I R Thompson Associates Ltd is a family-run employment advocacy practice based at 28 Travis Road in Burwood, Christchurch, supplying employment law advice to employees and employers for decades — in Christchurch and right across New Zealand. The team are experienced Employment Advocates with what the firm describes as excellent win results and deep knowledge of unfair dismissal law, positioning themselves as the first call before you engage an expensive barrister, union, solicitor or big-firm employment lawyer.
The practice advises on the full range of New Zealand workplace issues: unfair dismissals, personal grievances, redundancy, employment agreements, sexual harassment, bullying, stress at work, restructuring, trial periods and disciplinary meetings. A free consultation is offered so you can find out whether you have a case or grievance before committing to anything (reviewing employment agreements or contracts is not part of the free service). Employers get the same practical support, from planning a lawful redundancy process to defending a grievance all the way to the Employment Court if needed.
I R Thompson is a member of The Employment Law Institute of New Zealand (ELINZ), which regulates how employment law professionals perform, and complies with the ELINZ code of conduct. Director Robert Thompson is a certified workplace investigator and a private investigator, and leads an independent investigation service for employers handling complaints of bullying or sexual harassment.
The firm promises prompt, effective advice and understands the emotions and stress that come with employment problems. The Travis Road office has lots of parking, calls are recorded for accuracy, and new clients can phone, email or use the contact form for an urgent response.
When a job goes wrong — a sudden dismissal, a redundancy letter, an allegation of misconduct — most people have no idea where to turn. I R Thompson Associates Ltd has built its reputation on being the first phone call Christchurch workers and bosses make in that moment. From the office at 28 Travis Road in Burwood, this family-run practice has spent decades supplying employment law advice to employees and employers, in Christchurch and New Zealand wide.
The firm's pitch is straightforward: before you ring an expensive barrister, union, solicitor or big-firm Christchurch employment lawyer, talk to an experienced employment advocate. I R Thompson's advocates have what the firm describes as excellent win results and deep knowledge of unfair dismissal law, and they aim for speedy resolution without the large costs that big law firms charge. The first consultation is free — a chance to lay out your situation and learn whether you actually have a case or personal grievance before committing to anything.
Few practices work for both employees and employers. I R Thompson does, and considers it a genuine advantage in understanding both perspectives. Employees can get help with unfair dismissal and personal grievances, constructive dismissal, minimum wage, holiday pay, sick leave entitlements, representation at disciplinary meetings, exit negotiations and guidance through the resolution process. If you have been dismissed, the law requires your employer to have a fair and valid reason and to follow a fair and reasonable process: an investigation must take place first, and you must be given prior notice of any meeting, of the allegations, of the possible outcomes and of your right to be represented. Miss those steps, and the dismissal may well be unfair.
Employers get equally practical support: redundancy processes that are legal and fair, employment agreements, 90-day trial periods, abandonment of employment, poor performing employees, misconduct or serious misconduct, and employee illness or incapacity. The firm's advice to employers is consistent — call before you act. Tailoring a process up front costs far less than defending a grievance later, and some personal grievances can cost an employer upwards of $50,000. If a grievance has already been raised, I R Thompson can assess whether it is valid, advise on early settlement, and represent you all the way to the Employment Court if it isn't.
Director Robert Thompson is a certified workplace investigator and a private investigator who has conducted numerous investigations. Where an employer receives a complaint of bullying or sexual harassment — formal or not — Robert can hold a preliminary discussion, estimate the cost, and run an efficient, independent investigation.
The practice is a member of The Employment Law Institute of New Zealand (ELINZ), which regulates how employment law professionals perform, and complies with the ELINZ code of conduct. It is also reviewed by Top Reviews, and there is a longer set of answers on the firm's own FAQ page.
This is a small, family-run operation, and the team is upfront about promising prompt and effective advice. They understand the emotions of employment-related problems and the stress clients arrive with, and they aim to guide people through the difficult times. Practical touches matter too: the Travis Road office has lots of parking, and calls are recorded for accuracy and as evidence of billing and instructions. New clients can phone, or email outlining their problem for an urgent response; the contact form is there for a more formal approach. Just note that reviewing employment agreements or contracts is not part of the free consultation.
Whether you have just been handed a dismissal letter or you are an employer worried about getting a process right, the starting point is the same: a free, no-pressure conversation with people who handle these problems every day. That combination of decades of experience, ELINZ-backed accountability, and advice without big-firm pricing is why Christchurch employers and employees alike ring I R Thompson before anyone else.