Liz Coats

^{Doyles Guide 2025 Employment, 'Preeminent lawyer'.}

^{Chambers Asia Pacific 2025 Employment, 'Leading lawyer' noted for her litigation skills and for advising on collective bargaining and major transactions.}

^{The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 Labour and employment, 'Leading partner'.}

^{Women in Business Law Awards Asia Pacific 2022 Labour & employment, 'Lawyer of the Year'.}

^{Women in Business Law Awards Asia Pacific 2023 Labour & employment, 'Lawyer of the Year' Finalist.}

^{Clients say Liz "has a fantastic approach and always provides a view to assist with our decision making." She is "calm and clear", and "able to provide assurances to lawyers and senior management throughout our business about how the employment dispute market works here in New Zealand."}

ASB Bank

Acted for ASB Bank in its successful defence of an application by FIRST Union to "fix" the terms of their collective agreement.

Department of Corrections

Acting for Department of Corrections in long-running unjustified dismissal proceedings in the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court, and Court of Appeal.

Minimum employment standards compliance

Advised employers in the public and private sector on a wide range of Holidays Act and minimum employment standards compliance issues, including identifying non-compliance, remediating employees, and negotiating enforceable undertakings with the Labour Inspectorate.

Employment issues arising from corporate transactions

Advised numerous vendors and purchasers on managing the New Zealand employment law implications of mergers, acquisitions, transfers and outsourcing transactions, including the sale of Spotless; the sale of Asteron Life to Resolution Life, Orion Health's acquisition by Healwell and NZME's acquisitions of certain regional media.

Collective bargaining advice

Advises several large employers on industrial relations strategy and collective bargaining issues, including representing employers in Employment Court proceedings seeking to restrain unlawful strikes.

High Court proceedings between competitors

Acted for a technology company in High Court proceedings with a competitor involving departing employees and IP rights.

Carter Holt Harvey

Acted for Carter Holt Harvey in litigation arising from directions to take annual holidays during the Covid-19 lockdown in March/April 2020 (for which a full Court of the Employment Court was convened).

Equal Pay Act litigation

Represented TerraNova Homes and Care in the Employment Court and Court of Appeal in historic proceedings relating to equal pay issues in the aged care sector. Described as "one of the most important cases to come before the Employment Courts" by the Chief Judge of the Employment Court.