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 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?

Principal Solicitor Karen Iles commenced her work in workplace, employment and industrial relations in 2001. Initially working to represent employees with Trade Unions Karen has diversified her practice, working in house, in private practice and now representing both employers and employees.
Karen’s expertise has been recognised in the profession:
- Private Practitioner of the Year (2023) and Finalist Woman Lawyer of the Year (2023) - Women Lawyers Association of NSW
- Participant in the Australian Institute of Employment Rights Annual Ron McCallum Employment Law Debate (2023)
- Committee member Law Society of NSW Employment Law Committee
- General Editor First Nations Law Bulletin (Lexis Nexis)
- Karen Iles is listed on the Law Society of NSW mediator panel.
Our fee structure is competitive. We offer discounts for non-profit and social enterprise clients.
We are part of the NSW Government panel for management consulting services - enabling us to provide strategic advice to NSW Government Departments and Agencies.
We believe in providing holistic workplace, employment, industrial relations, inclusion, diversity and equity advice.
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.
As a practice we are particularly concerned with supporting change to enhance the lives of women and/or First Nations people. We enjoy applying this lens to the legal and consulting advice we provide our clients.
Our expertise in this area - is unique.
Violet Co is an Indigenous owned and led legal practice - we are the only Indigenous owned and led legal practice in Australia with a focus on workplace and employment law. We are certified as 100% Indigenous owned (Karen Iles is a Dharug Aboriginal woman) by Supply Nation.
Violet Co is an Indigenous owned and led legal practice - we are the only Indigenous owned and led legal practice in Australia with a focus on workplace and employment law. We are certified as 100% Indigenous owned (Karen Iles is a Dharug Aboriginal woman) by Supply Nation.
By incorporating Indigenous businesses into your suppliers and panels you are:
- For every dollar of revenue, Indigenous businesses create $4.41 of economic and social value - Supply Nation Sleeping Giant Report
Violet Co Legal & Consulting is a certified Social Enterprise with Social Traders.
We are a social Enterprise because more than 50% of our profits go back to community and our social purpose.
The business case for social enterprise procurement (Author: Social Traders)
By allocating a portion of procurement spend to social enterprises, business and government have changed the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the country. But buying from social enterprise also makes good business sense:
- Community-focused supply chains are more robust. Many businesses have found themselves vulnerable when offshore supply chains collapsed. The crisis underlined the limitations and fragility of global supply chains. Building a diverse and local supply chain will de-risk your business.
- Future employees are increasingly expecting their employer to have a purpose beyond profit. Making a positive contribution to communities boosts staff engagement and attracts the best talent.
- Good businesses build customer demand and brand loyalty. The current crisis has brought into stark relief the importance of businesses facing the reality of the situation with authenticity and compassion. The businesses that invest now in growing and showcasing their purpose will create stronger brand equity.
- Governments will be looking for the private sector to partner with them in delivering positive social outcomes. Delivering social impact is becoming an increasingly important factor in winning contracts with Government.
Violet Co Legal & Consulting is a member of the NSW Government Performance Management Scheme Panel. This enables NSW Government Department and Agencies to procure advisory services easily. Contact us for further information.

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.