Workplace & Employment Law

We work with clients to create positive workplaces that embrace diversity, are inclusive and equitable. We support clients to avoid workplace issues becoming legal issues and disputes.

However, where legal issues or disputes emerge our team provides legal advice and representation to achieve your objectives.

Violet Co supports both employers and employees in workplace and employment law issues. It is our bread and butter.

Principal Solicitor Karen Iles is recognised for her expertise in these areas:

  • Private Practitioner of the Year (2023) and Finalist Woman Lawyer of the Year (2023) - NSW Women Lawyers Association

  • Nationally Accredited Mediator and is a mediator listed on the Law Society of NSW mediator panel.

  • Member of the Law Society of NSW Employment Law Panel

  • General Editor First Nations Law Bulletin (Lexis Nexis)

Why choose Violet Co for workplace and employment law services?

Legal advice and representation in workplace matters

Violet Co supports both employers and employees in workplace and employment law issues.

Here’s a summary of the types of matters we support our clients with:

  • Workplace and employment law is our bread and butter at Violet Co. We support both employers and employees.

    • Agreements and contracts

    • Disputes

    • Legal advice and representation

  • Workplace investigations can illuminate the heart of the matter and guide Management action. Conducted by independent lawyers, enabling our clients to utilise legal privilege, our team use trauma informed approaches. Principal Solicitor Karen Iles is an Aboriginal woman and brings a cultural lens to the investigative process to ensure a fair process for all. Visit our dedicated page and brochure on Violet Co’s workplace investigation services.

  • Workplace mediation can restore workplace harmony, professional relationships and/or improve communication to “agree to disagree” in a constructive way. Importantly mediation can avoid parties becoming entrenched in a “position” resulting in litigation, hostility and adversarial approaches. Principal Solicitor Karen Iles is a Nationally Accredited Mediator and embraces the opportunity to support clients with mediation as an alternative to litigation. Mediation can be between team members, management and a team member, board members, the organisation and an external party. Visit our dedicated page and brochure on Violet Co’s mediation services. Karen Iles is a mediator listed on the Law Society of NSW mediator panel.

  • Policies and compliance are important to support workplace culture, gender equality, diversity and inclusion and of course legal compliance. We can support your Human Resources team to develop policies, conduct workplace consultations to inform policy development and create policies to suit your workplace culture, purpose and the law.

  • Unfair dismissals and workplace bullying and harassment legal advice and representation for both employers and employees.

  • Discrimination, sexual harassment and assault legal advice and representation for both employers and employees.

  • Domestic family and sexual violence and the workplace is an areas that employers are increasingly seeking to understand. Violet Co supports clients to understand, and respond to, the changing legislative environment, best practice and social expectations. There are so many things workplaces can do to support victim/survivors, family members and even those who use violence in their relationships. Workplaces can be sites of support and change in society. Book an appointment to find out how the Violet Co team can help your understanding of, and response to, the law, policy and social environment.

  • Corporate governance and company secretary services for organisations owned and/or led by women and/or First Nations peoples. Of course we can provide these services to any client - however, we specifically link our policy expertise in gender and First Nations issues to the way we support Boards. Our work to strengthen businesses owned by First Nations Women Entrepreneurs with legal advice in this area is one way we contribute to our social purpose.

  • Risk, strategy, policy and programs go hand in hand with legal matters in the workplace. Our consulting services in this area are informed by our legal expertise and the experiences of our clients in these areas. We believe in blending legal and consulting advice so that workplaces have holistic solutions that speak to the whole person and whole organisation. Visit our dedicated page on Violet Co’s consulting services for organisations and businesses.

New Client Forms

For individuals or organisations seeking legal advice, assistance and representation, please click the button below to fill in our form.