Solicitor, Employment, IR & Safety

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP; Sydney; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holistic wellbeing fund

Home office allowance

Job summary

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer in Sydney is seeking a Solicitor to join our market-leading Employment, Industrial Relations and Safety practice on a permanent, full-time basis. You will work with Partners Miles Bastick, Michael Gonski, Nerida Jessup, Shivchand Jhinku and Drew Pearson, handling employment law, IR, and safety matters for blue-chip clients across sectors.

The role offers exposure to strategic advisory work, complex disputes, and large‑scale M&A employment components, with a

Qualifications

• 2+ years’ experience in employment and IR matters from top-tier practice, government or in-house.
• Strong academic record, communication and teamwork skills.
• Experience advising on workforce strategy, enterprise bargaining, disputes, and large-scale M&A employment aspects.

Responsibilities

• Provide employment law advice on workforce strategy, enterprise bargaining, and industrial disputes.
• Advise and represent in employment and IR disputes (unfair dismissals, general protections, bargaining disputes).
• Advise on employment aspects of large-scale M&A and projects.
• Advise on compliance (employment, anti-discrimination, safety, payroll).
• Interface with regulators and Fair Work Commission and Court proceedings.

Skills

Employment law

Industrial relations

Advisory experience

Regulatory compliance

Advocacy skills

Job description

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.

As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world’s largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.

At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we’re focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world.

All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition – which is to help you achieve yours.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your goals. Our ambition

The Opportunity

Our market leading Employment, Industrial Relations and Safety (EIRS) practice is looking for a talented Solicitor to join us in Sydney on a permanent, full-time basis.

In this role you will work closely with leading Partners Miles Bastick, Michael Gonski, Nerida Jessup, Shivchand Jhinku and Drew Pearson, and undertake a range of work that supports and advises blue chip clients across multiple sectors on employment law, industrial relations, and safety matters.

What you’ll do

• Provide employment law advice on workforce strategy, enterprise bargaining, industrial disputes and industrial action;
• Advise and represent in relation to employment and industrial relations disputes (including general protections, unfair dismissals, bargaining disputes);
• Advise on the employment aspects of large‑scale M&A and projects transactions;
• Advise on compliance (including in relation to employment, anti‑discrimination, safety and payroll issues);
• Interface with industrial and safety regulators, including investigations and prosecutions, and all types of Fair Work Commission and Court proceedings.

What you’ll bring

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience delivering advice on a range of employment law and industrial relations matters from a leading top tier private practice, government, or in‑house environment.
• An excellent academic record, strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Experience in providing strategic advice on workforce strategy, enterprise bargaining, industrial disputes, industrial action, regulatory and compliance advice and all types of Fair Work Commission and Court proceedings (advocacy skills are desirable but not essential), employment aspects of large‑scale M&A transactions.
• A passion for continuous learning, and to grow as part of a market‑leading practice.
• An innovative mindset, curious about AI and emerging technologies.

What you can expect from us

• We’re a world leading international law firm with a global team of over 6,000 professionals across 26 offices. As the market leader in Australia, we are committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity and digital innovation. We are client‑centred, commercially driven, and renowned for our solution‑focused expertise. We will align your growth with our ambitions.

• We make your personal and professional growth our business. And as part of the team, our ambition is yours too. Wherever you are in your career: grow and help the firm grow with you.

• We will provide opportunities to learn on the job as well as a mix of learning opportunities tailored to you. Daily experiences, supportive challenges, team collaboration, mentors, and structured learning opportunities help you to expand your knowledge and reach your goals.

• We value your wellbeing, both at home and work and we place a strong emphasis on mental health. If you need support, you’ll have it and we’ll empower you to harness your personal strengths, navigate uncertainty, embrace opportunities, and effectively manage things within your control.

• For more benefits on offer such as our holistic wellbeing fund or home office allowance please click here.

• Join us to be part of a human, bold and outstanding team at Australia’s market leading law firm.

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values - Human, Bold, and Outstanding.

Team

Employment, Pensions & Incentives

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

Sydney

Contract type

Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.