Employment and Workplace Relations

When an employer can strike the balance between a company’s operational needs and the needs of their employees, the employee will become the company’s greatest asset.

Finding this balance in the complex web of State and Federal Laws, contracts, modern awards and enterprise agreements can be difficult. Employment and workplace agreements are by no means one-size-fits-all.

Whether you are an employer or employee, our team at Keir Steele Waldon Lawyers are dedicated to finding the best fit for you. Our team has built its workplace relations practice on a comprehensive understanding of the issues facing employers and employees.

Contact our Employment and Workplace Relations team for advice on:

  • Employment Contracts
  • Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination

Expert legal drafting is crucial to protect your business from future disputes and ensure your employment terms are clear, enforceable, and compliant with current laws. Properly drafted contracts provide certainty and security, safeguarding your business’s interests and minimizing the risk of costly legal challenges.

We provide expert guidance on preventing and addressing bullying, harassment, and discrimination in the workplace. Our advice helps businesses create a safe, inclusive environment and ensures compliance with legal obligations to mitigate the risk of claims and reputational damage.

  • Unfair Dismissal
  • Industrial Relations Negotiations

We offer strategic advice to manage dismissal processes fairly and lawfully, minimizing the risk of claims. Our expertise ensures that employers have defensible grounds and follow appropriate procedures, protecting against costly disputes and ensuring regulatory compliance.

We assist businesses in navigating complex industrial relations negotiations, including enterprise bargaining and dispute resolution. Our goal is to achieve fair, sustainable outcomes that align with business objectives while maintaining positive workplace relationships and compliance with industrial laws.

  • Employment Disputes
  • Workplace Health and Safety

We provide comprehensive support in resolving employment disputes, whether through negotiation, mediation, or litigation. Our approach aims to achieve efficient, cost-effective resolutions while protecting your business’s interests and minimizing disruption to operations.

We assist businesses in managing workplace health and safety investigations, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and minimizing potential liabilities. Our team helps navigate the investigative process, providing guidance on documentation, interviews, and corrective actions to safeguard employee welfare and protect against legal risks.

Our Employment & Workplace Relations Team

Jess Keir

Senior Associate

Claudia Leslie

Lawyer

JESS KEIR

The law is constantly evolving, especially in the areas of commercial litigation, industrial relations and estate litigation.  Jess has 15 years of experience acting for clients in litigation matters, including representing clients across all state and federal courts and tribunals. As a senior commercial litigator and dispute resolution lawyer, Jess works with clients to provide solutions in a wide variety of commercial matters including insolvency, debt recovery, contract disputes and local government matters. 

With the increase in contested wills and estates in Queensland, Jess works with clients and families to ensure the least stressful, and best possible outcome for families during what can be a difficult time in life.

 In the industrial relations sphere, Jess makes sure that both employees and employers have the right industrial relations advice at the outset and can navigate through developments that are relevant to them, and their workplace.

 “People tend to have a bit of a negative attitude towards lawyers, but I love the fact that we can take the weight off a person’s shoulders during really stressful times in their life.”

 She understands that for business, it is imperative that matters are turned around quickly, and within budget. Jess has a track record of meeting and exceeding these expectations. She prides herself on being commercially perceptive and instilling confidence in clients.

 “I’d be lying if I didn’t say the best part of my job is getting a win for the client, either through court or through an excellent negotiated outcome. Those are the best phone calls to make.”

 Jess can provide advice and representation in areas such as:

  • Corporate and commercial disputes
  • Partnership and shareholder disputes
  • Contractual disputes
  • Leasing, tenancy, and land disputes
  • Industrial relations law
  • Wills and Estates litigation
  • Insolvency
  • Administrative law
  • Defamation
  • Consumer protection