Our Firm
An experienced employment lawyer, Mary Breckon O’Sullivan, supports individuals and businesses in Waikato, Auckland and across New Zealand with employment, privacy, human rights and health and safety issues.
Mary Breckon O’Sullivan
When working with Mary, you can expect a personable and dedicated advocate, to receive bespoke, specialist employment advice, and be provided with a clear strategy.
Mary is an employment lawyer, expert in all aspects of employment law, privacy, human rights and health and safety, with extensive litigation and alternative dispute resolution experience. She regularly attends mediations and has acted in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court, District Court, High Court and Court of Appeal.
Mary is committed to providing commercial and pragmatic advice on employment law issues to clients across a range of sectors – including health, education, banking, local government and media organisations.
She also undertakes regular speaking engagements on employment law matters such as the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand, Safety 360, and Aventedge, and contributes to publications such as Legalwise and NBR.
Mary understands the importance of community, and her pro-bono and voluntary work includes
providing legal services and undertaking governance roles for not-for-profits.
Expertise and experience
Prior to starting her own practice, Mary worked as a Senior Associate in Simpson Grierson’s Employment Law Group, in Meredith Connell’s employment law team and as a Crown prosecutor, and as a general litigator at Wilson McKay.
Her experience includes:
Successful opposition to personal grievance claims for unjustified dismissal and unjustified disadvantage claims, including in relation to restructures, disciplinary matters, and health and safety matters.
Human rights proceedings, including representation for claims in respect of sexual harassment, discrimination, protected disclosures and the Privacy Act.
Representation in privacy matters such as claims for disclosure of personal information, use of biometrics in the workplace, and failure to provide access to personal information.
Restraint of trade proceedings, including enforcement of restraint of trade and post-employment obligations in both the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court.
Investigations into allegations of bullying and harassment, discrimination, modern slavery, clinical practice, medical incapacity and disciplinary matters.
General employment advice, including reviewing employment agreements, policies and procedures, restructure advice, performance management, and flexible working arrangements.
Education
Law
University of Auckland, LLB
Recipient of Faculty of Law Dean’s Academic Excellence Award
Te reo Māori
Te Wānanga o Raukawa (level 4 and 5)
Te Whare Tāhuhu Kōrero o Hauraki (intermediate) and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa (level 4).
We give legal and strategic advice to a wide range of clients, including in both the public and private sectors. If you have any employment law issues or need advice on privacy, discrimination or health and safety matters, call our New Zealand employment law experts today.