Workplace Relations & Safety Law

Our Workplace Relations & Safety group has full service industrial relations, employment and occupational health & safety expertise. This expertise comes from the team’s longstanding experience in a variety of top tier and in-house corporate roles. The team’s key strengths are:

  • strategic IR, enterprise bargaining and industrial litigation (including good faith bargaining, protected action and pickets)
  • corporate performance, change management and productivity
  • executive remuneration, contracts and policy
  • OHS and major incidents
  • unfair dismissal, EEO and adverse action, and
  • workplace surveillance and privacy.

‘I have experienced working with many firms and teams. The main differentiator of KHQ team is they are “Team” with its complete meaning. Every single team member knows his/her role, act as a team and support their clients in a way that doesn’t leave the client with concerns. I haven’t seen this quality of “teamwork” in many other firms.’
– Chambers & Partners – Asia Pacific 2022

“KHQ’s people are passionate about their specialty areas, but will also seek to engage and understand our business in order to understand our drivers and approach to ER, IR and WHS issues. What really sets KHQ apart is their language. While the legal aspects are always there, it is presented in a business digestible format. Equally, the firm is always willing to explore options and test areas of law. It can be exciting to work with them.”

– Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2021

Our industry experience covers a diverse field including construction, resources, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, maintenance engineering, banking and financial services, health, education, telecommunications, transport, logistics, primary industry and food processing, IT, media, property services and real estate, professional services, and retail.

We add value through insight, advice and practical steps.

Invite us out (on our time) for a site tour, a team meeting or a general get together. Our clients often tell us what a genuinely different experience it is to work with us!

 

Recognition

KHQ’s Workplace Relations & Safety team has received the following recognition:

  • Chambers & Partners: Asia Pacific Guide – Employment (2023-2024).
  • Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Leading Firm – Labour & Employment – 2017-2024.
  • Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Firm to Watch – Labour & Employment (WHS) – 2023-2024.
  • Doyles Guide: Leading Employment Law Firm (Employer Representation), Victoria (2018-2024).
  • Doyles Guide: Leading Workplace Health & Safety Law Firm (Third Tier), Victoria 2023 & 2024 (recommended from 2020-2022).
  • Best Law Firms in Australia: labour and employment law, employee benefits law, occupational health and safety law (2025).

Director, Chris Gianatti, has received multiple accolades, including:

  • Chambers & Partners: Asia Pacific Guide – Employment Law – 2019-2024.
  • Legal 500 Asia Pacific:  Leading Individual – Labour & Employment (Australia) – 2015-2024.
  • Doyles Guide: Leading Employment Lawyer (Employer Representation) Victoria, 2024 (recommended from 2018-2023).
  • The Best Lawyers™ in Australia for Labour & Employment Law – 2018-2025.
  • Lexology Client Choice: Winner – Employment & Benefits (Australia) – 2015-2017.