Workplace Relations & Safety Law Partner

Law Staff; Brisbane; Hybrid; AUD 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Law Staff in Brisbane is seeking an established Workplace Relations & Safety Partner to lead a premium national practice. You will advise on WHS governance, act as trusted counsel to boards, and drive high-stakes regulatory matters for major clients. A strong existing network and autonomous practice are expected.

The role offers a platform for strategic influence, collaboration across disciplines, and substantial firm resources, with flexible working arrangements and a premier CBD location.

Qualifications

• Established WHS practice with strong client relationships.
• Ability to mentor high-performing legal teams.
• Commercial acumen and governance experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead WHS and workplace relations matters for major clients.
• Advise boards and executives on governance and strategy.
• Develop cross-practice opportunities within a national platform.

Skills

WHS practice

Industrial relations

Leadership

Education

Law degree

Job description

Workplace Relations & Safety Law Partner

• Lateral Partner level role in Workplace Relations & Safety Practice
• Earning potential beyond $1 million
• Prominent national firm with premium client base and deep resources

• Lateral Partner level role in Workplace Relations & Safety Practice
• Earning potential beyond $1 million
• Prominent national firm with premium client base and deep resources

An exceptional opportunity exists for an accomplished Workplace Relations & Safety Partner to join an existing generalist Workplace & Employment Partner in a highly regarded national firm at a pivotal stage of its growth.

Your practice is likely to also be general workplace and employment law, both advisory and contentious engagements across the full employment lifecycle, yet you will have a specialist skillset advising clients on some of their most significant workplace safety and regulatory risks, including:

Health & Safety

• Acting as the trusted adviser to organisations following workplace fatalities, serious incidents and regulatory investigations, managing immediate response strategies and engagement with regulators.
• Leading complex workplace health and safety investigations, including evidence preservation, legal professional privilege, expert engagement, root cause analysis and remediation planning.
• Advising major employers, developers and project proponents on WHS governance and risk management across large-scale infrastructure, construction, transport, energy and resources projects.
• Advising on complex contractor engagement models, principal contractor obligations, supply chain risk, licensing and accreditation requirements.
• Assisting clients to design, implement and continually enhance WHS governance frameworks, safety management systems and compliance programs that align with operational and commercial objectives.
• Representing clients in high-stakes regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings, including matters involving workplace safety regulators, the Fair Work Ombudsman and other government agencies; as well as

Workplace Relations Law

• Leading industrial relations strategy for major Commonwealth and State Government infrastructure, construction and capital projects.
• Advising boards, executive leadership teams and project proponents on enterprise bargaining, workforce transformation, industrial strategy and stakeholder management.
• Acting as a trusted adviser to government agencies, statutory authorities and major employers on industrial relations governance, workforce frameworks and the management of complex employment and industrial issues across large and diverse organisations.

About You

This appointment is suited to an established practitioner seeking a platform that offers greater strategic influence, enhanced collaboration, and the resources to further develop a sophisticated practice without compromising autonomy. You bring:

• An established WHS practice supplemented by general employment law and industrial relations, as well as strong client relationships
• A collaborative approach and a genuine interest in contributing to the growth of a national practice
• Demonstrated leadership of high-performing legal teams and the ability to mentor emerging practitioners
• Commercial acumen, sound judgement and the credibility to advise boards, executives and in-house counsel
• A desire to join a firm where cross-practice collaboration generates meaningful opportunities for both you and your clients

Why This Opportunity

This is more than a lateral move, it is an opportunity to join a firm that is actively investing in the future of its Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety practice. The successful Partner will benefit from:

• A respected national platform with an established and growing Workplace practice
• Genuine cross-selling opportunities through strong referral relationships across Projects & Infrastructure, Government, Corporate, Commercial & Industrial Property Development, and Litigation
• A cohesive and collaborative partnership that values entrepreneurship without internal competition
• The autonomy to continue building your practice while being supported by experienced leadership and significant firm resources
• Flexible working arrangements that recognise the demands of a successful practice
• Premium CBD offices, market-leading technology and a culture that prioritises long-term success for both clients and partners

If you are considering whether your current platform will continue to support your ambitions over the next five to ten years, we welcome a confidential discussion.

Why Engage with Law Staff

We are the conduit for these high-level discussions. We are retained by the employer to reach out to the community and disclose sensitive strategic business information - but only to those aligned and interested persons, not our client's competitors.

For more than 30 years, senior lawyers have trusted Law Staff for confidential, well-informed career guidance. We provide:

• Clear benchmarking around Partner remuneration and earning models
• Honest insight into firm culture, integration support, and long-term retention
• Strategic assistance with lateral move positioning and business case presentation

All discussions between yourself and Law Staff remain in the vault until you advise in writing that you would like to meet the relevant Board member. References from other Partners we have appointed to the myriad of law firms are available upon request.