Who Are We

Overview

Richard has over 30 years’ experience in employment law and commercial dispute resolution. He has worked as an industrial relations advisor, lawyer, and barrister.

Richard has built up a law practice acting for both commercial and private clients, specialising in all aspects of employment law and on the resolution of business disputes in all jurisdictions.

Areas of expertise

Employment Law

Richard has a deep understanding of employment law and has represented clients across a range of industries including manufacturing, retail, transport, shipping and freight, recruitment, labour hire, HR consultants, contractors, financial organisations (credit cooperative, funds management) IT, medical, education, as well as other law firms. He specialises in dismissals, wages claims, and workplace disputes at the Fair Work Commission, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Tribunals, VCAT, Magistrates Court, Supreme Court, Federal Circuit Court and Federal Court.

He is a trusted advisor and works daily with CEOs, management, directors, and employees.

Richard’s key areas of expertise include:

Advice regarding employee relations, performance management, and termination
Representation in unfair dismissal, unlawful dismissal, general protections / adverse action proceedings
Employment agreements
Contractor agreements
Award interpretation and advice
Wage claims
Discrimination
Bullying and harassment
Policies and Procedures
Payroll audit and compliance
Workplace investigations
Redundancies
Restraint of trade
Whistle blower action and protection

Corporate Dispute Resolution

Richard’s commercial and business service offerings include acting on dispute relations with the sale and purchase of companies, shares and businesses.

He has conducted numerous negotiations and settlements of shareholder and inter-corporate disagreements and disputes. Richard has also advised clients in more formal mediation conferences involving not only the disputing parties but impartial mediators. His dispute resolution and advocacy skills extend over the entirety of the pre-litigation stage including court proceedings.

Select examples of Richard’s experience include:

Partnership disputes
Resolution of Intellectual property disputes
Cybercrime proceedings
Supreme Court Injunctions
Debt recovery
Whistle blower proceedings and protection
Contractor disputes
Freight disputes
Administrative law including constitution and election disputes

Recognition

Richard was awarded a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Bond University in 1996, a Graduate Diploma Legal Practice from the College of Law (Sydney) in 1997, a Graduate Diploma Labour Law (MBA) from the University of Melbourne in 1998 and was admitted to the Victorian Bar in 1999. Richard was on the Law Institute of Victoria Workplace Relation Executive Committee.