Thomson Playford Cutlers is the latest law firm to focus part of its growth strategy on workplace relations. In order to do this, the mid-tier firm has recruited a three-person strong team from Donaldson Walsh to work in its Adelaide office. The team is headed up by partner Karl Luke – who has worked in the practice area for 15 years as both a barrister and solicitor.
Chief executive partner Adrian Tembel said the firm was keen to build its workplace relations team in response to the Rudd Government’s Fair Work Act, which came into effect in July. “This appointment highlights a real growth market for the firm, with demand for workplace relations assistance increasing following the introduction of the Fair Work Act,” he said. “Employers have had to grapple with significant legislative changes in workplace relations over the last two years.”
The new laws empower Fair Work Australia to oversee enterprise bargaining almost as a case manager and that has meant increased work to law firms to ensure their clients are bargaining in good faith. In addition to advising clients to ensure they bargain in good faith, lawyers are also being called on to represent their clients at hearings before Fair Work Australia.
Prior to the law coming into effect, a party was under no obligation to collectively bargain and the Australian Industrial Relations Commission only really stepped in to act in severe cases. With Fair Work Australia taking a far more hands-on approach, firms have been keen to boost their industrial relations practices.
Last month, another mid-tier firm – Deacons – recruited Freehills partner Barry Sherriff to join its national OH&S practice in its Melbourne office. Sherriff was one of three experts appointed by the federal government and tasked with developing a model for harmonised national workplace safety laws. The Labor Government has had a keen focus on revamping employment laws that were enacted during the Liberal party’s 12 years in power.
The result has been a vast increase in the amount of legal work for employment teams and a scramble by firms to secure the services of Australia’s top employment lawyers. In September, Hall & Wilcox landed an entire Freehills OH&S team led by Penny Stevens. Lander & Rogers followed suit in October by recruiting former head of PwC’s employment & industrial relations group Neil Napper to join its workplace relations team.
| Name | From | To |
| Barry Sherriff | Freehills | Deacons |
| Neil Napper | PwC | Lander & Rogers |
| Penny Stevens | Freehills | Hall & Wilcox |
| Karl Luke | Donaldson Walsh | Thomson Playford Cutlers |
Ensure you are across the legislative changes related to the Fair Work Act by attending an upcoming ALB Employment Law Masterclass, where nine of Australia’s leading lawyers will put the new Fair Work Act under the microscope. The 1-day intensive Masterclass will expose the reality of the changes removed from all the hype and provide an understanding of the newly redesigned safety net under Fair Work, the legislative changes to Unfair Dismissal and exactly who are Fair Work Australia. Click on the banner below for more information or to register.
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