Employment and Workplace
Workplace conflict impacts staff wellbeing, engagement and productivity. We partner with clients to manage complex issues arising in the workplace. When claims arise, we’ve got your back, with significant experience acting in unfair dismissal, adverse action, unlawful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying, underpayment, breach of contract and restraint of trade proceedings.
Workplace advisory
We partner with clients to deliver pragmatic plain-English advice across all areas of employment and workplace law, including managing performance, misconduct, discipline, and termination of employment and managing ill and injured workers, award-interpretation, business protection, and to drafting best-practice employment contracts, independent contractor agreements and workplace policies.
Workplace compliance
Australian employment laws are complex. Investing the time to get the basics right is one of the most important things an employer can do ensure compliance and limit the risk of claims including prosecution for underpayments and prosecution. With our expert knowledge of workplace laws, we support your organisation to meet its workplace compliance obligations.
Workplace strategy
We support employers to structure their workforce to meet their evolving commercial needs, delivering expert advice on labour engagement models, enterprise bargaining, workplace change, restructuring and redundancy, insourcing and outsourcing, transfers of business and transfers of employment.
Workplace disputes and litigation
Workplace conflict negatively impacts staff wellbeing, engagement and productivity. We have experience supporting clients in complex proceedings relating to unfair dismissal, adverse action, unlawful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying, underpayment, breach of contract and restraint of trade.
Workplace investigations
Complaints and disclosures involving allegations of work-related bullying, sexual harassment, discrimination, fraud, or other worker misconduct require prompt, professional and impartial investigation to protect the best interests of all parties. Our team has extensive experience conducting sensitive workplace investigations, and advising on the effective conduct of workplace investigations and their associated risks.
Workplace training
Our employment lawyers are experts in their field. We create and deliver bespoke workplace training sessions to support workplace law compliance and reduce claims. From our popular appropriate workplace behaviour sessions addressing discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying laws, to tailored HR team training on understanding your award compliance, our experienced and engaging lawyers deliver practical guidance with all the war stories necessary to drive the required message home.
About Stephen Schoninger
Stephen Schoninger is a Partner and Head of the Employment & Workplace law practice at Avant Law, based in Sydney. Stephen has over 20 years’ experience practising exclusively in employment, industrial relations and discrimination laws. Stephen is called on for his ability to plainly advise on and pragmatically apply legal principles to manage and resolve complex issues arising in the workplace. Stephen advises employers and employees in the private and public sectors on all areas of workplace law and is an experienced litigator of work-related claims. Stephen also conducts workplace investigations and delivers workplace compliance training. He regularly presents seminars on topical employment and workplace law issues.
Disclaimers
Avant Law Pty Limited is an incorporated legal practice and not a partnership. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. Legal practitioners employed by Avant Law are members of the scheme.