International
Posted on 17 January 2019
SBM Legal has been recommended as a TOP-TIER FIRM in 1 practice area:
3 lawyers are listed in the elite "Leading lawyers" list. The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019's guide to outstanding lawyers in Asia Pacific.
2 lawyers are listed in the "Next generation lawyers" list. The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019's guide to up-and-coming lawyers in Asia Pacific.
6 lawyers are recommended in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019 editorial.
Posted on 29 November 2017
SBM Legal has been recommended as a TOP-TIER FIRM in 1 practice area:
3 lawyers are listed in the elite "Leading lawyers" list. The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018's guide to outstanding lawyers in Asia Pacific.
2 lawyers are listed in the "Next generation lawyers" list. The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2018's guide to up-and-coming lawyers in Asia Pacific.
Posted on 20 January 2017
“The 2017 edition of Chambers Asia-Pacific was recently published, and I am delighted to report,” said Jeroen Douwes, Executive Director of L&E Global, “that all of our member firms in that region were recognised for their expertise in the field of labour and employment law.”
“[The SBM team is] highly recommended specialist employment law firm offering seasoned practitioners. Notable areas of expertise include guiding clients through sensitive workplace investigations and defending unfair dismissal claims, as well as other industrial relations matters. Advises employers and unions on collective agreement negotiations and strike actions.”
Kathryn Beck is highly skilled in industrial relations matters and advised McDonald's on unlawful strike action and issues concerning zero hours contracts. Peers identify her as a "standout" and "a really strong practitioner" who is "very highly regarded in the market.”
Don Mackinnon specialises in union bargaining and has extensive experience advising clients in the sports sector. He assisted Emirates Team NZ in its retention and hiring of key staff and sailors to participate in the America's Cup. He is recommended as "an excellent and very experienced employment lawyer," who "tells you how it is and is very practical.”
Penny Swarbrick has considerable experience advising clients on contentious employment law disputes. She acted for The Warehouse in successfully defending against an employee who claimed she had been disadvantaged by a workplace injury. Interviewees identify Swarbrick as "highly regarded for her expertise in advocacy." One notes: "She has technical experience, but her pragmatism makes her unique. She will give you a range of options, and cover all the benefits and risks of each of the options. She really adds value.”
Posted on 11 February 2016
Stephan Swinkels, Executive Director of L&E Global noted, “The fact that all of L&E Global’s Asia-Pacific members were included in the Chambers 2016 rankings for that region, illustrates the success of our client service strategy – to provide the highest quality expertise across borders, throughout the world.”
According to Chambers, SBM Legal is a "highly recommended specialist employment law firm offering seasoned practitioners. Notable areas of expertise include guiding clients through sensitive workplace investigations, defence of unfair dismissal claims and industrial relations matters including collective agreement negotiations and strike action preventions."
Chambers and Partners have published world-famous guides to the legal profession since 1990. Their independent research produces rankings of the world’s top lawyers in over 185 countries.
Posted on 4 November 2015
L&E Global is proud to announce that Kathryn Beck, Partner at SBM Legal (L&E Global New Zealand) has been elected President of the New Zealand Law Society and will take up the role in April 2016.
Ms Beck will take over from the current President, Chris Moore, who completes his three-year term in April 2016.
Her election means she will be the third woman to be President of the New Zealand Law Society. Since the first President was elected in 1897 the national lawyers’ organisation has had 29 Presidents.
Kathryn Beck has BCom and LLB degrees from Auckland University and she was admitted as a lawyer in May 1991. She specialises in employment law and alternative dispute resolution.
After working with Auckland law firm Haigh Lyon, she was a founding partner in the specialist employment law firm SBM Legal. She is currently the New Zealand Law Society’s Auckland Vice-President and is a former convenor of the Law Society Employment Law Committee.