David is a co-founder of Edge Legal.

David has particular expertise in industrial relations and safety. David doesn’t just focus on legal solutions. His advice has a real practical edge to it drawn from experience in various senior executive management roles in the telecommunications, franchising and agriculture industries – even leading one organisation to a National Finalist and Joint State Winner of the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) People Management Awards.

David fundamentally understands the IR system from an employer perspective, having been the Chief Workplace Relations Officer of a peak Employer Organisation where he delivered training to businesses on behalf of the Federal Government following the introduction of the Fair Work Act. He has been instrumental in enterprise bargaining strategy, particularly in organisations with workforces over 500 people and multiple Unions.

David’s experience includes:

• Providing user friendly Due Diligence training for Board members and Executive Management Teams in publicly listed, state owned and large private companies

• Comprehensive safety audit and Board advice for a publicly listed, leading aquaculture company

• Crisis management for workplace fatalities in the mining and aquaculture industry providing onsite and remote expertise from immediate response action such as dealing with the safety regulator, contractors, family of the deceased, co-workers, police and the media though to safety investigations, response action advice and dealing with coronial inquests and safety prosecutions

• Project managing the enterprise bargaining process for a superannuation company during contentious regulatory change and overseeing the introduction of consistent contracts of employment across 3 transferring employer groups

• Managing large scale transfer of business situations including all employment aspects of an integration of a distribution network and transmission network as part of government reforms to the electricity supply industry

• Successfully defending union attempts to oppose the approval of enterprise agreements in the Fair Work Commission in one of the first cases to address the issue of no-extra claims clauses

• Successfully appealing a classification interpretation in a State Industrial Commission regarding a significant section of the public sector workforce

• Representing employer groups regarding the implementation of a State Wage Case

• Representing an employer in the Water Industry enterprise bargaining involving 7 different Unions and involving complex transfer of business issues involving over 20 employers

David has also tutored in workplace law and human resources at the University of Tasmania and is a regular workplace trainer particularly in the areas of DISC and managing performance and conflict. David is a regular contributor to commentary on a variety of workplace issues as a facilitator and presenter at national HR and Safety conferences as well as social media, TV and print.

Rod is a co-founder of Edge Legal.

Rod has particular expertise in people management issues, industrial disputes and advocacy.

Prior to Edge Legal, Rod was the group head of an Employment & Safety Group in a mid-tier firm for several years. He also previously worked in a top tier law firm and as a consultant providing on-site services in the mining industry. This complemented a background in workers compensation law.

Rod’s experience includes:

• One on One people management consulting for senior managers

• Advising Boards and Executive Managers regarding complex and sensitive employment issues

• Delivering workplace training programs for senior managers and HR Teams

• Defending Termination of Employment claims at hearings and full bench appeals

• Appearing for employers in bullying applications, industrial disputes, industrial action, scope order hearings and interpretation of industrial instruments in Fair Work Commission

• Defending breach of industrial laws claims and restraint of trade cases in State and Federal Courts

• Conducting workplace investigations including for WA State Government and WA Police regarding bullying complaints against senior officers

Rod is an accredited DISC trainer and delivers mentoring programs for HR Professionals and actionable workplace training for HR Professionals and Operational Managers. He has tutored in workplace law at Murdoch University (WA).

Sam is a Director at Edge Legal and heads up our litigation and disputes team.

Sam has particular expertise in responding to and resolving claims arising from employment and industrial disputes. Sam also regularly advises clients on complex compliance issues arising from interpretation of Enterprise Agreements and Awards.

Sam is an experienced industrial advocate and regularly appears in the Fair Work Commission, Federal Court and state tribunals. Sam’s experience includes recently successfully:

• Obtaining orders to stop unprotected industrial action threatened by a union based on risks to third parties arising from the proposed industrial action

• Defending an appeal on a dispute under an enterprise agreement relating to interpretation and application of consultation requirements

• Obtaining orders relating to a right of entry dispute with a union about holding meetings in a workplace and protecting private information

• Defending Unfair Dismissal Claims relating to safety breaches including a drug and alcohol policy breach where the Fair Work Commission carefully examined drug testing procedures and found the employee had breached the zero-tolerance policy by returning a positive reading for cannabis and upheld the dismissal

• Obtaining orders for a mine owner/operator preventing an enterprise agreement from transferring in a transfer of business situation insourcing arrangement

Sam is an experienced, trauma informed investigator and regularly carries out workplace assessments in response to workplace complaints and managing fitness for work (including employees with mental health concerns) with a view to guiding clients to take early, appropriate response action to deal with issues in the workplace instead of getting caught up in formal investigations. Sam also conducts investigations for genuine misconduct matters, including for state service departments which are highly regulated, providing compliant reports.

Anne has over 30 years’ experience as a lawyer and for the last 15 years has specialised in workplace relations. Anne is a founding member of Edge Legal.

Anne advises and works closely with Human Resource and Operations Managers of medium to large private and State-owned corporations.

She provides advice on all employment related matters, including employee entitlements, workplace compliance, discipline, restructuring, performance management and dealing with workplace grievances. She provides training particularly in workplace behaviour, sexual harassment, psychosocially safe workplaces and performance management. Anne has a particular interest in conducting complex investigations into misconduct or employee grievances.

Having initially practiced in workers compensation for many years, Anne has a unique insight into managing the cross-over between compensable and non-compensable claims. She regularly assists employers to manage injuries and illnesses, including mental illness, in a way that maximises safety and operational efficiency while minimising legal risk.

Anne has a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Tasmania was admitted as a Practitioner of the Supreme Court of Tasmania on 23 September 1993 and has a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice.

Nicola enjoys building strong relationships with senior management and human resources to effectively manage a wide range of employment law issues.

Nicola has particular expertise in responding to and resolving claims arising from employment disputes, managing complex capacity, conduct and performance issues and advising on and conducting workplace investigations and assessments.

Nicola’s experience includes:

• conducting and advising on workplace assessments in relation to cultural and conflict issues and formal investigations in relation to serious and complex allegations with a focus on delivering impartial and pragmatic reports and ensuring a trauma informed investigation process

• managing complex and ongoing performance, disciplinary and fitness for work issues including at an executive level

• providing clear and practical advice in relation to employee entitlements, restructuring and complex transfer of business obligations including in mergers

• defending and resolving unfair dismissal and general protections claims, industrial disputes and anti-discrimination and sexual harassment claims across varying jurisdictions

• conducting hearings in the Fair Work Commission and discrimination jurisdictions

• providing workplace training for HR Teams with a focus on providing practical insights based on personal expertise

Nicola takes a proactive approach to assisting clients to manage complex issues efficiently and effectively, with a focus on minimising unnecessary disputes and maintaining respectful relationships.

Jonathon enjoys partnering with senior management and HR to provide practical solutions to complex issues.

Prior to Edge Legal, Jonathon started his career in Human Resources and was the Employee Relations Manager for a large hospitality employer of over 1000 employees where he gained significant experience and expertise in ‘on the ground’ employee and industrial relations matters.

Jonathon’s experience includes:

• All aspects of enterprise bargaining, including bargaining ‘at the table’, agreement approval and appearing in the Fair Work Commission in relation to enterprise agreement disputes

• Conducting workplace investigations

• Managing injured employees and fitness for work issues

• Employment contracts and workplace policies

• Defending unfair dismissal claims and general protections claims

• Award compliance and underpayment of wages claims

Jonathon has a particular interest and expertise in modern award compliance and enterprise bargaining. His ‘in-house’ experience with large employers has given him a deep understanding of the practical issues regularly faced by management and HR and how to respectfully resolve them.

James joined Edge Legal in 2020 having previously worked as a manager for a prominent local retailer.

James regularly undertakes and assists senior lawyers with all aspects of employee relations issues, with a particular focus on the disputes process, including:

• providing advice on internally managing fitness for work, performance or disciplinary matters

• defending Unfair Dismissal and General Protections claims in the Fair Work Commission and Federal Circuit Court

• litigating disputed Modern Award and Enterprise Agreement interpretations

James has a particular interest in conducting workplace assessments for clients, to offer practical recommendations to resolve cultural and interpersonal conflict, along with investigations to efficiently and effectively address sensitive and confidential matters.

Matthew joined Edge Legal in 2020 having previously worked for a respected member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council advising on a diverse range of policy matters. Matthew’s experience includes undertaking and assisting senior lawyers with:

• Employment contracts and workplace policies and procedures

• Compliance with and disputes relating to modern awards and enterprise agreements

• Fair Work Commission approval of enterprise agreements

• Compliance with work health and safety requirements

• Unfair dismissal, general protections and discrimination matters

Matthew has a particular interest in enterprise bargaining and work health and safety matters.

Holly joined Edge in 2020 after a background in hospitality management and working in legal assisting and paralegal roles in Hobart.

Holly’s experience includes undertaking and assisting senior lawyers with all aspects of industrial relations issues such as:

• providing practical advice and assistance to resolve workplace issues at the earliest possible stage to achieve ‘results with respect’, minimising unnecessary disputes

• regularly appearing in the Fair Work Commission and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia to assist employers defend and resolve industrial disputes, including general protections, unfair dismissal and discrimination claims

• providing advice on internal compliance matters such as redundancies, modern award interpretation, employment contracts, WHS requirements and workplace policies and procedures

• developing and providing training for human resources and senior management on relevant, topical workplace issues

Holly has a keen interest in people management and workplace dynamics, with a focus on ensuring a proactive and efficient approach to managing complex conduct, capacity and performance issues.

Chantelle manages Edge’s Office and Financial Operations. In doing so Chantelle brings over 20 years of experience in finance, business management, practice management and executive support. This has been gained working locally and internationally.

Having worked for various sectors including the mining industry, education, health and not for profit organisations, Chantelle brings to Edge a fresh approach to business management. Chantelle has a particular focus on integrating legal and financial software and is always seeking to drive efficiencies to improve client service.

Monica is Edge’s Administrative Assistant, coming to Edge with 10 years of international experience in interpretation, executive administration, and human resources management.

Monica enjoys providing support to the whole team to ensure the efficient and smooth day-to-day operation of our office.

She is also fluent in Japanese and Mandarin.