Employment and Discrimination Law

Your employment and discrimination law experts.

Workplace issues are often complex and emotionally charged. That’s why it’s important to have someone work in partnership with you to help you navigate that path. Our team of employment and discrimination lawyers are prepared to stand up for you, walk that path with you, and ensure you get the fair and just outcome you deserve.

At Gordon Legal, we know that work is one of the most important parts of every person’s life. We understand the fundamental importance of fair and decent treatment in the workplace. And we know how important it is to receive appropriate, compassionate representation and support in employment-related matters, particularly when things go wrong at work. Dealing with a dispute with an employer, or another employee, can be difficult, stressful and costly, and can have lasting impacts on your career, well being and sense of self.

We pride ourselves on providing our clients with dedicated, expert advice and advocacy in all areas of employment and discrimination law, in both the public and private sectors. Our lawyers are recognised nationally for their experience in the following areas:

Unfair dismissal
Workplace discrimination and equal opportunity
Sexual harassment
Workplace bullying
Workplace investigations, grievances and other disciplinary matters
Redundancy entitlements and workplace change
Advice on employment contracts
Advice on restraints of trade
Disputes relating to pay, leave and other entitlements including short term and long term incentives and bonuses
Professional regulation and discipline

Our People

Whether your issue relates to unfair dismissal, your employment contract, superannuation, discrimination, harassment or unpaid wages, in any sector, our employment lawyers will take the time to step you through your options with expert advice. Once you have that advice and information you can then make the best decisions for you and your loved ones.

Marcus Clayton

Head of Industrial Law

Marcus Clayton

Head of Industrial Law

Marcus is one of Australia’s best-known union industrial lawyers. He has represented a wide range of unions, union officials and union members in industrial litigation, penalty proceedings, two anti-union Royal Commissions, general protections matters, rules disputes, administrative law challenges, coronial inquests, contempt of court cases and criminal prosecutions.

In his over 35 years as a lawyer, Marcus has won a well-deserved reputation for his strategic, practical and industrially and politically astute advice.

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Carol Andrades

Consultant

Carol Andrades

Consultant

Carol is widely acknowledged for her expertise in anti-discrimination law and also practises in industrial and employment law. She is an honorary Senior Fellow with the University of Melbourne’s Law School, where she lectures at post-graduate level in anti-discrimination law, and is on the Editorial Board of the Employment Law Bulletin.

Carol wrote the chapter on Freedom from Discrimination and Harassment in the Australian Charter of Employment Rights. She received the President’s award from the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations for her advocacy in the Special Family Leave Test Case.

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Aron Neilson

Principal Lawyer

Aron Neilson

Principal Lawyer

Aron is a NSW Law Society Accredited Specialist in employment and industrial law and has advised senior executive and other employee clients working across the financial, property, manufacturing, health, IT, political and not-for-profit sectors. Aron has acted for some of Australia’s highest profile identities on sensitive employment law issues. In addition to his employee practice, Aron has been a trusted advisor to many trade unions often providing both strategic and practical legal advice.

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Our expert lawyers can help you with all stages of employment issues, including:

Pre-employment – negotiating your contract, conditions and advice around any restraints
On the job – help if you face discrimination, harassment, bullying or disciplinary issues, as well as access to entitlements including long service leave and parental leave
Termination of employment – if you feel like you have an unfair dismissal case, unlawful dismissal, restraint of trade issue, claim for redundancy, or a discrimination, harassment or breach of your rights case, we can help.

What you might be entitled to:

Compensation
Reinstatement
Unpaid wages
Other entitlements.
Fair treatment

Don’t delay a possible claim:

When your employment has been terminated, we can help, however, we need to act quickly. Most claims involving the termination of employment need to be made within 21 days of your last day. The best way to know if you have a claim is to call us on 1300 58 46 26 and talk to us about the next steps.

What if you have been injured in the workplace?
Information on Workers Compensation and how we can help.

How much will it cost?

In an initial appointment with one of our employment and discrimination lawyers we will review your documents, discuss your matter and provide you with advice on your options and next steps. An initial appointment can usually be arranged for a fee of $550 (including GST).

In some circumstances we can assist on a no win, no fee basis.

Why do I need an employment lawyer?

Understanding your rights can be complicated. However, despite the complications, it is vitally important that you do understand your employment rights so you can ensure you are paid correctly and treated fairly in the workplace. This is where an employment lawyer from Gordon Legal comes in. Our job is to explain your rights and entitlements in a way that you understand so you can be informed about what is best for you. Seeing an employment lawyer does not mean you have to confront your boss. Some of our clients just like to seek our advice so they know what is right and wrong. Our advice is completely confidential and we act on your instructions.

How do I know if I have suffered discrimination?

If you have suffered unfair treatment in the workplace, chances are that you have experienced unlawful discrimination, harassment and/or bullying. Many people are not aware of their rights. For example, in Victoria, there are about 19 different categories of people who are protected from discrimination. Add to that the possibility of action to stop bullying and other forms of harassment, and there is a wide range of behaviour which is covered by the law. It is always worth getting advice and making sure that you can make informed decisions, rather than wondering if there is something you can do. And always make sure you get advice sooner rather than later, because there may be time limits or time frames which may make it difficult for you to do anything if you have delayed taking action.

What are some things I can do to prepare for a consultation with an employment lawyer from Gordon Legal?

Our lawyers are skilled at listening to your story and asking the right questions to get the information they need. Do not stress if you do not have every document that you think is relevant. We can work with you. However, if you do have documents available, we often ask for a copy of any contract of employment, the name of any relevant enterprise agreements and a short outline of the issue that you are seeking advice on. This enables us to focus and make use of the time we have available in our initial consultation. But, again, don’t worry if you do not have everything. We can work with you.

Our employment and discrimination lawyers have provided advice to unions and working people for decades. We are proud to have the best and most experienced team of union dedicated lawyers in Australia. Our team, led by Senior Partner, Peter Gordon, has an unrivalled record in fighting for justice for working people.

We are proud to advocate on behalf of key unions, including the Victorian branches of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, the CFMEU Construction Division, the Electrical Trades Union, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union.

We understand and value the importance of unions in making our society fair and just and standing up for working people.

Our lawyers have been involved in key industrial litigation, including anti-union Royal Commissions.