Regulatory reform and case law pronouncements have meant that workplace law has been ever-changing over the last year. Unpack the latest developments in with the experts. From “same job, same pay” and the evolving positive duty under Respect@Work, to managing confidentiality, restraints and the emerging impact of medicinal marijuana on workplace safety, gain sharp, practical insights into the issues employers and advisors face now. Plus focus on your own professional excellence and take a deep dive into enhancing your practice management, practical skill development and the ethical challenges for employment lawyers.

Presenters

Rose Dimitrious, Partner, Thomson Geer
Rose has a strong reputation for providing clear, strategic and commercially sensible legal advice to her clients. Rose’s practice covers all aspects of the employment relationship. She specialises in preparing employment agreements and policies, drafting executive employment agreements, advising on Award coverage and interpretation, managing employee misconduct, managing underperforming employees, managing ill and injured employees, defending workers’ compensation matters, redundancy and dismissal. With an extensive contract law background and experience in working on complex transactions, Rose assists her clients to navigate the employment aspects of business and asset purchases and sales. Rose acts for major Australian and International organisations across a range of industries. Rose’s clients appreciate her understanding of the issues affecting human resource managers and business owners, and her focus on reaching practical solutions which are tailored to the business’ needs. Rose is a member of the Practical Law Consultation Board.

Deacon M Johnston, Barrister, Sir Harry Gibbs Chambers
Deacon is an experienced advocate in a variety of settings, and maintains a broad commercial litigation practice, with a focus on employment and industrial, taxation, and trade practice disputes. Called to the bar in 2024, he advises and appears for employees and employers, both in private and public contexts, in relation to both state and federal disputes. Clients generally appreciate Deacon's no-nonsense and straight-talking style, paired with his dogged determination in pursuit of results. With an insatiable appetite for hard work, and a pragmatic and thoughtful approach to dispute resolution, client goals are always at the forefront of Deacon's litigation strategy.

Louise Hogg, Partner, Holding Redlich
Louise is a highly experienced employment and industrial relations lawyer who has practised in this area of law for over a decade. She has a detailed knowledge of all matters affecting the employment life cycle and works collaboratively with clients to achieve best outcomes. Louise has an in depth knowledge of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and its application to the employment relationship, including enterprise bargaining, industrial disputes, right of entry, interpretation of industrial instruments, general protections claims and litigation relating to termination of employment. She is also experienced in interpreting and applying the Industrial Relations Act 2016 (Qld) and other legislation regulating to public service employment in Queensland, particularly in the health sector.

Richard Diqer, Barrister, Aspect Chambers
Richard has a broad commercial practice, with a particular focus on employment and industrial relations matters. Prior to being called to the bar, Richard was Senior Legal Counsel at NBN Co Limited where, in addition to providing strategic advice, he managed a diverse portfolio of litigation and dispute matters. Richard has also held Senior Associate positions at national mid-tier, Colin Biggers & Paisley, and specialist employment and industrial relations firm, IRIQ Law, where he often appeared as a solicitor advocate. Throughout his career, Richard has developed an expertise in workplace disputes, industrial litigation and strategy, whistleblowing, and discrimination matters. He is also experienced in conducting investigations, including whistleblower and workplace investigations as well as Crime and Corruption Commission referrals. Richard has sat on the management committee of the Industrial Relations Society of Queensland since 2021

Emma Treherne, In-House Counsel, Senior Legal and Compliance Officer, Isuzu UTE Australia
Emma Treherne was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2011 but has been working in the field of employment law since 2007. Emma has diverse experience across many areas of employment law both in Australia and a short stint in the Republic of Ireland and has worked in private practice, a community organisation, the government, employer associations, and in-house. For approximately 2.5 years, Emma has been working as an in-house counsel for Isuzu UTE Australia Pty Ltd, an Australian vehicle distributor. In this position, Emma’s principal practice areas are employment law, data privacy law and commercial law and any other practice areas which aid improvements in corporate governance and compliance of the Company. Working in the field of compliance has required Emma to not just advise on legal matters but also to educate the Company and build compliance systems and programs consider legal risk along with factoring in reputational and commercial risks.

Aaron Stewart, Principal, Aitken Partners
Aaron brings a distinguished record of success in commercial litigation, civil litigation, employment litigation, and crime litigation, based in our Brisbane office. With admissions to practise in both the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia, Aaron has consistently achieved exceptional outcomes for clients across a wide range of legal matters, including complex business disputes, employment law challenges, discrimination claims, workplace disciplinary matters, leasing and property disputes, debt recovery, and intricate contractual disagreements. Throughout his career, Aaron’s cultivated a reputation for resolving even the most contentious and high-stakes disputes with a focus on delivering favourable results, whether through strategic negotiation or robust litigation. Aaron prioritises providing clear, insightful legal guidance at every stage, ensuring clients are well-prepared and empowered. His approach emphasises efficiency and precision, leveraging deep understanding of both State and Federal jurisdictions, as well as the intricacies of Commissions, Tribunals, mediations, and conciliations. Aaron's track record includes prevailing against leading national law firms in high-profile matters before the Federal Court of Australia, as well as the Supreme, District, and Magistrates' Courts of Queensland. He has also successfully represented clients in cases before the Australian Human Rights Commission, Queensland Human Rights Commission, and the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Aaron is committed to leveraging his extensive legal expertise to resolve challenging legal disputes with precision and poise. He is an active member of prestigious professional organisations, including the Queensland Law Society, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, the Industrial Relations Society of Queensland, and the Law Society of the University of Southern Queensland, underscoring his dedication to advancing the legal profession and maintaining the highest standards of excellence. Aaron has represented clients in both state and federal courts in highly contentious criminal matters, consistently achieving excellent outcomes. He has represented clients in a diverse range of criminal matters, including serious fraud, serious sexual and violent crime, breaches of domestic violence orders, theft, drug trafficking and possession, and weapons-related charges.

Mitchell Devine, Principal, Devine Lawyers
Mitchell Devine is the Principal, Devine Legal and a dual Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law and Workplace Relations. He holds a Bachelor of Laws and Masters of Laws and is a member of the Industrial Relations Society of Queensland, Australian Lawyers Alliance and Australian Labour Law Association. Mitchell was previously a member and chair of the Queensland Law Society Workplace Relations Advisory Committee. Mitchell lectures in employment law at the University of the Sunshine Coast and practises exclusively in areas of personal injuries and workplace relations. He is a recommended employment lawyer in the Doyle’s Guide from 2017 to date for both employer and employee representation.

Matthew Cameron, Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Matthew Cameron is an employment lawyer with a particular focus on enterprise bargaining, industrial disputes, employment litigation, complex investigations and disciplinary processes. He has a broad practice across a range of sectors including mining and resources, energy, manufacturing, logistics and government.