The Legal 500 > Asia Pacific > Australia > Labour and employment

The HSF employment lawyers are like an extended part of our team. Clients can call them, quickly update them on an issue and instantly they are working on it with us. They don’t feel like external advisors – except in the quality of their advice and deep expertise – but we feel like they are in it with us. This frictionless advice and support in assessing risk and decision-making, as well as accessing additional capability is priceless. The advice I can probably find in other places, the teamwork and absence of friction – that’s why I choose Kirsty Faichen and the HSF employment law team.’

‘There is an excellent mix of specialists and generalists in HSF’s employment law team, so you have the confidence of knowing you’ll get the right advice and expertise working on your matter.’

‘HSF is known for being commercial, responsive, easy to deal with, its ‘can-do’ attitude and good bench strength.’

‘Kirsty Faichen leads the team at HSF and she has built an excellent team of talented, pragmatic, knowledgeable and nice lawyers. They are always there when we need them, regardless of what time of day it is.’

‘This team is responsive, professional, pragmatic, proactive and provides solutions, not just advice.’

‘The court appearances set Minters aside from competitors as it demonstrates absolute ownership and accountability for results. Many of the competing firms use QC and barrister which slows progress, costs a lot and often doesn’t yield the same result.’

‘The MinterEllison team combines exceptional legal skill and deft handling of very sensitive matters and very sound business judgment. Most importantly, it empowers clients with information, respects their engagement and questioning, and was prepared to accept that its advice may not always be taken.’

‘Dane Williams is without peer in this space. He has an excellent track record, provides confident advice and strategic guidance, has courage and is always professional and reliable.’

‘Amanda Watt is simply outstanding.’

‘Seyfarth Shaw has practical and contemporary knowledge of workplace safety. It provides well-considered advice and trusted support.’

‘Seyfarth Shaw is highly conversant with our business – its challenges, opportunities, and changing landscape. Clients get strategic and commercially pragmatic advice. More importantly, the partners interact well at board and executive level.’

‘Paul Cutrone always delivers a highly responsive, practical and contemporary knowledge of workplace safety. He maintains strong linkages to industry and regulators and can advise on the regulatory landscape. Paul is a trusted adviser to our business. He provides sound advice on proactive compliance and appropriate response to regulatory matters.’

‘Henry Skene quickly builds trust and confidence at senior levels, including CEO and General Counsel. He is intellectually very quick on his feet.’

‘Rachel Bernasconi works in really nicely with operational teams. She is able to bring great technical expertise, and strategic advice, to teams in a style that is not imposing and so enables further ideas and thinking from the accountable team. In doing so, she becomes a key collaborator for a team working through complex situations.’

‘Erin Hawthorne has built confidence by being very well considered and reliable on matters of high urgency and importance.’

‘The difference at Seyfarth Shaw is clients’ access to multiple partners who actively share information; written advice that gets to the point, and can be shared with non-HR or legal parties; and verbal advice that easily cuts through with non-HR or legal parties, because it’s balanced, pragmatic and on-point.’

‘The team is readily available, provides a commercial lens for decisions, and accepts feedback about restrictions within its clients’ business practices. The combination of strong strategic support with appropriate operational implementation has provided a strong advantage to our operations.’

‘Shae McCartney provides appropriately structured, strategic and operational advice to ensure that business outcomes can be met and industrial interests remain strongly protected.’

‘Brett Thompson is synonymous with exceptional operational support and is readily available for advice in both the strategic and operational areas.’

‘Martin Bartlett is thoroughly recommended.’

‘Having worked with this team for some time, its differentiation comes from its deep knowledge and appreciation of the way we treat employees. Allens’ responsiveness and attention to detail makes the in-house role that much simpler.’

‘We have a great relationship with the Allens employment team. It produces great quality work whilst being cost-effective. This is a commercially-minded and just a really friendly and pleasant team to work with.’

