I work with clients on day-to-day issues and also help them develop short and long-term employment and industrial strategies. I have particular expertise in enterprise agreement negotiations and strategy; restructuring and outsourcing; strategic litigation; executive remuneration; complaints handling; and safety.

Career highlights

• Assisted with several large-scale, high-stakes enterprise agreement negotiations, particularly in the banking and finance sector
• Acted in several contentious unfair dismissal, general protections and breach of contract claims, including matters where employees sought injunctions for interim reinstatement or to prevent termination of employment
• Assisted several ASX 100 organisations with their executive remuneration arrangements, including advising on obtaining shareholder approval for paying benefits under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)
• Worked closely with MinterEllison’s Construction team in relation to safety issues, contractual arrangements required for large-scale construction projects, and arrangements with principal contractors
• Managed workplace incidents and their consequences, including investigations, coronial inquires and prosecutions
• Advised universities and other higher education providers on various matters, including enterprise agreements; disputes and complaints involving students and staff; misconduct and disciplinary procedures; protected disclosure; requests under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW); NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal proceedings; Independent Commission Against Corruption and the NSW Ombudsman inquiries; and transfer of business
• Regularly attended the annual Society of University Lawyers conference and regularly contribute to MinterEllison’s Higher Education Focus publication
• Dealt with unions in enterprise agreement negotiations, disputes and industrial action, including the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union; the Maritime Union of Australia; the Australian Workers’ Union; the Finance Sector Union; and the National Tertiary Sector Union
• Trained boards, human resources professionals, company officers, managers and staff members about a range of matters, including safety, due diligence, appropriate workplace behaviour, performance management, ‘year in review’ and investigations

Education
BA, LLB

• Director fails to escape liability by going on holiday
  

  The District Court of New South Wales has confirmed the high bar that is required for directors and other company officers to meet under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) (WHS Act).

• Reforms of NSW WHS law announced
  

  We analyse the proposed reforms that arise from the recently introduced Work Health and Safety Amendments (Review) Bill 2019

• The future of Australia's higher education sector: Unravelling the Accord Interim Report
  

  The Australian Universities Accord Interim Report has now been released, raising immediate issues that should be given due consideration by the sector.

• Court of Appeal confirms an occupiers common law duty of care to third party
  

  We discuss the implications that arise in respect of an occupier's duty of care from the recent decision of  D'Arcy v Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Limited. 

   

• NSW Parliament passes WHS Amendment Bill 2023
  

  The Bill implements in NSW amendments from Australia's Model WHS Law and makes other changes.

• Religious Discrimination Bill – What could it mean for you?
  

  The Final Report of the Expert Panel on Religious Freedom outlined a number of legislative and non-legislative recommendations to enhance the protection of religious freedom.

• HR&IR Update | Casual service counts for the purposes of notice and redundancy pay
  Last week, in AMWU v Donau Pty Ltd [2016] FWCFB 3075, a Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission held (by majority) that permanent employees are entitled to have any previous service as a casual counted for the purpose of calculating notice and redundancy pay under the National Employment Standards (NES) and the enterprise agreement in question – providing the service is continuous, regular and systematic. This is despite the fact that casual employees are not entitled to redundancy pay or termination notice and typically receive a casual loading which compensates for these.
  
• Getting the characterisation of casual employees wrong: Lessons from WorkPac v Skene
  

  With the widespread use of casuals in the higher education sector, a recent Full Federal Court decision is particularly relevant to your university.

  In the decision of WorkPac Pty Ltd v Skene [2018] FCAFC 131, the Full Federal Court found that a casual labour hire worker was an employee entitled to annual leave payments under the National Employment Standards (NES) in the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (Fair Work Act).

• HR&IR Update: Developments on Labor’s employment and industrial relations policy
  

  As the Federal election campaign gathers pace over the coming months, we are monitoring developments around employment and industrial relations and will keep you updated on the potential implications for your organisation, particularly if we see a change in government.

• When the law says the employment relationship is over...
  Frustration and abandonment of employment are two quite different common law concepts. What they have in common is that they are unlikely to be a regular occurrence at your university. But when they do crop up, the way in which the university handles the situation is essential in ensuring the matter stays out of court.
  
  
• The reach of Work Health and Safety Laws in civil aviation
  

  Inconsistency argument rejected. We review the reach of Work Health and Safety Laws in civil aviation in light of Work Health Authority v Outback Ballooning Pty Ltd.

• Significant amendments to the Model WHS Act: What you need to know
  

  Safe Work Australia has announced amendments to the model WHS laws. Below we highlight the key amendments and our recommendations for organisations to take.

• The successful prosecution of the CFMEU over a strike at Barangaroo
  MinterEllison is acting on behalf of the Australian Building and Construction Commission in the successful prosecution of the CFMEU over a strike at Barangaroo, and the ongoing appeal.
  
• HR&IR Update | Employer convicted and fined under WHS laws for bullying an apprentice
  This week, a Victorian employer was convicted of a criminal offence under WHS laws over the persistent serious bullying of an apprentice.
• Remuneration Governance for Australian Universities
  

  Pay governance issues that need to be managed by University Councils that resolve to adopt fee based Councillor service models.

• Recent developments in regulating respirable crystalline silica
  

  A range of RCS related developments and proposed measures aim to address cases of RSC exposure and related disease.

• WHS learnings from the Australian Council of Superannuation Investor Report
  A recent ACSI Report prompts ASX listed companies to evaluate their contractor management procedure and Work Health and Safety data.
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 NSW
  

  The Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (NSW) was repealed and replaced by the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017 (NSW) on 1 September 2017.

   

• Where does the 'university' lawyer add value?
  "Act quickly, think slowly", was the message from Carolyn Evans, University of Melbourne Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Provost, to attendees at the SOUL Annual Conference.
  
• Incident notification during COVID-19: What employers need to know across Australia
  

  Read more on the important change to OHS laws in Victoria, in connection with COVID-19. We cover the position across Australia.

• High Court views on permits for right of entry for safety
  

  Why all union officials must hold an entry permit when seeking access to sites.

• COVID-19: Common employment issues following increased NSW restrictions
  

   Following the NSW Government’s announcement over the weekend, we answer some of the key questions about standing down impacted employees in NSW. 

• COVID-19: Immediate workplace needs and planning for the future
  

  COVID-19 is having a huge impact on Australian workplaces. In some respects, universities have been dealing with the impacts of COVID-19 for a lot longer than other workplaces, as the virus impacted the ability of overseas students travelling to Australia to commence or resume study earlier in the year. However, as further information is received from the Australian, state and territory governments each day about restrictions which are put in place to slow the spread of the virus, the issues arising in our workplaces become more complex.

• What universities need to know about cyber risk
  

  We outline recent developments and the key steps that higher education providers can take now to mitigate the risk of a cyber attack.

• Update: Enforceable undertakings
  

  Recently we have seen a spike in the number of prosecutions commenced, ing to more entities pursuing enforceable undertakings, resulting in a rise in such agreements.

• Higher Education in Focus: University Webinar Series
  

  Our higher education team provide specialist legal and consulting services based on an in-depth understanding of the complex, unique and high-risk opportunities and challenges facing clients within the sector.