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
Federal Court Decision Limits Effective Use of Set-Off in Contractual Annual Salary Arrangements
The DecisionIn a recent Federal Court decision*, Justice Perram held that while contractual set-off clauses in an annual salary arrangement can…
Artificial Intelligence Folly Called Out by Fair Work Commission
In the recent Fair Work Commission decision Mr Branden Deysel v Electra Lift Co.[2025] FWC 2289, Deputy President Slevin applied a critical…
Workplace Relationships: The Legal Position (Coldplay Concert Edition)
The recent story of colleagues (a Chief Executive Officer and Chief People Officer (CPO)) whose apparent relationship was captured on…
In the News
Michael Byrnes appeared on Money News with Evan Lucas on 2GB on 8 September 2025 to discuss the recent Federal Court decision relating to salary arrangements, set-off clauses and award compliance
Michael Byrnes appeared on Money News with Evan Lucas on 2GB on 8 September 2025 to discuss the recent Federal Court…
Michael Byrnes has published an article titled “Use of AI Criticised by FWC” in HR Leader on 2 September 2025.
Michael Byrnes has published an article titled “Use of AI Criticised by FWC” in HR Leader on 2 September 2025.To read the…
Michael Byrnes is quoted in the article, “Fair Work warns litigants against using ChatGPT”, published in The Australian on 28 August 2025:
Michael Byrnes is quoted in the article, “Fair Work warns litigants against using ChatGPT”, published in The Australian on 2…