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Renee Butler

Renee Butler

Dentons New Zealand, New Zealand

Work Department

Employment. Health and Safety, Immigration

Position

Partner

Career

Renee is an experienced employment and health and safety lawyer based in our Wellington team. She provides strategic advice to corporate clients and public sector entities on the full range of people related issues. This includes restructurings, dismissals, disciplinary and performance issues, as well as a wide range of workplace health and safety issues.

She has also advised a range of clients on both health and safety and employment law issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccinations. Renee has appeared as legal counsel in the Employment Relations Authority, the Employment Court, and the District Court.

Renee has specialist expertise in carrying out workplace investigations into matters such as bullying, harassment, and theft. These investigations involve interviewing several witnesses, making credibility assessments, and making robust findings.

Renee also leads the firm’s workplace immigration law team. In addition to assisting businesses and skilled professionals with immigration matters, Renee assists former refugees to reunite with their family members, as well as those impacted by the Christchurch shootings in 2019.

From 2019 to 2021, Renee chaired the New Zealand Association of Immigration Professionals (NZAIP). She was on the Immigration Industry Steering Group from 2020 to 2021, which was established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both NZAIP and the Steering Group regularly engage with Immigration New Zealand, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Minister of Immigration.

Renee was included in NZ Lawyer’s 2020 list of Rising Stars.

Languages

English

Education

Association of Workplace Investigators, 2022

Institute of Professional Legal Studies, 2013

Victoria University of Wellington, Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Art History and International Relations

Admitted: Barrister and Solicitor, New Zealand, 2014

Mentions

New Zealand

Labour and employment

Next generation partner