Meet the team

Employment Relations

Piper Alderman

Adelaide, Australia
+4 other locations
  • Sydney, Australia
  • Melbourne, Australia
  • Brisbane, Australia
  • Perth, Australia
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Deals

Biotechnology company

Acted for the publicly listed biotechnology company in relation to the defence of a general protections claim which originated in the Fair Work Commission, and which concluded (successfully for our client) before the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission.

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Conroy’s Smallgoods

Acted for Conroy’s to appeal the decision of Deputy President Cole in Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union v Conroy’s Smallgoods Pty Ltd [2021] SAET 234 to the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia.

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Fulton Hogan Construction Pty Ltd

Successfully defended Fulton Hogan and several of their managers against
a prosecution brought by the CFMMEU in the Federal Court.

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Kingspan Water & Energy

Acted for Kingspan and two other respondents in response to an application by the AMWU which alleged that Kingspan and its agents had breached the right of entry provisions under the Fair Work Act 2009.

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Peregrine Corporation

Defending an employment class action on behalf of Shahin Enterprises Pty Ltd, a company within the Peregrine Corporation.

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Ventia Australia

Acted for Ventia in a complex underpayment (‘wage theft’) claim brought by a major Australian trade union, the Electrical Trades Union (ETU). The claim relied on a key provision in a ‘pattern’ collective agreement that (through various agreement in the same terms) applies to almost all major electrical contracting employers in Victoria.

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Team Services

We are committed to partnering with our commercial, not-for-profit and major government clients for their long-term success.

Our clients require prompt assistance, with a solution that demonstrates knowledge of their organisation. Our most common service is sounding board advice to HR Professionals within companies that need to head off a growing issue. That advice could be in relation to a performance management issue, a post-engagement restraint enforcement issue, the engagement of a new independent contractor, a workplace health and safety incident, an up-coming negotiation for a new enterprise agreement, or numerous other matters that may arise and affect a company’s workforce.

We receive the most satisfaction when we assist in creating a solution that avoids disruption, increases efficiency or improves the workplace’s culture. We recognise that litigation and industrial action can affect workplaces, if a battle must be waged, we will maximise the chances of success, but during the process we will not lose sight of the organisation’s key objectives.

Due to our high level of responsiveness, deep commercial understanding and ability to explain legal concepts clearly and concisely, our clients think of us as a valued part of their business, which is why so many of them have retained our services for years.

The areas in which we can assist include EEO and discrimination, employment contracts, employment disputes & litigation, enterprise bargaining, flexible work requests, ill and injured workers, independent contractor agreements, industrial action, privacy, restraints, taxation & superannuation, training in workplace laws, unfair dismissals, underpayments, whistle-blowers, work health & safety and workplace investigations.

Testimonials

Awards and Recognition

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Australia - Labour & Employment, 2023 edition

"The labour and employment group at Piper Alderman utilises its national presence (with locations in Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney) to assist a range of clients from the worlds of manufacturing, aged care, government, energy, retail, mining, and real estate. Led by the Melbourne-based Tim Lange, the team’s offering notably encompasses enterprise agreements and awards, terminations and unfair dismissal claims, and discrimination and harassment matters. In Adelaide, Erin McCarthy is recommended for her capabilities in enterprise bargaining, while the Perth-based Shane Entriken specialises in union relations matters. On the contentious side, experienced litigator Ben Motro – based in Sydney – is especially recommended." In the 2023 edition of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Piper Alderman was recognised across 12 areas of law including Labour and Employment. A number of our team members were highlighted as recommended or key lawyers for this category, including: Tim Lange, Shane Entriken, Erin McCarthy, Ben Motro

THE BEST LAWYERS IN AUSTRALIA, 2024 EDITION

In the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in Australia, 54 of Piper Alderman’s lawyers are recognised across 43 legal areas including the following, in which our Employment Relations team members were recognised for: Health and Aged Care Law, Labour and Employment Law, Education Law, Employee Benefits Law, Human Rights Law & Occupational Health and Safety Law.

AUSTRALASIAN LAWYER FAST FIRM 2023

Listed since 2021 as an Australasian Lawyer Fast Firm, recognising Australia's fastest growing law firms.