‘The team is excellent at giving strategic advice on high-stakes, complex matters. The Allens lawyers are generally very responsive and practical in their approach to legal issues. They are a down-to-earth team that makes them very easy and enjoyable to work with even in high pressure situations.’

‘John Naughton stands out because he cares, which is often vital to a positive outcome. We value his timely and, when necessary, tough advice on tricky situations. He does not sugar coat advice when our position is not strong which allows us to deal with matters in a more cost effective manner.’

‘Peter Arthur is very practical, commercially focused and a strong negotiator.’

‘Simon Dewberry is very accessible, highly commercial and solutions-focused, compassionate and gets us the result without sacrificing human emotion.’

‘FCB has a unique ability to understand its clientèle. The team’s knowledge of the industry is detailed and it does everything possible to service its clients. They are highly competent lawyers who have a an excellent understanding of industrial relations with a driven attitude to win against all odds. They are professional and articulate people who provide excellent legal advice.’

‘FCB Workplace Law has an intimate understanding of our industry. FCB goes above and beyond to ensure all of our employment law needs are met in a timely manner. Their advice is pragmatic, commercial, timely and sensitive to the needs of our members.’

‘The FCB team and practice are unique due to their ability to build relationships, understand your business and work on strategies to suit us.’

‘I had an outstanding experience with the services of both Dani Salinger and Nick Tindley. Both have gone over and above to service every issue that we have had in the past. They have made the impossible simply possible. Dani Salinger certainly differentiates from her competitors because not only does she play to win but she works endless hours to get the result that she wants.’

‘Matt Peterson is a stand out performer.’

‘Bianca Seeto is by far the stand out. I have worked with her for a number of years and followed her to FCB because of our relationship and how valuable she is as a partner to our business. She is kind, patient, knowledgable and goes above and beyond to deliver for our business.’

‘The team’s partners are highly experienced across all areas of employment law but are also accessible, reliable, responsive and cost-effective. The team has a strong knowledge of the government sector as well as the corporate space, which is unique. The depth and size of the practice, which spans all areas of employment law is also impressive.’

‘Maree Skinner is an exceptional practitioner. She has excellent technical legal skills, but also provides pragmatic, practical and commercially focused advice.

‘Maree Skinner is accessible, responsive, rigorous and reliable. She is also approachable and an absolute pleasure to deal with. She has an incredible depth of experience across all areas of employment law, including industrial relations and transactional work too. She is highly respected by clients across many industries as well as her peers.’

‘I have worked with Vanessa Andersen over the past seven years and followed her across firms due to the quality of her advice and the thoroughness of her briefings and assistance.’

‘Gadens has an extensive team of well-qualified and experienced people who are able to deal with a variety of legal matters and are also able to facilitate contact with non legal professionals when required. They are quick to respond to queries and always deal with matters in a timely and professional manner. They provide 24 hour contacts, should they be needed.’

‘The stand out partners are Steven Troeth, Adam Walker and Michael Kenny. They have dealt with our matters in a very professional manner and are available whenever needed. Their knowledge of our industry is exceptional.’

‘Dianne Banks’ team has in-depth legal knowledge of the employment laws in Australia, and is familiar with the views of regulatory authorities and courts.’

‘Dianne Banks and the team bring the ‘human’ back to law. They have an incredible ability to make you feel like you are a valued part of their family. They make you feel comfortable, explain complicated concepts in an accessible way, and make the time for you as a client, as if you are the only client they have.’

‘Dianne Banks is a pleasure to work with. She has significant employment law experience and is trusted adviser to the executive team and board.’

‘Dianne Banks has such a wealth of experience. She is always thinking 2-3 steps ahead and is to-the-point without being abrupt. She has a great sense of humor, even when situations can be trying at times. and understands our business and the industry.

‘Kaushalya Mataraaratchi is very responsive, goes above and beyond, quickly learns the industry we operate in and provides great insights.’

‘James Pomeroy is responsive, pragmatic and commercially grounded in his advice. He willingly provides a ‘sounding-board’ when I am confronted with issues and is able to explain potential options and scenarios in an easy-to-understand approachable manner.’

