Senior Associate - Labour, Employment & Workplace Safety

DISCOVER more opportunities to DEVELOP your talents and THRIVE in a dynamic legal landscape.

Our Labour, Employment & Workplace Safety group provide advice and representation to employers on all aspects of the employment relationship. The team is recognised as a leader in employment, industrial relations and workplace safety law. 

We have a team of over 25 lawyers in 3 of our Australian offices (Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane). There are currently 3 partners and 11 lawyers in the Melbourne team. The Melbourne team's work includes a focus on the health, sport, construction, banking and education sectors as well as significant government and public sector work.

We pride ourselves on being skilled lawyers who look after our clients and work with our colleagues as a cohesive and collaborative team. We work hard but understand the important of recognising success and each person's individual contribution. The Partners of this team work closely with the lawyers and are recognised as excellent mentors who promote and encourage the development of lawyers at each level.

About the role

You will be working on advice, transactional and litigation matters across the scope of employment, industrial and safety matters. The work is complex, challenging and often required to be turned around quickly but you will be well supported and given plenty of opportunity to grow and develop your skills.

You will have opportunities to work in a team as well being given the freedom to work on matters autonomously. No two days will be the same – one day you could be advising on employment issues arising from a complex corporate transaction and the next, on a client's site assisting with a workplace health and safety investigation. 

What does the role involve?

• Representing employers in employment-related disputes such as unfair dismissal, discrimination, and general protection claims; 
• Advising and representing employers in substantial work health and safety investigations and prosecutions;
• Responding to Regulator investigations (e.g. Fair Work Ombudsman) and prosecutions;
• Advising on novel and complex employment queries;
• Advising on and conducting workplace investigations on issues such as bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment;
• Negotiating, drafting and providing advice on employment related documents including, contracts of employment, executive employment arrangements, service agreements and workplace policies;
• Advising on discipline and termination of employment;
• Litigating matters in the State and Federal Courts, Tribunals and Commissions and utilising complaint handling and alternative dispute resolution techniques, such as mediation and conciliation;
• Advising on strategic compliance to achieve desired client outcomes;
• Providing employment law support on an array of commercial and transactional issues including mergers and acquisitions, share sale arrangements, corporate restructures, transfer of business and transfer of employment situations, post-employment restraints  as well as non-compliance with legal and regulatory matters;
• Developing and delivering internal and external training programs on a range of employment and work health and safety matters.

About You

We value our culture at K&L Gates and are proud of our friendly and respectful reputation. We are looking for a likeminded individual who, in addition to possessing technical excellence, is able to work collaboratively in a team to get things done.

As the successful candidate, you will have:

• Demonstrated experience in a broad range of employment, industrial and safety related matters from both a front end and a litigious perspective;
• A practical and proactive approach to managing your workload;
• Strong problem-solving skills;
• Excellent organisation, written and presentation skills;
• Strong drafting and advisory skills;
• The ability to deliver to tight deadlines and work under pressure;
• Excellent analytical and research skills;
• A team focus - enjoy working as part of a committed team;
• Energy and enthusiasm; and
• The ability to network and build and nurture client relationships and proactively undertake business development.

Ideally you will have 5+ years PAE experience within a commercial law firm. Public sector experience would also be looked upon favourably.

The extras

K&L Gates promotes equal opportunities for all employees to progress in their careers.

Initiatives include:

• Salary continuance insurance
• Pro-bono programs and community involvement via our workplace giving program, Global Day of Service and charitable fundraisers
• 26 weeks paid parental leave
• Flexible working options
• Volunteering opportunities
• Social events – social club and sporting teams

About Us

The firm’s Australian operations provide vast knowledge of the Australian legal marketplace across a wide spectrum of industries.  With lawyers located in four established offices in Australia’s leading financial and commercial centres and possessing substantial experience.

At K&L Gates, we foster an inclusive and collaborative environment across our fully integrated global platform that enables us to diligently combine the knowledge and expertise of our people to create teams that provide exceptional client solutions. We marry process with vision, success with dedication, method with passion, and innovation with creativity. The outcome: The K&L Gates Experience.

Located across five continents, we represent a broad array of leading global corporations in every major industry, capital markets participants, and ambitious middle-market and emerging growth companies. We also serve public sector entities, educational institutions, philanthropic organisations, and individuals. Our lawyers counsel clients on their most sophisticated legal challenges in all areas of corporate and regulatory law as well as litigation.

We are leaders in legal issues relating to industries critical to the economies of both the developed and developing worlds—technology, manufacturing, energy, transportation, telecommunications, financial services, and life sciences, among others.

Do you like what you see?

Please apply via our Careers page at www.klgates.com

For more information, please contact Tania Brierley, Recruitment Consultant at tania.brierley@klgates.com

For more information about K&L Gates please see our website www.klgates.com

Referrals from agencies are not accepted at this time.

K&L Gates reserve the right to close advertising earlier at our discretion.

K&L Gates is an equal opportunity employer and promotes the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of those with a disability. We welcome applications from people who have an indigenous and/or culturally and linguistically diverse background.

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