Rani is a partner at Rice Craig.  Her principal area of practice is employment law and civil litigation.

‘When you or your business has a situation that needs to be resolved you can be reassured that I have the breadth of experience to provide sound practical advice to help you reach a solution.’

With over 25 years’ experience working in top-tier firms across New Zealand and the UK, Rani is a sought-after employment law specialist. Her expertise spans the full spectrum of employment law, applying her depth of capability to work with employers and employees as a trusted partner and advocate. She focuses on providing pragmatic, practical advice on a broad range of matters, tailored to comprehensively represent those she acts for. 

If you are an employer, Rani can work with you across the full range of employment issues from drafting employment agreements, restraints of trade or policies through to providing advice on exit packages, disciplinary procedures, restructuring, remuneration and holidays. Rani has a particular interest and expertise in complex issues relating to restraints of trade or other post termination obligations.  In all matters, her focus will be on protecting your business. In the event personal grievances or disputes do arise, Rani has the skills and experience to provide representation for MBIE mediations, or Employment Relations Authority or Employment Court proceedings.

When it comes to the most confronting and sensitive issues that can arise in the workplace, Rani works strategically to ensure clients are equipped to minimise any potential adverse impacts on their business whilst preserving the reputation and relationships of all parties. 

If you are an employee, Rani can work with you across a range of employment concerns, acting decisively to resolve personal grievances, often settling before court proceedings. Rani assists clients with duties during employment and also more complex post termination and restraint of trade obligations. In this regard her expertise offers immense value for those seeking to negotiate with their current employer, pre-empting the need to seek representation if problems were to arise in the future.

Whilst Rani has always practiced in employment law, over the last 15 years she has been specialising in civil litigation. She routinely appears in the District Court and High Court as well as various Tribunals, and has also represented clients in the Court of Appeal. Rani has experience with a wide range of civil litigation matters including debt recovery, judicial review or disputes relating to estates, trusts, property or contracts. She has a particular interest and expertise in dealing with injunctions.

Rani will tell you it’s a privilege to work with her clients across a comprehensive range of matters. Clients appreciate Rani’s focused, considered advice paired with a warm, calm manner in times of stressful conditions. 

Rani holds the Association’s Certificate in workplace investigations and has a special interest in acting as an independent investigator, representing all sides of workplace investigations, including assisting employees who are the subject of an investigation by their professional bodies such as the Teaching Council, Psychologists Board, Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board and others. Rani is particularly focused on education law and has represented schools, early childhood centres and teachers.

Rani is dedicated to the South Auckland community having practiced there for over 15 years. Rani attended Pukekohe High School and lives in South Auckland.

Background

After graduating with honours from Waikato University in 1996 Rani worked at DLA Piper Auckland as a graduate lawyer before embarking on her OE where she worked for Linklaters London, the Lord Chancellor’s Department and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Rani returned to DLA Piper Auckland in 2007 and joined Rice Craig in 2009. She loves the family-orientated culture and the value Rice Craig holds over genuinely knowing and building relationships with their clients. She works closely with Neville Woods with her civil litigation work.

Outside interests

Outside of work Rani enjoys camping and traveling with her husband and children, as well as working on their lifestyle block. Rani is committed to her local community and has been on a Board of Trustees for a number of years, first with Pukekohe East School and in 2019 she was elected to the Board of Pukekohe High School where she is an ex-student.