With experts based in our Brisbane, Cairns and Townsville offices, the MacDonnells Law Employment Law and Workplace Relations team is widely recognised in Queensland as a leader in this complex and rapidly changing area of law.  MacDonnells Law has built its employment law and workplace relations practice on a comprehensive understanding of the issues facing employers and employees. Our employment and workplace relations lawyers (solicitors) advise clients in all industries and sectors including private practice and local and State Government.  We have conducted matters for clients in Queensland, throughout Australia and internationally.

MacDonnells Law ensures its employment and workplace relations lawyers (solicitors) remain on top of the constant developments in this area of law so they can provide the most efficient and technically competent service to clients.

The MacDonnells Law Employment Law and Workplace Relations team primarily provides legal advice to CEOs and Human Resources Managers to ensure they manage their workforce with a view to achieving an attractive and productive workplace culture.  Headed by Partner Mark Peters (Cairns), our experienced employment and workplace relations lawyers provide coordinated legal expertise in the following areas:

Strategic Advice, Workplace Relations 
Assessment of a wide range of developing workplace issues and providing advice to minimise the prospects of damaging industrial action.
 
Enterprise Bargaining, Collective Agreements 
Preparation of creative and effective Collective Agreements to help achieve higher productivity and employee satisfaction in the workplace.

Executive Contracts 
Drafting executive contracts and conducting full reviews of executive contract arrangements. 

Subcontracting/Independent Contracting 
Assisting clients to structure contracting arrangements and drafting appropriate documentation to support existence of an independent contracting relationship as distinct from an employment relationship.

Award Interpretation 
Advising on award interpretation issues.  MacDonnells Law is well resourced to access all current Federal and State Awards.

Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution 
MacDonnells Law’s qualified mediators represent clients in disputes by utilising avenues other than the Industrial Commission or court processes.

Defence of Workplace Health and Safety Prosecutions 
Our Accredited Personal Injuries Specialists defend prosecutions and advise corporate clients on appropriate pleas.

WorkCover Statutory Claims and Rehabilitation Issues 
Advising on issues involving WorkCover statutory claims and rehabilitation, guiding clients so as to best minimise exposure to common law actions.

Workplace Investigation 
Advising government and business organisations in investigating allegations of misconduct, discrimination and sexual harassment.  Conducting complex workplace investigations and producing comprehensive reports for Senior Management and Board level review.

Redundancy Issues 
Understanding clients’ ongoing business needs to minimise the need to implement expensive and morale damaging redundancies and, where redundancies become necessary, advising on implementing processes that minimise the repercussions for the employer.

Termination of Employment 
Providing assistance in dealing with executive performance and termination issues, negotiating outcomes to resolve complex issues. 

Unfair Dismissal 
Advising corporations and local governments in the areas of performance management, capacity and misconduct.  Representing clients and negotiating effective outcomes in the Australian and Queensland Industrial Relations Commissions.

Discrimination and Sexual Harassment 
Advising on the impacts of both the State and Federal legislation.  Dealing with complex discrimination and sexual harassment disputes in the Federal and State Commissions and Tribunal.  Providing compliance advice and training to assist clients in the presentation of issues. 
 
Industrial Commissions and Courts 
Skilled advocates in both an adversarial and mediation environment.  We understand how best to prepare a case and gather appropriate evidence to maximise a client’s prospects of success.

Human Resources and Workplace Policy Development
Advising on the compliance of Human Resource Polices and providing vital training for employees to achieve maximum legal protection for the employer.