Employment Relations and Safety

Tailored, commercial solutions for complex employment relations and safety issues

The reality is that employment relations and safety issues are rarely straightforward. We get to know our clients’ business and understand their industry so that our advice is tailored, commercial, and practical.

Comprehensive legal support across the employment lifecycle

Maintaining a stable, productive, and safe workforce can mean the difference between success and failure in business or for government. Commercial objectives, performance and reputation depend on the successful management of employment relations and work health and safety issues.

Our focus is on providing practical, timely, and cost-effective support so our clients can confidently make decisions. Skilled in negotiating, facilitating and drafting workplace agreements, our employment relations and safety lawyers assist with:

employment contract and policy drafting;
workplace compliance;
investigations;
restructuring and workplace change management;
employment and industrial relations litigation;
work health and safety advice;
compliance and prosecution assistance;
enterprise bargaining;
dispute management;
restraint of trade and enforcement of post employment obligations;
management of ill or absent employees;
performance and dismissal process;
exit of executive employees; and
discrimination advice and representation.

Strategic advice to minimise workplace risk and ensure certainty

With significant expertise in industrial relations, employment disputes and strategic planning, we focus on delivering front-end workplace relations advice that provides our clients with certainty around labour costs while minimising the risk of lost time due to industrial disputes.

Expert guidance for Workplace Health and Safety compliance

Our Work Health and Safety (WHS) team combines in-depth knowledge of WHS issues and legislation with a genuine commitment to your business. We understand the need for sensitive handling of urgent industrial relations and WHS matters and the team takes the time to listen and understand your circumstances.

We advise on all aspects of compliance and risk management, as well as having regular dealings with the Inspectorate when handling alleged breaches of WHS laws. Our experience allows us to manage investigations and represent clients with confidence and care.

Expertise serving public and private sector clients, domestic and global corporations

Recognised as one of the leading public sector employment relations advisory teams, our team is trusted by departments and agencies to handle sensitive and urgent industrial relations and work health and safety matters. We also advise governments on policy development and legislative reform initiatives.

Our clients range from multinational corporations to domestic enterprises. We deliver corporate support and strategic advice in share and business sale transactions. Drawing on decades of experience, we assist overseas-based entities in ensuring compliance when establishing a presence in Australia through our extensive international practice.