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Stephen Trew

Managing Partner - Sydney

Areas of Expertise

Workplace Relations & Safety

Expertise

Stephen has significant experience in all aspects of workplace relations and safety. He provides a wide range of strategic advice and protects clients' interests in all applicable Courts and Tribunals.

Experience

Stephen's experience includes:

  • advising on all termination of employment issues and procedures, including in respect of senior executives on questions concerning options, bonus entitlements, directorships and shareholdings
  • acting for employers in disputes and dismissal proceedings in Fair Work Commission
  • acting in proceedings to enforce restraint of trade and confidentiality obligations as well as defending bonus and other breach of employment contract claims
  • advising and acting for employers in respect of General Protections proceedings as well as complaints of unlawful termination and unlawful discrimination
  • working with parties prior to and following the sale of businesses to address relevant employment issues, including those that arise where there is a transfer of business
  • providing strategic advice on governance obligations in the workplace and safety content, including for Boards and senior management
  • assisting and acting in investigations and prosecutions involving WorkSafe, Comcare and the Fair Work Ombudsman
  • drafting employment contracts of all types, drafting specialised workplace policies and advising on the implementation of effective standardised engagement and induction processes
  • providing strategic advice and assistance on managing the variety of issues arising throughout the life cycle of employment. 

Stephen Trew has been named for a number of years in various guides. He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in Australia guide as a leading lawyer for Labour and Employment Law since 2017. Stephen is also listed in Who’s Who Legal: Australia 2019 directory for Labour, Employment & Benefits.

Publications

05 October 2022 - Knowledge

Further Respect@Work changes introduced to parliament

#Workplace Relations & Safety

The federal government has introduced a new bill to parliament to implement a further seven recommendations from the Respect@Work Report, significantly, a positive duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment.

27 July 2022 - Knowledge

How the implied term of ‘good faith’ can apply in employment contracts

#Workplace Relations & Safety

An employer who directed an employee to tell a lie was in breach of the implied term of good faith, although the breach was insufficient to amount to a repudiation.

23 March 2022 - Knowledge

Spilling the beans: Waiver of privilege for your investigation reports

#Workplace Relations & Safety

A recent Federal Court decision has provided a helpful reminder that a document may start out as being subject to a claim for legal professional privilege, but this can be waived by subsequent conduct and ‘spilling the beans’.

16 February 2022 - Knowledge

NSW Government Bulletin

#Government, #Workplace Relations & Safety

A recent case before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal demonstrates the risks of unlawful age discrimination and the need for an employer to treat each job applicant with respect.

22 September 2021 - Knowledge

Court finds employer’s inaction can result in adverse action

#Workplace Relations & Safety

A recent decision by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has made it clear that inaction, or the act of not doing something, can still give rise to adverse action.

01 September 2021 - Knowledge

Overseas employment found not to count towards long service leave

#Workplace Relations & Safety

The Victorian Court of Appeal has ruled that two employees' service in India does not count towards their long service leave entitlements in Victoria because their overseas employment had no connection with Victoria.

01 September 2021 - Knowledge

NSW Government Bulletin

#Government, #Workplace Relations & Safety

The High Court will soon hear the Commissioner of Police’s (NSW)’s appeal on whether decisions made by the Commissioner to medically retire police officers are excluded from the unfair dismissal regime under the Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW).