Partner

Harold Downes

Harold has more than 30 years’ experience advising in industrial relations, employment and work health and safety (WHS) regulatory law. He was one of only four “Leading Individuals” listed in the Asia-Pacific Legal 500 ‘s inaugural WHS review in 2016, a rank which he continues to hold today.

Harold is also listed as a “Pre-eminent” lawyer in Queensland by Doyle’s Guide for his WHS expertise.

Clients describe Harold as “calm and level-headed in a crisis” as well as “courageous, intelligent and focused on excellence” and an advisor whom clients “have on [their] speed-dial.”

Harold lectures at the UQ School of Earth and Environmental Science on the subjects of Crisis Management and Personal WHS Liability and the QUT Faculty of Health – Health, Safety and Environment on the subjects of Contractor Management, Crisis Management and Officer Due Diligence.

Expertise

Harold’s expertise includes:

  • Crisis response and incident management
  • Board governance and compliance advice
  • Contractor management strategies
  • Responding to Improvement and Prohibition Notices
  • Workplace investigations including performance management and terminations (award covered and executive)
  • Restraints of trade
  • Managing long term absenteeism for ill and injured employees and poor performance
  • Responding to industrial action, protects and disputes
  • Right of entry and sham contracting
  • Enterprise Agreements

Recent Projects

  • Conducting WHS Due Diligence a number of reviews to assess director compliance and recommending areas of improvement and the development of a ‘defence brief’ and due diligence action plans, including for some of Australia’s largest public and private companies.
  • Successfully defending a large manufacturing operation in relation to a WHS prosecution following a fatality.
  • Successfully defending a series of general protections claims brought by middle and senior management employees following a restructure.
  • Scoping, costing and completing a workplace bullying investigation involving a CEO and the executive team, within one week and under budget, resulting in no departures or litigation.
  • Advising a national scaffolding supplier on compliance with the Building Code.

Professional Memberships / Accreditation & Activities

  • Ranked Lawyer (Band 2), Health & Safety, Chambers Asia Pacific
  • Leading Individual, Labour and Employment, Workplace Health & Safety, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
  • Leading Lawyer, Workplace Health & Safety, Doyle’s Guide
  • Pre-eminent Lawyer, Workplace Health & Safety, Doyle’s Guide
  • Recommended Lawyer, Employment Law, Doyle’s Guide
  • Recognised Lawyer, Labour and Employment Law & Occupational Health and Safety Law, The Best Lawyers in Australia
  • Harold qualified as a graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course in November 2018

location

Brisbane / Perth

Thinking

Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
National Workplace Health & Safety Update...
Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
Officer Prosecutions – some good and bad...
Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
CASUAL CONVERSION – A PRACTICAL GUIDE ...
Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
High Court determines who is a ‘casual’...
Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
The proper use of rolling maximum term...
Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
The vexing issue of COVID vaccinations:...
Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
The ‘Right to Disconnect’: should...
Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
Employment and Safety Law 2020 Review and...
Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
Worker sacked for serious safety breach still...
Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
The extraordinarily high cost of dismissing a...
Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
Don’t just be negligent, be reckless...
MO
COVID-19
Decision confirms dangers of engaging casual...
MO
COVID-19
The legal Rules clarifying aspects of...
MO
COVID-19
JobKeeper: Amendment to the Fair Work Act...
Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
Workplace relations, employment and safety...
Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
Sexual harassment is costly for all
Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
The 2019 Election – Industrial...
Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
Costs aren’t completely out of the...
Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety
When you can’t dismiss a probationary...

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Lisa Anaf

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