Workplace Relations & Safety

When it comes to workplace issues, best practice and a thorough knowledge of compliance are critical for business success. Our experts are known for their practical and commercial advice which achieves results.

Independent Endorsements

  • PLC Which Lawyer? 2012, 2011, 2010 Recognised in Labour and Employee Benefits
  • Doyles Guide to The Australian Legal Profession 2012 Ranked as a "Recommended" firm in Employment & Workplace Relations
  • Doyles Guide to The Australian Legal Profession 2012, 2011, 2010 Employment & Workplace Relations
  • Chambers Asia Pacific 2012 Employment
  • Chambers Global 2011, 2010 Employment
  • Asia Pacific Legal 500 2012, 2011, 2010 Employment

Overview

"The firm is very client-oriented, the response times are fantastic and they are always happy to check that we are all on the same page."
Chambers As
ia Pacific 2012

Best practice and a compliant approach to workplace issues are critical for business success. Our understanding and responsiveness to these issues, along with managing sensitivities, makes us unique in the marketplace.

As trusted advisers to private and public sector clients, we understand the challenges and nuances which are essential to meet business targets. Our workplace relations team is highly-experienced in advising public and private sector entities on all aspects of employment law. We are known for our honest and open counsel and commercially driven solutions which are timely and aligned to our clients' strategic direction and business objectives.

Our experts have significant breadth and depth of employment law experience which covers issues from mergers, acquisitions and restructures; creation and interpretation of industrial instruments, contract and policy drafting and interpretation; union right of entry issues; discrimination claims; workplace conduct investigations, dismissals, performance and conduct management, occupational health and safety and privacy issues.

In partnership with clients

In a fast-paced environment, we understand the myriad of changes our clients are faced with and ensure they are kept well informed through regular updates, forums and events.

When it comes to the workplace environment and evolving issues, we partner with clients to implement strategies to improve operational management and to stabilise and improve workplace relations.

Clients appreciate that we take the time to 'stand in their shoes' to provide commercially-driven, practical solutions to their legal issues with full consideration of the business implications involved.

People are important

At a time where there is a growing skills shortage and fluidity of employees across all sectors, we understand that people are the strongest assets of a company. We work hard to help clients protect that asset by focusing on the important issues that require pragmatic advice in the time-critical manner.

What the market says

"... very thorough in their analysis and always provide solutions which are practical and can be directly applied to our business."
Chambers Global

"Henry Davis York presents as a serious challenger to the nationals for top spot, yet the remainder of NSW firms struggle to rate a mention when it comes to employment law."
Doyles Guide to the Legal Profession 2009

"Henry Davis York offers 'sensible, creative and responsive legal services',..."
Asia Pacific Legal 500

Expertise

Our expertise includes:

  • business transfers and restructures
  • contract drafting and enforcement
  • policy advice
  • awards, agreements, industrial relations
  • discrimination advice and dispute resolution
  • employee performance and conduct:
    • investigations
    • disputes
  • occupational health and safety (including Rail Safety)
    • advice
    • compliance
    • union entry rights
    • incidents
    • inquiries/inquests
    • prosecutions
  • training
  • restructuring and redundancy 
  • dispute resolution
  • litigation 
  • privacy.

Credentials

ABC Learning Centres

Henry Davis York advised the receivers and managers of ABC Learning Centres on employment and industrial relations issues, including the transfer of business issues in the sale of over 960 child care centres.

Employment and industrial issues

We are trusted advisers to private sector clients, including Woolworths, Veolia Water Australia, Fitness First, David Jones, Westpac, Leighton Holdings, Insurance Australia Group, and Electrolux on a variety of employment and industrial law issues. We have also advised these clients on agreement making including varying industrial agreements, making new collective agreements, and ensuring workplace agreements comply with legislative requirements.

MMC Contrarian - acquisition

Advised MMC Contrarian Limited on the complex employment issues that arose in its successful acquisition of Bupa  Australia's life insurance and wealth management business, which includes MBF Life and ClearView Financial Management Limited.

Westpac

Advised on whether an ex-employee had breached post-employment obligations and injunction proceedings against the individual.

Woolworths

Acted for Woolworths on its national supermarket agreement. The enterprise agreement covers 95,000 supermarket staff - more employees than any other agreement in Australia. The enterprise agreement was approved by Fair Work Australia in May 2010.

Publications

Case Studies

Woolworths - Fair Work Act Test Case

Henry Davis York acted for Woolworths in two successful test cases on the Fair Work Act 2009.

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Commercially-driven solutions