Lauren advises large Australian and international employers on employment law, industrial relations and discrimination matters across the employee lifecycle.

Biography

Lauren acts for employers across a wide range of industries. Her clients include Federal, State and Local Government agencies, major private sector organisations (including those in health and aged care, biotechnology, engineering, manufacturing and retail), and not-for-profit organisations. Based in Melbourne, she advises clients nationally and internationally.

Lauren advises on the full spectrum of employment and industrial relations matters, including contracts for employees, executives and contractors, enterprise bargaining and related Commission processes, industrial action and disputes, award and enterprise agreement compliance, and the management of performance, conduct and termination.

She represents clients in employment litigation and advises on employment aspects of corporate transactions. Lauren also has extensive experience acting for employers and organisations in the defence of discrimination claims, including those brought by employees, students of educational institutions, and consumers of goods and services.

In addition, Lauren has experience conducting independent workplace investigations for public and private sector clients, including public hospitals, universities and government agencies.

Lauren advises on complex employment and industrial relations matters across the full employee lifecycle, often involving multi-entity and multi-jurisdictional employer structures. Her practice includes sensitive, high-risk matters such as large-scale workplace investigations, industrial disputes and regulatory enforcement issues.

She has particular experience acting for government and emergency services organisations, as well as major employers, in complex Fair Work Ombudsman underpayment investigations.

Lauren draws on her Law and Business (HR major) qualifications, together with her experience conducting workplace investigations for large organisations, to bring a complete perspective on how employment issues arise, escalate and are resolved.

Clients value her ability to explain complex legal issues clearly, as well as her practical, responsive and timely approach to advice.

Credentials

Academic qualifications:

Lauren's experience

Department of Education, Victoria — Anti-discrimination litigation

Representing the Department of Education in defence of several discrimination claims brought against it in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Public transport provider — Industrial action

Advised and successfully represented a major public transport provider on its response to the TWU's proposal to take industrial (strike) action, which would have impacted Melbourne's public transport network.

Aged care providers — Payroll compliance

Advising several large aged care providers on payroll compliance matters and the management of potential statutory underpayments.

Local government council — Employee misconduct management and Commission litigation

Advising a local government council on resolution of complex bullying and misconduct complaints, including compliance with Public Interest Disclosure legislation, and representation in Fair Work Commission stop-bullying and unfair dismissal proceedings.

Awards, recognition and ranking