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
A Frustrated FWC: Looking beyond the “Plumber’s Crack”
The recent Fair Work Commission (FWC) decision in Anthony Davitkov v Woolworths Group Limited [2026] FWC 1655 has attracted much mirth…
Australian Anti-Money Laundering AML/CTF Tranche 2 laws are coming
Australia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) Act is designed to stop illegal funds from entering the financial system. It…
Exposing the Constructive Dismissal Shibboleth
This article examines the Fair Work Commission’s decision in Bailey Richens v BDO Administration Pty Ltd [2025] FWC 3699, highlighting the…
In the News
Lawyers Weekly — Sydney firm hosts German trainee in believed first-of-its-kind placement
Earlier this year we welcomed trainee lawyer Charlotte Schnitzenbaumer from Munich-based law firm GvW Graf von Westphalen for a three‑month international…
Michael Byrnes appeared on Money News with James Willis on 2GB, 3AW, 4BC and 6PR on 19 May 2026 to discuss a recent Fair Work Commission case in which the presiding member expressed frustration with the influx of unmeritorious claims to the FWC (17:30)
Michael Byrnes appeared on Money News with James Willis on 2GB, 3AW, 4BC and 6PR on 19 May 2026 to…
Michael Byrnes is quoted in the article, “Customer and contractor ordered to pay $116,000 for homophobic harassment of manager”, published in the Australian on 18 May 2026
Michael Byrnes is quoted in the article, “Customer and contractor ordered to pay $116,000 for homophobic harassment of manager”, published…