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

A sitting member of a statutory training agreements committee, 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).

Anne works closely with Human Resource and Operations Managers of medium to large private and State-owned corporations, not for profits and local government.

Anne has a particular interest in:

• navigating the crossover between workers compensation and fitness for work issues

• untangling complex capacity, conduct and performance issues

• conducting workplace investigations

• meeting positive duties to eliminate sexual harassment and other psychological hazards

• legislative compliance

• employment vs independent contracting

• managing bullying complaints, discrimination claims and disciplinary processes

Anne’s experience includes:

• Delivering workplace behaviour and sexual harassment training to local government, schools and private enterprises.

• Leading a large-scale project for a local government industry providing a suite of employment contracts and policies and procedures to create an industry wide standard. Assisting with union consultation and implementation on a council by council basis

• Successfully negotiating with the Victorian State Revenue Office regarding pay roll tax claims arising out of multiple contentious interpretations involving a client in the radio voice over industry

• Assisting a publicly listed company in the aquaculture industry to implement a Fitness for Work Management system to improve managing workers compensation claims and non-work related injuries

• Successfully obtaining a ruling from a State Anti-Discrimination Tribunal that a Passenger Ferry’s practices were not discriminatory

• Code of conduct investigations for State Government

Anne is regularly asked to deliver training packages and presentations to special interest groups and clients, especially in the areas of sexual harassment, bullying, contact officer training and managing employee performance.

Sam has particular expertise in responding to and resolving claims arising from employment and industrial disputes, minimising risks associated with termination of employment and assessing and resolving workplace conflict.

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:

• 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

• Defending an Anti-Discrimination Claim where the tribunal rejected a union official’s claim he was discriminated against because of his psychological condition and industrial activity, finding the dismissal followed a demand from the employee for assurances he wouldn’t be sacked for outstanding disciplinary matters

• Obtaining orders for a University to stop unprotected industrial action threatened by a union based on successfully arguing technical defects in the notices of intention to take protected action

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

• Defending a Fair Work Commission General Protections arbitration involving a dismissal before the Full Bench

Sam is also an experienced 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 a state service which is highly regulated, providing compliant reports.

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

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

Nicola’s experience includes:

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

• 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, pragmatic and compliant reports

• 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

• dealing with complex and ongoing performance, disciplinary and fitness for work issues

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 while still completing her Bachelor of Laws after a background in hospitality and working in assisting and paralegal roles in legal firms in Hobart.  She was admitted to the profession in 2022.

Holly’s experience includes undertaking and assisting senior lawyers with:

• Preparing general protections and unfair dismissal responses

• Providing advice on internal HR matters including redundancies, modern award interpretation, developing and tailoring workplace policies and procedures and managing employee performance

• Developing training materials and information for HR Teams and Senior Management on relevant, topical workplace issues

Holly is looking forward developing and maintaining strong relationships with our clients to achieve results with respect. 

Thomas Joined Edge Legal in 2021, coming from an Industrial Relations background with a national regulator. He has experience in conducting investigations and providing advice to industry to help meet obligations and resolve conflict.

Thomas’ experience includes undertaking and assisting senior lawyers with:

• Preparing general protections and unfair dismissal responses

• Reviewing contracts of employments and policy documents

• Advising on Modern Award and Enterprise Agreement rights and obligations.

Thomas joined Edge for his legal placement before joining the team as a lawyer after being admitted to practice in March 2022.

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.