Our team advises on the challenges posed by a constantly changing regulatory environment, which can have major effects on your organisation’s performance and reputation. We're experts when it comes to managing significant legal issues arising from employment relationships.

We have a go-to employment practice for sensitive, high profile and/or complex claims and disputes, including defending significant claims brought by senior executives.  We also have extensive experience advising on strategic industrial relations and workforce planning, and providing advice on all aspects of employment relationships from start to finish.

We regularly advise and represent multinationals and ASX listed corporations at a federal level, and across all states and territories. Our employment lawyers have extensive experience advising employers across a range of sectors on all aspects of:

  • employment law
  • workplace relations
  • discrimination law
  • employment claims, disputes and grievances
  • workplace investigations
  • industrial relations and collective bargaining
  • executive remuneration and benefits
  • incentives
  • corporate reorganisations and acquisitions
  • outsourcing, secondments and employee transfers
  • work health and safety.

We regularly act in proceedings involving post-employment restraints, industrial disputes, breaches of confidentiality obligations, and claims of adverse action, unfair dismissal, discrimination, harassment and bullying. We also regularly appear before federal and state courts, tribunals and the Fair Work Commission.

Experience

Recent matters

AMP Services Ltd (AMP)

Acted for and achieved a successful resolution of proceedings commenced in the Federal Court by AMP’s former General Counsel of Litigation, whose employment with AMP was terminated.

BSA Limited

Acting in relation to class action proceedings commenced in the Federal Court regarding sham contracting and underpayment allegations.

Headset Solutions Pty Ltd

Acting against a former employee and her new business which she set up in competition with the plaintiff during and after her employment with our client terminated.

Jemena

Assisting with corporate restructuring including advising in respect of introduction of change and dispute processes in various enterprise agreements, managing union claims in respect of employee entitlements and advising in respect of transfer of business issues.

KDR Victoria Pty Ltd trading as Yarra Trams

Advised and assisted on the industrial and employment impacts of Covid-19 related restrictions.

Lineage Logistics

Acted in relation to their enterprise bargaining negotiations and industrial action relating to four collective agreements which were expired or due to expire and need to be replaced.

Merivale

Acting for the Merivale Group in defending class action proceedings commenced in the Federal Court relating to the alleged underpayments of employees over a six year period.

Michelle Guthrie v Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Acted in the proceedings commenced by Michelle Guthrie in the Federal Court against the Australian Broadcasting Corporation regarding the termination of her employment and in relation to various parliamentary inquiries regarding the matter. The matter was successfully resolved.

Qantas

Representing the Qantas Group in successful Full Court appeal proceedings and in other claims before the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Retail client

Advising a major retailer on a payroll audit across its operations which included advising on award and enterprise agreement interpretation issues, internal and external communications plans and managing regulator enquiries.

Signature Orthopaedics

Acted in a number of separate unfair dismissal applications brought by former employees whose employment had been made redundant as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Swissport Pty Ltd

Acting for Swissport (formerly Aerocare) in extensive Fair Work Commission proceedings associated with the successful approval of its enterprise agreement.

Recognition

Related insights Read more insight

JWS bolsters industrial relations capabilities with Alexis Agostino and Charlotte Fenton

Leading independent Australian law firm, Johnson Winter Slattery (JWS) has appointed industrial relations (IR) specialist, Alexis Agostino as a partner in the firm’s IR/Employment team based in...

More
Following Silicon Valley’s lead? Reforming non-compete arrangements in Australian PE/VC deals

As Australia debates reforms to non-compete clauses, the implications for venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) firms are significant, particularly regarding business sales and funding...

More
Closing Loopholes on right to disconnect, casuals and contractors

The right to disconnect, a new definition of employee/employer, casual employment, unfair contract terms and regulated workers – these changes are now in force (as of 26 August). While the second...

More

Related expertise