Our People
[ Ko ō mātou tāngata ]
Auld Brewer Mazengarb & McEwen's team are a dedicated group of individuals who provide friendly, helpful forward thinking advice to their clients. They provide legal advice only in those areas in which they have a high level of expertise, and can significantly contribute to the success of Taranaki.
Caroline SilkPartner
BSocSci, LLB - University of Waikato
Contact Details
DDI Phone: + 64 6 759 5312
Mobile: + 64 27 676 7265
Email: caroline.silk@abmm.co.nz
Admitted to the bar: New Zealand 1999.
Qualified Mediator: Resolution Institute 2014
Caroline joined the firm in 2009 and has 20years' experience in the field of employment advocacy and law. She also has several years' experience in general commercial litigation and as a mediator.
Caroline has the unique perspective of working both in private practice, as in house counsel with the Employers and Manufacturers Association (Central) Inc and as well as having owned a small business and now being in partnership.
Caroline has a weekly radio spot on TheMostFM. Her programmes are available for listening via the podcast.
Caroline is also a business mentor for Business Mentors New Zealand and a director of a family company.
Caroline was born in Wellington but grew up in Taranaki. I am passionate about helping people solve problems, whether through advocacy or mediation or community work. In my spare time I enjoy being with my family, paddle boarding, time at home, cooking and skiing.
Caroline has particular expertise and knowledge in the legal issues arising in:
Employment:
- Works for employers and senior employees both in public and private sector
- Preparation and review of employment agreements
- Performance management
- Disciplinary matters
- Mediation
- Resolving disputes including representation at the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court
- Collective bargaining (including multi-party bargaining)
- Review of policies
- Restraints of trade
- Restructuring/redundancies
- Succession planning
Commercial litigation:
- Civil litigation
- Mediation
- Arbitration
- Tribunal work
- District Court, High Court and Appellate Courts
- Franchise disputes
Legal:
Partner - Auld Brewer Mazengarb & McEwen
May 2011 - Present
Associate - Auld Brewer Mazengarb & McEwen
2009 - 2011
Senior Lawyer - Employers & Manufacturers Associate (Central) Inc
2003 - 2009
Associate - Till Henderson King
2000 - 2002
Advocacy work
1997 - 1999
Other:
Business Mentor - Business Mentors New Zealand
2012 - Present
Member - New Plymouth YMCA
2011 - Present
Member - Human Resources Institute of New Zealand (HRINZ)
2009 - Present
University of Waikato
1994 - 1998
Spotswood College, New Plymouth
The 90 day no fault dismissal trial period (October 2010)
Private Eyes are watching you; they see your every move ... even at work (LIVE Magazine September 2010)
They were Agents, now they are Salespeople (Lawlink Connect Magazine - Autumn 2010)
We're all going on a summer holiday... (LIVE Magazine January 2010)
No Rampaging Santas... (LIVE Magazine December 2009)
Legal Ruminations
The 90 day no fault dismissal period is not a ‘Get out of jail free card'
Articles
Connect E-newsletter - November 2010
The first definitive decision from the Employment Court (Heather Smith v Stokes Valley Pharmacy (2009) Limited) illustrates how treacherous using the 90 day no fault dismissal period can be.
Read more..
The 90 day no fault dismissal trial period
Articles
October 2010
Read about the 90 day no fault dismissal period here
Read More...
Private Eyes are watching you; they see your every move ... even at work
LIVE Magazine
LIVE Magazine, September 2010
Caroline McLorinan, Senior Associate, explores the privacy issue over monitoring internet/email usage in the workplace.
Read more..
They were Agents, now they are Salespeople
Articles
Lawlink Connect Magazine - Autumn 2010
The Real Estate Agents Act 2008 is now in force. We have heard regular sound bites of information on the new REINZ Sale and Purchase Agreement and now we have competing versions of sale and purchase agreements in the marketplace.
Read more..
We're all going on a summer holiday...
LIVE Magazine
LIVE Magazine January 2010
Caroline McLorinane, Associate explores the history of the Holidays Act and employee annual leave entitlements.
Read more..
No Rampaging Santas...
LIVE Magazine
LIVE Magazine December 2009
Caroline McLorinan, Associate, looks at appropriate staff behaviour at Christmas functions.
Read more..