Senior Associate

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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.