Liz Coats

Liz is a specialist employment lawyer who delivers practical, commercially-focused advice.

Liz has extensive experience advising on a range of employment issues. She regularly advises employers on Holidays Act compliance, redundancy and restructuring issues, managing poor performance, disciplinary processes, and restraints of trade. She also advises on health and safety and privacy matters.

Liz works to reduce the time and cost for clients when settling employment disputes and is experienced in all forms of dispute resolution. If formal litigation is unavoidable, she has substantial experience in mediation, the Employment Relations Authority, Employment Court and Court of Appeal.

Liz has a reputation for being accessible and responsive to her clients, and is known for her pragmatic, commercially-focused advice.

Chambers Asia Pacific 2021 names Liz as a leading employment lawyer, highlighting her experience on a variety of employment matters including collective bargaining, disciplinaries, termination disputes and M&A-related matters. One of the referees quoted in this directory described her advice as "excellent on both compliance and strategic approach options."

In The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022, Liz is ranked as a 'Next Generation Partner' in the labour and employment practice area. Clients regard Liz as someone who "has a fantastic approach" in relation to supporting corporate transactions, industrial relations and dispute settlement. In past editions clients described Liz as "calm and clear", saying that she is "able to provide assurances to lawyers and senior management throughout the business about how the employment dispute market works here in NZ."

Liz is recognised by Doyles Guide 2021 as a leading lawyer in employment and a recommended lawyer in workplace health and safety​ in New Zealand.​​

In 2016, Liz was appointed to the Employment Law Committee by the Council of the Auckland District Law Society.​