Overview

Our Employee & Industrial Relations team is experienced and well resourced with a track record of achieving results for our clients. Our team supports our clients in the management of employee relations and our clients value our understanding of the business context in which they operate.

We keep our clients informed about changes to the law which will impact on their business, and will lead them to develop strategies and implement change in response. For example, our team is currently assisting clients to understand the new Federal Industrial Relations regime which commenced on 1 January 2010. We want our clients to be best placed not only to comply with the law, but to take advantage of opportunities which may be available to improve business outcomes.

We regularly advise businesses on all aspects of human resources and industrial relations law for clients including banks, financial institutions, construction companies, manufacturers and employer associations.

Our expertise includes providing strategic advice to clients operating in highly unionised environments, in particular enterprise bargaining and dispute resolution. We also advise clients on all aspects of employee benefits, remuneration and incentive programs and the integration of international incentive schemes into Australia.

When conflict or disciplinary issues arise, we work with our clients to devise a response that achieves the best outcome for the business as a whole while aiming to minimise any adverse financial and reputational impacts. We understand the adverse consequences of conflict with individual or collective labour.

We support our clients through the implementation of major changes to their workforce, whether in the form of a merger, demerger, outsourcing, restructure or reduction in size. We also undertake employee investigative work typically involving alleged fraud, bullying, harassment and discrimination.

Our team advises on director and employee remuneration including employee equity arrangements as part of short and long term incentive planning. We help clients protect their businesses using retention tools, structured exit arrangements, confidentiality and restraints of trade.

We provide practical strategies to comply with their  work health and safety obligations and to help our clients implement best practice, we provide training tailored for their business along with regular free legal updates.