Meet the McLuskie Dalziel team
Learn more about the people at McLuskie Dalziel Lawyers
Immerse in the expertise of our team whose synergy and combined years of experience form the backbone of our firm's success.
Karina McLuskie,
Director
LLB (First Class Honours), BA, University of Waikato
Karina is a highly experienced, specialist employment lawyer and is well known for providing pragmatic and commercially sound advice.
Before starting her own practice, Karina was a partner in a leading large New Zealand law firm, regularly representing clients at all levels of the dispute process, as well as providing advice on technical and complex employment law issues.
Karina works with a diverse range of clients, including both employers and employees. Her employer clients include small to medium-sized businesses through to large corporates and local government. She is committed to providing tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of her clients.
Karina has particular expertise in the local government sector and is well-versed in the unique challenges and complexities of employment law within this space.
Accolades
Recommended Lawyer
(Labour and Employment – Asia Pacific)
Legal 500 – 2023
Community
Karina was born and raised in the Waikato and is now raising her two young boys with her husband in the region.
Karina is well embedded in the local community, having held governance roles across community sports clubs, a school board, the Management Committee for Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, and the Waikato Bay of Plenty NZLS Employment Law Committee. She currently serves as a board member for the Northern Districts Cricket Association.
Contact Karina
Phone: 021 665 465
Email: karina@mdlawyers.co.nz
Fiona Dalziel,
Director
LLB, BSocSc, University of Waikato
Fiona has practised employment law for her entire legal career and is a recognised expert in the field.
She enjoys learning about her clients, their businesses, what they do, and what they wish to achieve - which assists her in providing high-quality and personalised legal support.
Fiona is experienced in all facets of employment law but has a particular interest in minimum entitlement and Holidays Act claims. She is well versed in minimum entitlement claims and has assisted clients through investigations, enforcement action, and prosecutions taken by the Labour Inspectorate.
Accolades
Recommended Lawyer
(Labour and Employment – Asia Pacific)
Legal 500 – 2023
Rising Star
(Employment and Workplace Health and Safety)
Doyle’s Guide – 2023
Rising Star
NZ Lawyer – 2021
Community
Born and raised in the Waikato, Fiona is now raising her two children in the local community.
Fiona’s community involvement includes being on the Board of The Midlands Sexual Assault Support Services Trust (MSASS).
Contact Fiona
Phone: 027 363 5526
Email: fiona@mdlawyers.co.nz
Josh Nyika,
Senior Associate
LLB, University of Waikato
Having begun his career in general practice, Josh specialised in employment law in 2019 and has been an employment law specialist ever since.
Josh has worked alongside several internationally recognised practitioners, including MDL’s Directors, Karina and Fiona. Josh has also worked in Auckland as an employment lawyer in one of New Zealand’s national law firms.
Josh provides pragmatic advice to clients (both employers and employees), tailored to suit their specific needs. He has experience in all areas of employment law, including being a trusted advisor to employer clients navigating tricky and evolving workplace issues, representing clients at mediation, and appearing before the Employment Relations Authority. Josh also has experience carrying out independent employment investigations.
Community
Josh was raised and educated in the Waikato, where he lives with his wife and four young kids.
Josh was previously a long-standing member of the Waikato New Lawyers Committee, where he served as Chair for two years, and was also one of the original members appointed to the New Zealand Law Society’s National New Lawyers Group.
Currently, Josh serves as Trustee on the Cambridge Town Hall Community Trust.
Contact Josh
Phone: 021 926 276
Email: josh@mdlawyers.co.nz
Sarah Gutsell,
Law Clerk
Sarah is in her final year of studying toward a Bachelor of Laws (Honours), undertaken conjointly with a Bachelor of Business, at the University of Waikato. Majoring in Human Resources, Sarah has developed a strong interest in the intersection between legal compliance and people management. She is particularly drawn to the personal and solution-focused nature of this area of law and the opportunity it provides to work closely with clients navigating workplace issues.
As a law clerk, Sarah supports the team with legal research, drafting correspondence, and the review and preparation of legal documents, while gaining valuable hands-on experience in a professional legal setting.
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys keeping active, spending time at the beach, and making the most of time spent with family and friends.
Contact Sarah
Email: sarah@mdlawyers.co.nz
Katie Findley,
Practice Manager
Katie has over 15 years of experience working in the legal industry. She has worked for a leading New Zealand law firm and Auckland firms, where her career began.
In her spare time, Katie enjoys spending time with her husband and two young girls, running and cycling. Over the summer, you will find her wakeboarding on the lake.
Contact Katie
Phone: 021 251 0536
Email: katie@mdlawyers.co.nz
Email for general enquiries: office@mdlawyers.co.nz
25 Ward Street, Hamilton
PO Box 1249, Hamilton 3240
Karina McLuskie
021 665 465
karina@mdlawyers.co.nz
Fiona Dalziel
027 363 5526
fiona@mdlawyers.co.nz
