With a primary focus on industrial relations and bargaining, I have advised clients in relation to some of the most high profile industrial disputes in recent years. I provide practical and proactive advice to clients in respect of all aspects of the employment relationship, including enterprise bargaining, discrimination complaints, termination claims and disciplinary matters.

I have extensive experience in relation to all aspects of the employment/industrial relations framework, including discrimination complaints, termination claims and disciplinary matters, as well as large industrial disputes and litigation. I have considerable litigation experience and have represented large organisations in employment, industrial relations and discrimination matters before a range of Commissions, Tribunals and Courts in both the Queensland and Federal system.

I have a genuine intellectual curiosity in relation to enterprise bargaining and industrial relations matters and have a keen interest in mentoring and developing junior members of our team.

Career highlights

• I was a key advisor in relation to a long-running (from 2009 until 2019) employment termination dispute involving a lecturer terminated for serious misconduct by the Queensland University of Technology. The matter involved successful defences of an unfair dismissal claim and appeal as well as the successful defence of a breach of contract claim in the Supreme Court of Queensland as well as an appeal.
• I was seconded to Lendlease to provide hands-on assistance in relation to nationwide stoppages and industrial issues, as well as a significant compliance project in relation to the 2016 Building Code. I have provided similar assistance to a number of other construction companies including CPB, Multiplex, Laing O'Rourke and Buildcorp.
• I provided key strategic industrial advice to the PIMS Group in relation to its first foray into the NSW coal market which included a highly fought but ultimately successful enterprise bargaining strategy.
  Advising Queensland Rail in relation to union challenges to its train crew recruitment strategy, which included a Fair Work Commission dispute and appeal.

• Decision on requirements to work public holidays
  

  An important decision significantly affects how employers must handle requirements that employees work public holidays.

   

• Boycott agreements between contractors and unions in the construction industry
  

  We analyse a recent decision of the Federal Court: ACCC v Hutchinson & CFMMEU and consider the implications for the construction industry.

   

• Significant changes to the Code for the Tendering and Performance of Building Work 2016
  

  The Federal Government has moved swiftly to implement its election promise to abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). Whilst the complete shuttering of the regulator will require the repeal of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act (BCIIP Act), the Code for the Tendering and Performance of Building Work 2016 (2016 Code) has been gutted. The move has significant impacts for entities who have performed Commonwealth funded building work subject to the 2016 Code.