Profile
"West Oak’s success has come from always putting our clients’ best interests first and always finding ways to improve and add more value to them"
Andrew mcquiston,
west oak family office, wellington-altus private wealth
An expert in the area of employment law, Fiona McMillan started her career with Lane Neave in 2007. She now handles everything from collective bargaining and independent external investigations to Human Rights Commission matters.
McMillan also represents Lane Neave’s partners on a number of internal committees, including its Board, and has been crucial in ensuring that the firm’s female partners are equally represented and their voices are heard.
When it comes to her success, McMillan says it has been “a mix of hard work, good management and good luck”. However, she says that the support her firm has given her has been instrumental to her career success, as well as the team she works with every day.
“One of the key factors in my success is definitely the firm I am with,” McMillan says.
“Lane Neave has done nothing but support me and tell me to ‘just go for it’ with everything I have wanted to do. Secondly, I have to credit my team. I am very lucky that the group of lawyers who work with me are diligent, clever and know how to have a laugh along the way. Finally, my clients have all been incredibly loyal and supportive of me and my career.”
McMillan is currently based in Lane Neave’s Auckland office, and she says the opening of this office was a particular highlight for her. Having started with a well-established operation in Christchurch, she says the firm’s decision to open its doors in Auckland was a major one for its partners.
“We have gone from a one-person office to a team of 40 in the space of seven years, which is an incredible achievement,” she says. “And it only looks like we are going to keep growing!”
Today, McMillan’s work consists of a broad variety of matters – everything from employment relations to health and safety, privacy, and matters involving ACC. She also advises both employers and employees on all aspects of termination, including performance management, misconduct, serious misconduct, restructurings and redundancies.
She regularly represents employers in mediation, the Employment Relations Authority and the Employment Court.
Commenting on her role, she says she “absolutely loves” being in private practice and would advise aspiring lawyers to forge a career path that is right for them.
“To young lawyers, I say work hard and enjoy it,” McMillan says.
“Take opportunities because they are right for you, not because you feel like it is something you should do. Oh, and one last thing – never forget how privileged we are to have received the education that we did, and to live the life that we have.”
Level 8, 48 Shortland Street, Vero Centre, Auckland 1010
64 273 512 000
fiona.mcmillan@laneneave.co.nz
nz.linkedin.com/in/fiona-mcmillan-b1195543
laneneave.co.nz/our-people/fiona-mcmillan
Fiona McMillan
Partner
Lane Neave
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Bio
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Milestones
2020–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Deputy Principal at Australian Christian College - Southlands
Doctor of Education
2020–present
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2021
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Year 7 Community Leader and Leader for Learning Technologies and Platforms at Northern Beaches Christian School
Master of Business Administration, 2017–2019
2021
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2006–2007
2014
2015–2016
2019
2022
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Bio
Milestones
Profile
Milestones
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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2006–2007
2014
2015–2016
2019
2022
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Milestones
2022
2019
2015–2016
2014
2006–2007
2022
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Listed in Doyle’s Guide as a recommended employment lawyer
Also recognised in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners as a leading employment and health and safety practitioner in New Zealand
2022
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2019
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Travelled to Vail, Colorado and received a certification to undertake independent external investigations through the Association of Workplace Investigators
2019
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2015–2016
Human Resources Magazine | key media
2015: Returned to Lane Neave and became the first employee in their Auckland office
2016: Became a partner at the firm and was nominated for Young Lawyer of the Year at the NZ Law Awards
2015–2016
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2014
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Moved to Auckland where she joined LangtonHudsonButcher as a senior associate before taking on a fixed-term role with Perpetual Guardian as their in-house employment lawyer
2014
1997
2006–2007
human resources | key media
2006: Commenced her career with Lane Neave Christchurch as a summer clerk
2007: Joined the firm’s Employment Law Team as a graduate
2006–2007
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Milestones
2022
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
2022
Excellence awardee – Independent Mortgage Adviser of the Year category at the New Zealand Mortgage Awards
2022
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2022
2020–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Deputy Principal at Australian Christian College - Southlands
Doctor of Education
2020–present
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2021
Launched his own business,
Ascend Financial Services
2022
2022
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2021
Launched his own business,
Ascend Financial Services
2022
