Department profile
Ashurst Perkins Coie – London, New York, Seattle, Sydney

Employment: Victoria

Asia-Pacific Guide 2026 : Australia


Ashurst Perkins Coie – London, New York, Seattle, Sydney

Rankings

About

Provided by Ashurst Perkins Coie – London, New York, Seattle, Sydney

Department: Employment

Partners in this department: 12

No of employees in department: 68

Ashurst Perkins Coie's Employment practice has been a leader in the Australian market for over 20 years.

Led by Stephen Woodbury, the practice includes the highly respected Ian Humphreys and Jennie Mansfield and enjoys a depth of experience through its Senior Statesmen Adrian Morris, Helen McKenzie, Richard Bunting and Rob Lilburne. Other key members include Jane Harvey, Jon Lovell and James Hall.

We assist clients in all aspects of workplace relations; employment, executive remuneration and benefits, industrial relations, workplace safety, discrimination and workplace training, including:

  • Wage underpayment compliance: Advising large companies (including Woolworths and Qantas) about rectification programs to identify and rectify past underpayments, negotiate enforceable undertakings with the Fair Work Ombudsman, and embed compliance for the future.   
  • Industrial relations, enterprise bargaining and class actions:  Advising leading employers including Airservices and Workpac to unlock productivity through enterprise bargaining, and dealing with industrial action, union strategies and class actions.  
  • Work Health and Safety: Advising many public and private sector employers on safety incidents, coronial inquiries and fatalities and addressing their Boards about WHS duties. 
  • Workplace investigations: Advising on and conducting investigations for clients including AGL and Qantas.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Employment: Victoria - Australia

Band 2

Band 2


What the Team is Known For

Ashurst has a well-resourced employment group with an impressive reputation for large-scale industrial relations disputes and major company restructurings. The team is called upon by many of Australia's largest energy and transport companies for its expertise in developing enterprise bargaining agreements. It is well placed to represent clients in employee class actions and in disputes with unions. The firm acts for major clients on the employment aspects of M&A and compliance, and advises employers on health and safety issues.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Ashurst acted for Uber in Federal Court proceedings concerning the status of drivers using the Uber Rides platform and whether they are employees or independent contractors.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • What sets Ashurst apart is its high quality advice, international connections and deep expertise.

    Employment: Victoria respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Ashurst are market leaders in dealing with complex industrial relations litigation. They are also incisive, collaborative and exceptional with clients.

    Employment: Victoria respondentAsia-Pacific

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Eminent PractitionersLea Constantine
    Eminent PractitionersLea Constantine

    Lea Constantine

    Lea Constantine is well known in the work health and safety space and acts for a range of public and private sector clients on compliance, investigations and prosecutions relating to serious workplace incidents.
  • Band 2Scarlet Reid
    Band 2Scarlet Reid

    Scarlet Reid

    Scarlet Reid is well regarded in the market for her depth of knowledge in workplace health and safety. She often advises government clients on complex regulatory topics as well as on high-profile and fatal workplace incidents.
    • Scarlet is a very good and credible partner.

      Employment: Victoria respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Band 2Stephen Woodbury
    Band 2Stephen Woodbury

    Stephen Woodbury

    Stephen Woodbury acts for prominent international and domestic companies on industrial relations strategies and enterprise bargaining.
    • Stephen Woodbury is an excellent operator.

      Employment: Victoria respondentAsia-Pacific
    • Stephen Woodbury knows our organisation well and understands the culture and policies. When it comes to employment law we have always felt in safe hands with him.

      Employment: Victoria respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Band 3Jennie Mansfield
    Band 3Jennie Mansfield

    Jennie Mansfield

    Jennie Mansfield advises on a range of compliance matters, including award compliance and repayment programmes, with a particular focus on the financial and insurance sectors.
    • Jennie is a highly experienced lawyer. She is commercial, responsive, understands our needs and is great to work with.

      Employment: Victoria respondentAsia-Pacific
  • Band 3Jon Lovell
    Band 3Jon Lovell

    Jon Lovell

    Jon Lovell is a Melbourne-based employment partner. He advises a string of notable clients on matters including enterprise bargaining, industrial relations and employment disputes.

    • Jon Lovell is technically excellent and super practical.

      Employment: Victoria respondentAsia-Pacific
    • Jon Lovell is an excellent lawyer and a go-to trusted adviser.

      Employment: Victoria respondentAsia-Pacific

Ranked Individuals at Ashurst Perkins Coie – London, New York, Seattle, Sydney (5)

Australia

Members

Provided by Ashurst Perkins Coie – London, New York, Seattle, Sydney

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