‘KHQ’s industrial relations team has a good understanding of business practices and business acumen which separates them from other law firms that simply focus on the law.’

‘The KHQ employment practitioners are key partners in our business and their advice is always a critical factor when making important or difficult employment decisions. They are practical and creative thinkers who effectively balance legal and commercial considerations.’

‘Chris’ team at KHQ are true partners in seeking legally robust but meaningful and pragmatic business outcomes.’

‘What makes this practice unique is the personal relationship you have with the team. I am always greeted personally by name and they go out of their way to keep in touch.’

‘Led by Chris Gianatti, the KHQ team has a particular strength in industrial relations. The key strength of the practice is its significant industry experience in areas such as construction and industrial maintenance which allows it to provide highly strategic and commercial industrial relations advice to its clients.

‘KHQ has a well-resourced team and punches well above its weight for a boutique firm.’

‘Michael Cochrane is a stand out special counsel. He is very practical, easy to deal with and doesn’t waste time on unnecessary information and gives easy to understand advice.’

‘Claire Brown is brilliant, friendly, practical, is able to engage managers outside the HR space and bring them opn the journey.’

‘Chris Gianatti is a highly skilled go-to lawyer who generates innovative ideas and advice at pace. Claire Brown is very solid, sound and approachable and isalways ready to go the extra mile to deliver.’

‘Chris is an incisive lawyer and gets to the heart of a matter extremely quickly. He intuitively understands commercial imperatives and is easily able to frame legal advice in commercial contexts. Chris is very approachable and works very well with non-legal colleagues when required.’

‘Peter Lupson is heavily recommended for his knowledge of the law and ability to negotiate solid outcomes for his clients.’

‘The team as a whole is very attentive to our business and the particular matter they are working on. They are subject matter experts that have a deep insight into our particular needs and the impacts on our business. They are also commercial in understanding the short and long-term financial and operational impacts on our business.’

‘Mills Oakley is known for its excellent customer service, strong attention to detail with little to no re-work required, and punctuality.’

‘The team understood our need for urgency at times, but also when we needed to take time to understand implications and choices.’

Our prime contact is Ross Levin, partner in the firm. We have followed him through a couple of firms in recent years. Over many years now Ross has been assisting us in various matters including EA negotiations, employment litigation, award variations and the like.’

‘What stands out for me with Ross is he wins and delivers results. This is because of his extensive experience in all areas of employment-related matters combined with a great sense of commercial and operational understanding.’

‘Mills Oakley provides practical solutions that are in line with the businesses requirements without telling you how to run your business.’

‘The team has an excellent depth of understanding of the laws applying to the labour and employment practice, with many of the team members being very experienced practitioners. They approach matters with a commercial and pragmatic eye, and look to find cost-effective and technological solutions for the delivery of advice where possible.’

‘Mark Sant and Stephen Schoninger are highly skilled employment lawyers who operate very well as a team. They take a sensible commercial approach to problem solving.’

‘This practice offers truly commercial and pragmatic advice that can be hard to come by compared to larger firms in the employment law space.’

‘Mark Sant is a very experienced employment and industrial practitioner, who is engaging, accessible and a trusted advisor. He explains legal concepts and issues clearly, concisely and simply. His approach is strategic yet practical, and very solution driven.’

‘Mark and Stephen Schoninger are genuinely client-focused; they work hard to understand a client’s needs and find solutions. Whilst not overly legalistic they make sure your back is covered.’

‘Brendan Milne is an outstanding employment law partner and is our trusted adviser and ‘go to’ person for many employment and industrial matters. He has taken the time to truly understand our business and always gives us tailored, commercial and pragmatic advice. His breadth of experience and knowledge is unsurpassed. He frequently advises us on highly complex industrial issues and matters. Brendan is also a pleasure to deal with, and is well-regarded by our internal stakeholders.’