Maddocks

Employment, Safety & People

Partner and Sector Leader - NSW Government

Vanessa advises government and private clients on all aspects of the employment relationship. Considerate of the environment in which she advises, Vanessa acts for clients on workplace restructures, performance management, disciplinary issues, flexible working arrangements, confidentiality and restrictive covenants, independent contracting arrangements, management of ill and injured employees and termination of employment issues. She also advises employers and boards on executive employment matters.

Vanessa drafts and negotiates enterprise agreements, advises on termination and variation of enterprise agreements, award and agreement interpretation, industrial relations strategy and industrial relations disputes.

A skilled litigator, Vanessa represents employers in a broad range of employment related litigation, including unfair dismissal, adverse action, anti-bullying orders, discrimination, sexual harassment, breach of contract, and misleading and deceptive conduct claims, as well as claims for breach of confidentiality obligations and restrictive covenants.

Vanessa regularly conducts training for employers and managers on matters such as appropriate workplace behaviour, including bullying and harassment, and management of performance and conduct issues. Vanessa also conducts training about, and advises on, investigations for employers into allegations of inappropriate workplace conduct.

BA/LLB (Hons) Australian National University