Protect Your Business With Our Employment Lawyers in Sydney

How We Can Assist with Employment Law Matters

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Managing a modern business comes with many legal and compliance responsibilities. By partnering with a dedicated employment lawyer, you will receive specialist, cost-effective legal advice and proactive support to save you time, money and stress, freeing you to focus on your core business. As a boutique employment law firm, we specialise in employment and industrial law.

We assist employers with a wide range of exceptional legal services related to workplace investigations and employment law.

Our Expert Legal Services
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Employment law covers a range of areas and can prove overwhelming to a non-lawyer. You need to have a sound understanding of how the law of contract and employment statutes intersect and inform your contractual and statutory rights and obligations.
 
So, our goal is to provide advice that is clear, timely and concise. 

As one of the most trusted employment law firms in Sydney, we can explain how the law applies to your situation and your legal options in any employment law matter, including performance management, misconduct issues, unfit employees, and workplace disputes. 

Drafting Employment Contracts and Other Legal Documentation
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Legally compliant employment contracts and related documents are critical to the success of your business. Think of an employment agreement and workplace policies as essential risk management tools. 
Having a well-drafted employment contract establishes clarity right from the beginning of an employment relationship, clearly describing the employer’s powers and the employee’s duties. 
Employment policies and procedures set the behavioural expectations for your workforce and provide guidance on processes such as taking leave, and resolving disputes. Some policies are vital for ensuring an employer’s compliance with laws relating to work, health and safety; discrimination; sexual harassment; and bullying. 
Find out how our skilled drafting services can help promote good performance, develop a strong culture, and reduce your risks.

Employment Disputes
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Disputes with employees can be costly, distracting and stressful for management and employees alike. There’s huge variety of disputes that arise in the workplace, such as unfair dismissal claims, general protections claims, discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying, breach of contract, and many other types of workplace law disputes. 

You can’t always avoid an employment dispute arising, but with the help of a global law firm network, you can promptly implement a strategy to resolve the problem and minimise disruption to your business. 

Our employment lawyers have considerable experience in acting for clients in litigated disputes in courts and tribunals across Australia.

Workplace Investigations
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When a serious allegation is made in the workplace, such as sexual harassment, for example, it may be necessary to appoint an external investigator to determine the facts so you know what action to take. 

Our team can appoint an investigator to conduct the investigation and then provide you with confidential legal advice on their findings once they are complete.

Our legal counsel can also advise on whistleblower complaints and coordinate an investigation that complies with whistleblower legislation.

Paylex
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In recent years, there has been a sharp public focus on employers who have underpaid staff or engaged in other unlawful behaviour. 

Most compliance problems (such as unpaid wages) arise out of inadvertence and are not deliberate, but nonetheless pose a significant legal, financial and reputational risk to an organisation. 

Paylex is a unique audit service offered by WilliamsonBarwick. A Paylex report can help your business proactively manage the risk of compliance issues.

Comprehensive Services for Employers

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Our services cover all employment-related legal matters and workplace law issues from an employer’s perspective. If a team member has made an unfair dismissal claim against your business, we can help you understand your rights and options and represent you in court. We also provide expert advice and support for defending workplace bullying cases, ensuring your interests are protected.

If an employee lodges a discrimination or harassment complaint, we can help you respond appropriately and mitigate legal risks. We also advise on drafting employment contracts, severance agreements, and other documents to protect your business when you need it most.

When you choose WilliamsonBarwick, one of the most trusted employment law firms, you can be sure your business is in good hands.

Our lawyers have years of experience dealing with complex work problems. We provide practical and commercially savvy advice to help you navigate legal issues with confidence. We will protect your rights as an employer and work to get the best outcome for your business. 

Additionally, our extensive firm network allows us to offer top-tier legal services across various jurisdictions, ensuring comprehensive support for our clients.

PERSONAL CONSULTATION & SUPPORT

EXCLUSIVE TO EMPLOYERS & SENIOR EXECUTIVES

OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE

ACCREDITED SPECIALIST, EMPLOYMENT & INDUSTRIAL LAW

FAQs

What kinds of employment issues can WilliamsonBarwick help employers with?

At WilliamsonBarwick, our employment lawyers can assist employers with:

• Unfair dismissal claims: If a former employee has made an unfair dismissal claim, we can help you understand your options and represent you in any legal proceedings.
• Workplace discrimination and harassment allegations: If an employee has alleged discrimination or harassment, we can help you respond appropriately and defend any legal claims.
• Employment contracts and agreements: We can draft and advise on employment contracts, contractor agreements, non-compete clauses and other legal documents to protect your business interests.
• Redundancies and terminations: If you need to make roles redundant or terminate an employee’s employment, we can help you understand your obligations and mitigate legal risks.
• Workplace investigations: If you need to conduct a workplace investigation, we can guide you on the process to ensure it is fair and legally compliant.
• General protection claims: If an employee has made a general protection claim under the Fair Work Act, we can help you understand the allegations and defend the claim.

Our employment law team is experienced in handling various issues for employers, providing comprehensive advice and representation.

How much does an employment lawyer at WilliamsonBarwick cost?

At WilliamsonBarwick, we know legal fees are an important consideration for any business. That’s why we offer competitive fees and flexible fee arrangements, making our services accessible and cost-effective.

The cost of an employment lawyer will depend on the complexity of your matter and the level of assistance required. We offer obligation-free initial consultations so you can discuss your needs with us and get an estimate of the likely costs before deciding to engage our services.

We will always provide you with upfront information about our fees and services so you can weigh up the costs and benefits for your business. In many cases, investing in proactive legal advice can save you time and money down the track by preventing expensive legal disputes.

How long does an employment dispute take to resolve?

The time it takes to resolve an employment dispute can vary widely depending on the nature of the issue and the approach taken. Some matters can be settled quickly through informal discussions or mediation, while others may require a more lengthy court or tribunal process to reach a final determination.

At WilliamsonBarwick, we know employment disputes can be disruptive and costly for employers. That’s why we always look for commercially pragmatic solutions to resolve matters efficiently. We’ll work with you to develop a legal strategy that aligns with your business goals and timelines.

Can I handle an employment dispute myself?

While it may be tempting to handle an employment dispute in-house, it’s generally not advisable. Employment law is a complex and constantly evolving area, and missteps can expose your business to significant legal risks and costs.

Attempting to deal with an employee’s claim without proper legal advice can backfire and entrench the dispute. Hiring an experienced employment lawyer at WilliamsonBarwick ensures that your response is legally sound and persuasive, increasing your chances of a favourable outcome.

What should I do if an employee makes an unfair dismissal claim?

If a former employee has made an unfair dismissal claim against your business, seeking expert legal advice is essential. There are stringent timeframes for responding to an unfair dismissal claim, and delays can compromise your ability to defend the matter. 

At WilliamsonBarwick, our employment lawyers can help you:

• Assess the strength of the claim and identify your options (e.g. settlement or defending the claim)
• Prepare your response to the claim, including gathering relevant evidence
• Represent you in any conciliation or mediation to explore settlement prospects

If the matter can’t be settled, we prepare your defence and represent you in any hearings before the Fair Work Commission.

Engaging an employment lawyer early can put you in the best position to respond strategically to an unfair dismissal claim and achieve a positive outcome for your business.