Employment, Workplace Relations and Safety Law

Recognised as leaders in the areas of workplace relations, employment and WHS law, our specialist team of lawyers has worked across a variety of industries and roles, aside from law, including human resources management, and understand that clear and practical advice is key to achieving good business outcomes.

We work with a diverse range of clients, from large global employers to small businesses and not-for-profit organisations, and take the time to get to know you to ensure our advice is both targeted and practical for your needs. You will also be provided with direct access to all team members to guarantee a responsive service.

Employment and workplace relations issues we can help with include:

• Industrial relations advice
• Employment law advice
• Conducting effective workplace investigations at operational as well as executive level
• Advice and representation in termination of employment matters including unfair dismissal and general protections claims
• Representation before Courts and Tribunals including Fair Work Commission, Federal Circuit Court and anti-discrimination tribunals
• Strategic employment and industrial relations advice in transfers of business, mergers and corporate restructures
• Tailored training for line management and supervisors

Work Health and Safety Law

Our lawyers have specialist knowledge and extensive experience in work health and safety (WHS) matters. We provide proactive and tailored advice to help clients meet their duties under WHS legislation, and we represent clients at all stages of regulator investigations and prosecutions.

Our services include:

• Targeted advice on WHS duties for PCBUs, officers and workers under:
  • Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations;
  • Dangerous Goods Safety Act and Regulations;
  • Electricity Act and Regulations;
  • Energy Safety Act and Regulations;
  • Fatal Accidents Act;
  • Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act and Regulations;
• Advice and representation during WorkSafe, DWER, Energy Safety and NOPSEMA investigations and proceedings;
• Advice and representation in crisis management and response, including fatalities, industrial manslaughter, psychosocial harm, serious injury or illness, dangerous, notifiable and serious incidents, and failure to comply with health and safety duty offences (Category 1, 2 and 3);
• Advice in relation to applications for High Risk Work Licences;
• Assistance with enforceable undertakings;
• Representation in administrative review proceedings before the State Administrative Tribunal;
• Responding to Improvement, Non-Disturbance and Prohibition Notices;
• Conducting independent WHS investigations using established methodologies (5 Whys, ICAM, TapRooT);
• Establishing and implementing WHS management systems;
• Drafting policies, management plans, procedures and safe work method statements;
• Contractor and sub-contractor risk management strategies;
• Guiding clients through International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification and the Federal Safety Commissioner’s (Australian Government Building and Construction WHS Accreditation) Scheme accreditation;
• Psychosocial risk auditing and compliance;
• Liaising with PCBUs, contractors, regulatory inspectors, third parties, union representatives, police and insurers;
• Managing absenteeism for ill and injured employees; and
• Providing formal workplace training and presentations to businesses and executive management teams on implementing WHS legislative requirements.

We also maintain strong working relationships with leading WHS barristers who can be briefed on more complex matters when required.

Our clients come from a diverse range of industries and professions, including:

• health and aged care
• insurance
• education
• transport and logistics
• mining
• construction (mining and civil)
• offshore oil and gas
• manufacturing
• engineering and fabrication
• professional, social and community services