Best Lawyers in Australia for Labour and Employment Law
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Paul acts for Commonwealth Government agencies, statutory authorities and private sector employers. Paul joined Thomsons in July 2025, bringing with him deep Commonwealth client relationships built over an extensive career. Paul’s practice spans all aspects of employment and industrial relations, WHS governance, administrative law and government procurement. He advises on enterprise bargaining, individual and collective workplace agreements, discrimination complaints, investigations of ...
Tamsin Lawrence is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. Tamsin, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tamsin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
David is a consultant in Holding Redlich's Workplace Relations for Employees Group. His areas of practice include: representing employees in complex employment disputes involving the termination of employment, discrimination claims, bullying claims and restraint of trade claims representing employees, councillors and statutory office holders involved in investigations by the Ombudsman, IBAC, Royal Commissions and professional disciplinary bodies acting for unions in relation to workplace issu...
Rachel acts for major employers in infrastructure, government, hospitality, franchising and resources sectors. Her clients include ASX-listed entities, state asset operators and major infrastructure project participants. She is based in Brisbane. Rachel advises on workplace relations litigation, WHS prosecutions, industrial disputes, regulatory compliance, enterprise agreement strategy, and immigration. She manages multi-jurisdictional industrial relations programs for major projects, advises...
Annie Smeaton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. Annie, who practices law in Brisbane, Australia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Annie is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Sam McGrath leads the Employment and Industrial Relations team at Cowell Clarke. Sam’s primary focus is in the area of employment and industrial relations law, where he provides advice and representation to corporate and business employers. With broad-based experience in litigation, Sam brings a unique background and astute insight to his specialisation in employment law. In 2017 Sam was appointed by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) as principal solicitor assisting...
Jacquie acts for employers in both the public and private sectors across a wide range of industries and sectors including education, sport, health and aged care, community services, financial services, IT, retail, manufacturing, transport and agribusiness. She acts for organisations of all sizes, from small employers to major institutions. Jacquie advises on individual and collective employment relationships from recruitment through termination and beyond: employment contracts; enterprise agr...
Andrew is a Partner in HopgoodGanim Lawyers’ Workplace and Employment practice. Andrew advises clients on all aspects of workplace law, equal opportunity and discrimination law, safety and privacy. From front-end bargaining and agreement composition to dispute management, Andrew has extensive experience advising across a broad range of sectors including resources and energy, manufacturing, health and hospitality. He is particularly skilled in providing strategic employment law advisory ...
Josh Martin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. Josh, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Josh is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Leo Saunders is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits Law and Labour and Employment Law. Leo, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Leo is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Gabrielle Joffe is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. Gabrielle, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gabrielle is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jennifer Sung is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. Jennifer, who practices law in Mount Waverley, Australia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jennifer is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Katherine Southwell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. Katherine, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katherine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Faheem Anwar is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction / Infrastructure Law and Labour and Employment Law. Faheem, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Faheem is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.