Andrew Shaw

Practice Areas

Andrew is the Managing Partner of Lane Neave and he heads the Employment Law Team. He has 28 years experience and is recognised as one of New Zealand’s top employment, ACC and health & safety law practitioners.

Andrew is currently on the New Zealand Law Society ACC Committee, having previously been on the New Zealand Law Society Employment Law Committee (for six years), where he assists in providing guidance on proposed legislation.

Andrew is a preferred legal practitioner for the New Zealand Law Society to refer vulnerable claimants for specialist and complex legal advice in his specialist areas. He is also a mentor for other law practitioners.

Andrew is an experienced litigator and he has appeared in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court and ordinary Courts, including the Court of Appeal and advising on a Supreme Court appeal. Andrew also regularly participates in private and MBIE mediations.

Andrew has a strong interest in public policy, as this relates to his specialist areas, and as such he is contacted by the media to make comment on current issues of importance. He is also involved in assisting a number of charities, include the Stroke Foundation and MS & Parkinson Society.

The Employment Law Team has been a past multiple winner at the New Zealand Law Awards and it is currently on the Government Legal Panel, and provides advice to a number of State and Local Government entities around New Zealand.

Work Highlights

Andrew has been involved in a number of highly publicised matters, including acting for the Chinese Embassy providing advice to families of deceased children in the 2011 Christchurch Earthquakes, Christchurch City Council’s exit of its CEO, and Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Authority exit of its CEO.

Andrew has been lead counsel in a number of recent employment law cases including: Q v New Zealand Police, JCE v Department of Corrections, Williamson v Gore DC and Walford v Department of Corrections.

Andrew was also junior counsel in New Zealand’s first health and safety defended prosecution in 1994, under the previous Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992: Department of Labour v de Spa.

Andrew provides high level strategic advice to Boards of Directors, including company-wide redundancies, exit of senior level executives, health & safety and independent reviews of complaints.

Andrew is experienced in change proposals, and he advises on company-wide restructures, including in the context of Covid 19.

He has provided initial advice to Orion New Zealand Limited in relation to the recent Port Hills fires (2017).

Andrew regularly presents at workshops and webinars throughout New Zealand for organisations including WorkSafe NZ, ACC, The New Zealand Law Society, New Zealand Accountants Society, Private International CPD Educational Providers and numerous member-based organisations.