The Legal 500

Blake Dawson’s ‘very deep bench of talent’ makes it ‘one of the better firms’, say clients, who use it for a full suite of services. Clients include AWB, BHP Billiton, HBOS and Qantas. The firm assisted several clients in adapting to recent industrial relations (IR) reforms. National head of practice Richard Bunting is ‘very good’, while Ian Humphreys in Queensland is ‘unmatched’.

Freehills provides the ‘highest quality of advice’ in this field, thanks to a premium talent including Paul Burns, a ‘leader in the field’, the ‘first-class’ Alan Colman and practice head Graeme Smith. The firm is assisting CBA and Tullett Prebon in two large employment litigation matters, while Tiwest has retained it for strategic IR advice. Other clients include BHP Billiton and Qantas.

Minter Ellison’s employment team is ‘timely, practical, pragmatic and principled’; practice head Jim Fox is a ‘valuable resource’, technical specialist Gareth Jolly and Michael Tehan are recommended for ‘insider knowledge of the courts, legislature and trade unions’. The practice advised Australia Post on industrial and strategic advice regarding mail delivery restructuring, and a strong litigation team assisted Boeing in a pioneering discrimination case.

Sydney-based Joe Catanzariti heads the practice at Clayton Utz, which advises a mix of public sector bodies, major corporates, universities, and associations, including Australian Western Railroad, Brisbane City Council and Monash University. The firm advised the Australian Communication Exchange on the finalisation of 150 workplace agreements. Graham Smith in Melbourne is a ‘leading individual’, ‘particularly good’, but the firm suffered with the defection of four partners to Herbert Geer.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth has been the primary adviser to the federal government on recent reforms, including the Workplace Relations Amendment Act and the Fair Work Bill. The firm also advises private sector clients, including Perpetual, Westpac, Coles Group, and Mirvac. Stephen Price heads the practice.

Allens Arthur Robinson’s practice is headed by Tim Frost, and supports a leading corporate group that ensures a supply of quality clients. The team has particular strength in senior executive work, for clients such as Amcor and Aristocrat. The firm is also ‘very good’ in IR matters, and recently prepared Sydney Ferries’ new IR strategy.

Industrial relations is a core feature of DLA Phillips Fox’s employment practice, which serves in both advisory and litigious capacities on difficult matters, such as Foster’s decision to outsource 25% of its Abbotsford brewery employees. The firm works with the federal government on workplace reform. Nick Ruskin is recommended.

Deacons provides a ‘highly professional service’, while its fees are ‘more reasonable than other large firms’. New clients include the New South Wales Police, EDS and Suzlon. Mark Hammond recently acted for Beaconsfield Gold Mine throughout a high-profile investigation and inquest into a fatality. Sarah Ralph is recommended for IR.

Harmers Workplace Lawyers is a full-service boutique that frequently wins standalone instructions, such as advising Mars Australia on employment issues associated with its Wrigley’s acquisition. Name partner Michael Harmer advised the plaintiff against PricewaterhouseCoopers in Australia’s largest sex discrimination claim. The ‘excellent’ Joydeep Hor heads the practice.

Murray Kellock at Mallesons Stephen Jaques is a ‘trusted source of information and advice’. The firm provides strategic advice to clients including BHP Billiton, Goldman Sachs and Nestlé. Kellock’s team represented Caterpillar in regard to industrial action at a key parts supplier, and Chubb Security in relation to discrimination claims.

‘Strategic and commercial’, Australian Business Lawyers is a ‘first-class’ boutique managed by Tim Capelin, a lawyer of ‘exceptional integrity’. The full-service practice exhibits depth and ‘cost-consciousness’, and includes leading practitioners such as John Stanton. The department advised a leading pharmaceutical distributor in regard to its enterprise agreement strategy.

Baker & McKenzie advised clients on Australia’s workplace reform initiatives, including their impact on M&A undertaken by Asahi, DHL and Blackstone. Dispute resolution is a key strength, and the firm is advising AMP on high-level executive litigation. Spiro Mellos advises clients such as the New South Wales Treasury, ALDI, and SITA Australia.

FCB - Workplace Lawyers & Consultants provides ‘excellent, timely service over a range of issues at a reasonable price’, say clients, who regard Campbell Fisher’s team as ‘professional and friendly’. The firm represented new client Coles in defending unfair dismissal claims, and is advising its clients generally on legislative reform. Major clients include ING, AAPT and Sydney Water.

Clients appreciate the ‘practical approach’ taken by Henry Davis York. The ‘professional’ Pamela Flynn advised the receivers and managers of ABC Learning and Commander Communications, while the ‘commercial’ Stephen Jauncey represented Woolworths in an unfair dismissal claim. Head of practice Tony Woods is noted for his ‘refreshing use of plain language’.

Herbert Geer’s five-strong team is recommended for ‘comprehensive’ employment advice, having grown in stature after recruiting four partners from the Melbourne office of Clayton Utz. The new additions include Chris Hartigan, Louise Russell and Luci Mumme.

Arnold Bloch Leibler’s Henry Skene advised the Australian Mines & Metals Association on policy and labour relations, as well as Bilfinger Berger Services (Australia) on its labour relations strategy. Kishanie Wijewickrama is now a partner at the firm.

Fragomen advises on immigration law. It recently advised Satyam Computer Services on setting up operations in Australia. Clients are ‘very satisfied with the advice and support provided’ by key partner Teresa Liu.

Mark Sant leads the team at Gadens Lawyers, which focuses on contentious advice, such as a recent religious discrimination case for a hotel management company. Kathryn Dent displays ‘depth of knowledge and availability’.

Justitia is an ‘excellent’ boutique that launched in 2005. It has earned re-appointments to panels including ANZ, sanofi-aventis, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Managing partner Jane Seymore has focused on growing occupational health and safety (OH&S) and public sector work.

Maddocks provides ‘nothing short of outstanding’ advice to public and private clients including IBM and Victoria’s state government. The ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Ross Jackson possesses ‘strategic and tactical skills’, while Catherine Dunlop and Darren Gardner are also recommended.

Tim Longwill at McCullough Robertson is popular in Queensland’s public sector, and recently advised on arbitration concerning the Queensland Ambulance Service’s enterprise bargaining agreement. Its private sector clients are mainly drawn from the resources and contractor sectors.

Middletons specialises in contentious workplace and IR matters, but Gerard Phillips has a strong OH&S practice for clients including DP World.

Piper Alderman sits on the Office of 
Workplace Services legal panel, and assists corporate clients in employment matters. WorkChoices expert Andrew Stewart is a consultant.