It’s our goal to ensure that your business thrives and enjoys positive employee relationships, despite the challenges that legal red tape poses for all businesses. We understand that advice on employment law needs to be not only accurate, specific and commercial, but also swift. We have the experience to achieve this and to solve your problems.
Our team
We focus on getting to know you, developing long-term relationships as we guide you through the ever-changing legal and industrial environment. We assist you by drafting employment contracts which minimise exposure to awards, lessen the risk of claims and emphasise clarity, flexibility and simplicity.
We have acted for both employers and employees in a broad range of industries, including hospitality, retail, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, aged care, finance, professional services, building and construction, as well as the not-for-profit sector and government.
Expertise
- Advice in relation to the Fair Work Act
- Enterprise agreements, employment agreements and letters of appointment
- Terminating employees and managing employee exits
- Post-employment restraints
- Restraint of trade, confidential information and privacy
- Negotiation with WorkCover, insurers and trade unions
- Advice on application of awards and employee statutory and award entitlements
- Contractor and employee agreements
- Redundancy and restructuring
- Managing employee underperformance
- Managing ill or injured employees
- Managing employee grievances and workplace disputes
- Workplace surveillance and monitoring of internet and email use
- Harassment and bullying matters
- Industrial disputes
- Awards and Statutory obligations of employers
- Workplace polices — general
- Workplace policies – industrial instruments
- Advice on performance & conduct
- Advice on workplace surveillance
- Advice on right of entry
- Advice on anti-discrimination
- Advice on diversity
- Advice on competition issues/restraints
- Unfair Dismissals
- Complex Workplace investigations
- Standard workplace investigations
Useful Links
Publications
Federal Budget 2025: Limitation on Non-Compete Clauses
As part of the 2025 Federal Budget, the government has announced a prohibition on non-compete clauses for employees earning less than…
FWC Sets Bar High for Policy Changes
In the recent unfair dismissal decision of Craig Hancock v Sydney International Container Terminals Pty Limited [2025] FWC 516, Deputy President Wright…
Dismissal and Damages for Psychiatric Injury: A Contractual Trap
In the recent decision of Elisha v Vision Australia Ltd [2024] HCA 50 the High Court of Australia held that damages for…
In the News
Michael Byrnes is quoted in the article, “Employers’ ‘game of bluff’ with non-compete clauses is over”, published in HR Leader on 27 March 2025
Michael Byrnes is quoted in the article, “Employers’ ‘game of bluff’ with non-compete clauses is over”, published in HR Leader…
Michael Byrnes is quoted in the article, “Labor’s clause ban strikes sensible middle ground”, published in The Australian on 27 March 2025
Michael Byrnes quoted in the article, “Labor’s clause ban strikes sensible middle ground”, published in The Australian on 27 March 2025To…
Michael Byrnes appeared on Nights with John Stanley on 2GB and 4BC on 25 March 2025 to discuss the prohibition on non-compete clauses announced in the 2025 Federal Budget
Michael Byrnes appeared on Nights with John Stanley on 2GB and 4BC on 25 March 2025 to discuss the prohibition…