Last updated: March 2026
What Is Doyles Guide?
Doyles Guide is an independent Australian and New Zealand legal directory that publishes annual rankings of leading lawyers and law firms. Unlike directories that rely on self-nomination or paid submissions, Doyles Guide rankings are compiled through peer-based research, surveying thousands of practitioners across the legal profession each year.
The guide ranks lawyers in three tiers: Preeminent, Leading, and Recommended. Each tier reflects the esteem in which a lawyer is held by fellow practitioners, clients, and the broader legal community. A Recommended ranking signals that a lawyer is recognised by their peers as one of the top practitioners in their area of law nationwide.
Doyles Guide has published legal rankings in Australia since 2007 and expanded to cover New Zealand. It is one of the most widely referenced legal directories in the Australasian market, alongside the Legal 500 Asia Pacific and Chambers and Partners.
Who Was Recognised in the 2026 Employment Law Rankings?
The Doyles Guide 2026 Leading Employment Lawyers, New Zealand rankings were compiled from nominations and research across the country’s employment law community. Andy Bell of Lane Neave (Wellington) is listed as a Recommended Employment Lawyer. Fiona McMillan, also of Lane Neave (Auckland), is separately recommended in the same rankings.
This means Lane Neave is one of a small number of firms with multiple individually recognised employment lawyers in the 2026 guide, reflecting the depth of the firm’s employment law capability across both Wellington and Auckland.
Why Does a Doyles Guide Recommendation Matter When Choosing an Employment Lawyer?
For employees and employers looking for legal help with a workplace issue, independent rankings like Doyles Guide provide a useful shortcut. The recommendation is not based on advertising spend or self-promotion. It reflects what other lawyers and clients actually think about a practitioner’s ability, judgement, and results.
This matters in employment law because the stakes are often high, whether you are an employee facing dismissal, redundancy, or a personal grievance, or an employer navigating a restructure, disciplinary process, or mediation. The quality of your lawyer’s advice in the first 48 hours can shape the entire outcome.
A Doyles Guide recommendation sits alongside other independent markers of quality. Andy Bell is also a Legal 500 Asia Pacific Recommended Lawyer, meaning his practice has been recognised by two separate international legal directories based on independent research.
What Employment Law Services Does Andy Bell Provide?
Andy Bell acts for both employees and employers across the full range of employment law matters in New Zealand. His practice at Lane Neave covers:
- Personal grievances, including unjustified dismissal, disadvantage, discrimination, and harassment claims under the Employment Relations Act 2000
- Redundancy and restructuring, advising employers on lawful processes and employees on their rights, including negotiating exit packages
- Employment agreements, drafting, reviewing, and advising on individual and collective agreements, including 90-day trial periods under Section 67A of the Employment Relations Act 2000
- MBIE mediation, representing clients through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment mediation process
- Disciplinary and performance management processes, ensuring fair process obligations are met under Section 103A of the Employment Relations Act 2000
- Workplace investigations, including bullying, harassment, and serious misconduct inquiries
Andy is based in Lane Neave’s Wellington office and serves clients across New Zealand. Lane Neave has offices in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown.
How Is This Different from Other Legal Directory Rankings?
New Zealand lawyers may be ranked by several independent directories, each with a different methodology:
| Directory | Methodology | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Doyles Guide | Peer-based nominations and market research across the NZ legal profession | Australia and New Zealand |
| Legal 500 Asia Pacific | Independent editorial research, client interviews, and submissions | Global (Asia Pacific edition) |
| Chambers and Partners | Researcher-led interviews with clients and practitioners | Global |
| Best Lawyers | Peer review survey of lawyers in the same practice area | Global |
Being recognised across multiple directories, as Andy Bell is with both Doyles Guide and Legal 500, provides additional assurance that the recognition is consistent and well-supported by market evidence.
What Should You Do If You Need an Employment Lawyer?
If you are dealing with a workplace issue, whether you are an employee or an employer, early legal advice makes a significant difference. Here are the key steps:
- Act quickly. Many employment law deadlines are strict. You have 90 days from dismissal to raise a personal grievance under the Employment Relations Act 2000. Missing this deadline may mean losing the right to challenge.
- Check your employment agreement. Your rights and obligations, including notice periods, restraints of trade, and redundancy provisions, are set out in your agreement. Have a lawyer review it before you act.
- Get independent legal advice. Look for a lawyer with recognised expertise, not just a general practitioner. Independent directory rankings like Doyles Guide and Legal 500 are a reliable way to identify specialists.
- Understand the process. Most employment disputes in New Zealand go through MBIE mediation before reaching the Employment Relations Authority. A lawyer experienced in mediation can often resolve matters faster and at lower cost.
- Book a consultation. Andy Bell offers a free 30-minute initial consultation for employees and employers needing employment law advice.
“In our experience, the clients who get the best outcomes are the ones who seek legal advice early, ideally within the first 48 hours of an issue arising. Whether you are an employee who has just been told your role is being disestablished, or an employer about to start a disciplinary process, the decisions you make at the outset shape everything that follows.”
, Andy Bell, Partner, Lane Neave (Doyles Guide 2026 Recommended Employment Lawyer, Legal 500 Asia Pacific Recommended Lawyer)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “Recommended” mean in Doyles Guide?
Recommended is one of three ranking tiers in Doyles Guide, alongside Preeminent and Leading. A Recommended ranking means the lawyer has been independently identified by peers and clients as one of the top practitioners in their field in New Zealand. The ranking is based on peer nominations and market research, not on paid submissions.
Is Andy Bell recommended for both employee and employer work?
Yes. Andy Bell acts for both employees and employers in employment law matters. His Doyles Guide 2026 recommendation and Legal 500 Asia Pacific recognition cover his full employment law practice, which includes personal grievances, redundancy, restructuring, employment agreements, and workplace investigations.
How do I book a consultation with Andy Bell at Lane Neave?
Andy offers a free 30-minute initial consultation. You can book through the Lane Neave website or contact the Wellington office directly. Lane Neave has offices in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown, and Andy serves clients across New Zealand.
Does Lane Neave have other recognised employment lawyers?
Yes. Fiona McMillan, based in Lane Neave’s Auckland office, is also a 2026 Doyles Guide Recommended Employment Lawyer. Lane Neave’s employment law team has been recognised by Doyles Guide, Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Chambers and Partners, and Best Lawyers.
What is the difference between Doyles Guide and Legal 500?
Doyles Guide is an Australasian legal directory that ranks lawyers based on peer nominations and market research within Australia and New Zealand. Legal 500 is a global directory that uses independent editorial research and client interviews. Both are respected independent publications, and being recognised by both provides strong evidence of a lawyer’s standing in their field.
Written by Andy Bell, Partner at Lane Neave
Recommended Employment Lawyer, Doyles Guide 2026
Recommended Lawyer, Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Andy Bell
Andy Bell is a seasoned lawyer with over 20 years of experience in New Zealand law, known for his exceptional representation and nuanced negotiation skills. Andy Bell is a skilled advocate who balances tenacity and diplomacy to achieve the best possible outcomes for his clients.