Chair:Elizabeth Aitken

Liz is experienced in commercial, employment, IR and workplace safety law. She handles the full range of employment-related claims, including unfair dismissal, adverse action, discrimination, workplace bullying, sexual harassment and underpayment, and advises on all workforce management issues including management of sick, injured and underperforming workers, workplace investigations, the application of industrial instruments such as modern awards and enterprise agreements, transfers of business, restraints of trade, work health and safety, workers compensation and sham contracting. She routinely prepares contracts to regulate employment, independent contracting and other labour arrangements. Liz is active in industrial relations and industry groups, including as an Executive Committee Member of the Law Institute of Victoria's Workplace Relations Section since 2013. She regularly facilitates staff training workshops and presents at professional conferences. In November 2015, Liz was named 'Young Gun of the Year' at the Australian Women in Law Awards in recognition of her professional achievements. In 2018, she became the youngest person promoted to partnership within Australian firms participating in the Australian Financial Review annual legal partnership survey.

Jennifer Bourke

Jennifer advises both public and private sector clients in relation to the full range of employment and industrial relations issues, including industrial disputes, general protections claims, contractual disputes, unfair dismissal claims, underpayments, sexual harassment claims, bullying complaints, discrimination claims, managing ill and injured workers, enterprise bargaining, and general employment matters. Jennifer has extensive experience acting for Catholic schools in relation to allegations of reportable conduct, including managing interactions with the Commission for Children and Young People and providing advice in relation to investigations into reportable allegations. Jennifer also has experience in conducting workplace investigations herself and managing investigations conducted by external investigators on behalf of clients. Jennifer regularly advises the Department of Education and Training and other Victorian Government departments in relation to sensitive employment matters, including investigations into the conduct of senior employees and statutory office holders. She is an experienced litigator who regularly advises clients in relation to sensitive litigation in various courts and tribunals, with much of her work requiring skilful witness management.

Michaela Moloney

Michaela Moloney has over 15 years expertise acting in all aspects of employment, industrial and discrimination law matters. A key part of her practice includes providing litigation support for public sector organisations. This has included defending claims on behalf of the Department of Education. Michaela conducts workplace investigations and has also assisted a number of clients manage outsourced investigations. Michaela also provides advice in relation to performance management, disciplinary issues, managing ill and injured workers, enterprise bargaining and termination of employment for a number of government departments, agencies and public sector bodies. Michaela manages a large litigation practice and has developed significant expertise in quickly identify key legal issues in dispute, working with key stakeholders to determine an appropriate litigation strategy and where matters are unable to resolve, determining an approach to proceedings to ensure that they can be run in a cost effective manner and taking into account organisational objectives.. Michaela has successfully defended a number of large employment claims unfair dismissal, discrimination, general protections and breach of contract in the state courts and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia and Federal Court of Australia. Michaela is particularly highly regarded by clients for her ability to think outside the square taking a practical and proactive approach in seeking to achieve a favourable and early resolution of matters. In addition, Michaela is a mediator and is able to facilitate mediations in all areas of employment and industrial law including bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment. For over 10 years Michaela has been a director on the Board of a secondary college and has chaired the Board for the past 3 years giving her significant insights into issues currently facing secondary schools.

Novotel Melbourne on Collins

270 Collins Street
MELBOURNE 3000
VIC

Ph: 96698637-03
e: Amy Muscat

Directions:

The Novotel Melbourne on Collins is centrally located above the Australia

on Collins Shopping Centre situated between Swanston & Elizabeth

Streets, Melbourne. The nearest train stations are Flagstaff, Spencer,

Flinders or Melbourne Central. Trams frequently travel along Collins Street.

Parking: Parking is available at several public parking stations located in

Collins, Elizabeth and Little Collins Streets.