, Duncan Cotteril
Wellington: Kirsty Wallace, Partner, Duncan Cotteril