Employment: Victoria | Asia-Pacific

Corrs Chambers Westgarth is known for its highly regarded team of employment and industrial relations practitioners, with an impressive roster of clients in the mining and energy sectors. The practice is also well regarded for its long history of involvement in the development of labour laws, and counts government and private sector clients among its clientele. The team assists with workplace health and safety matters, including issues arising from fatalities; and is engaged on a range of cases related to enterprise agreements, compliance and casual employment. Notable clients include LinkedIn, Network 10 and Qube Logistics.

Seyfarth Shaw LLP is a specialist employment firm in Australia with capability across the full range of labour and employment issues, including workplace health and safety and strategy. It is well reputed for collective bargaining and high-level union issues, including industrial disputes. The team is often engaged by employers on restraint of employment matters and high-profile M&A. The practice advises major corporates in a number of sectors, including transportation, TMT and retail. Notable clients include Svitzer, ALDI Foods and Telstra.

Clayton Utz is especially active for federal and local government bodies, with a particularly robust client base and expertise in the aviation, technology and university sectors. The firm boasts a highly regarded litigation team, which focuses on discrimination, bullying and industrial disputes, as well as restraint of trade. The firm also handles matters relating to sexual harassment and fraud. Further areas of focus include the use and development of technology to aid in the calculation of the financial impact of proposed clause amendments in enterprise agreements, as well as in evidence analysis for investigations and in compliance reviews. Notable clients include the Fair Work Ombudsman, Suburban Rail Loop Authority and Austal Ships.

MinterEllison is highly regarded for employment litigation, with a focus on discrimination and executive matters, alongside additional strength in industrial relations. It has notable experience in a number of industries including government, education, financial services, and energy and natural resources. The team maintains a strong presence across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia. Notable clients include Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking and Department of Education and Training of Victoria.

Allens is well placed to advise on employment issues arising from major corporate transactions and restructures including compliance reviews. The team is known for advising on litigation mandates involving breach of employment contract and discrimination, and is also able to provide advice with regard to industrial relations and workplace investigations. The firm is increasingly active in advising clients on compliance reviews for modern awards. Allens represents leading Australian and international clients from a wide range of sectors including mining, banking and entertainment. Notable clients include Interactive, Howden Insurance Brokers and Abbott Pharmaceutical.

Hall & Wilcox regularly advises employers across the range of contentious industrial and employee relations matters, including union disputes, restraint of trade matters and workplace harassment. It is especially active in disputes, appearing before tribunals, courts and the Fair Work Commission. The team is also able to assist with the employment aspects of restructurings. Notable clients include Michael Page International and AusNet Services.

K&L Gates maintains an active employee relations and workplace safety practice advising clients from the construction, education and health sectors, as well as non-profit organisations and government entities. The team handles complex employment disputes before the Fair Work Commission and in the courts. It provides expertise across discrimination and employee terminations. Notable clients include the Melbourne Victory Football Club, Victorian Managed Insurance Authority and Master Builders Association of Victoria.

Mills Oakley maintains a broad employee and industrial relations practice, which also includes significant expertise in workplace health and safety litigation. It handles a range of matters including enterprise bargaining and workforce structuring, as well as harassment and discrimination cases. The team represents employers across numerous industries, such as construction and transportation. Notable clients include the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Stanmore Resources and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

Norton Rose Fulbright is noted for its respected team advising on the full range of employment issues, including industrial disputes, unfair dismissals and discrimination cases. It is well regarded for its health and safety expertise relating to compliance, investigations and prosecutions, and also has experience assisting employers on the negotiation of and disputes concerning enterprise agreements. The team represents global clients in cross-border matters as well as at a local level, with strength in the public, construction and energy sectors. Notable clients include Lendlease, Bonza and Cushman & Wakefield.