Industries
Health and community Practices
Employment and workplace relations Fay has acted for employers for over 17 years across a range of industries including professional services, recruitment, finance, entertainment, FMCG & general manufacturing, sport, health, aged care, community services and local councils focused always on the purpose and imperatives of the organisations she is servicing.
Fay advises organisational leaders and boards on all matters touching the workplace including discrimination, bullying, harassment, misconduct investigations, performance management, enterprise agreement and industrial disputes. She has extensive experience advising clients on legal issues affecting the workplace including advice to HR, C-Suite leaders and Boards on compliance with workplace laws, change management, business protection strategies and underlying cultural issues manifesting in workplace complaints. In circumstances where disputes cannot be resolved, representing employers in proceedings before Industrial tribunals including unfair dismissals, adverse action claims and restraint matters in State and Federal Courts, having executed several search orders across multiple sites with project teams of up to 18 people.
Fay is a recognised expert and go-to person on employment issues. She regularly speaks at a number of events on the topic of “people and workplace” issues; is sought for quotes on employment issues by the AFR and other publications; writes and comments on current employment trends and issues, frequently featuring on industry blogs including the Australian Human Resource Institute, HR Daily and the Mandarin; and has recently appeared on the Seven Network’s Weekend Sunrise to discuss employers’ obligations when it comes to managing mental health in the workplace. She also has a broadened appreciation for community organisations and not for profit challenges having served as Deputy Chair of Sport NSW and on the People & Culture Committee of Parramatta Mission/ Uniting Care Mental Health.
Fay was a finalist for the NSW Women Lawyers Achievement Awards – Private Practice Lawyer of the Year 2017 and was recognised for Labour & Employment Law – Sydney in The Best Lawyers in Australia 2019 and 2020 edition. She has also been a finalist for the Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year in Workplace Relations for 2017 and 2019.
Experience
Fay has extensive experience advising clients on legal issues affecting the workplace including advice to HR, C-Suite leaders and Boards on compliance with workplace laws, change management, business protection strategies and underlying cultural issues manifesting in workplace complaints. Some of Fay’s recent matters include advising:
- Suntory Groups Australian subsidiary, Cerebos ANZ, on employment issues relating to the recent sale of its branded foods and instant coffee business to US giant Kraft Heinz;
- YCG Accountants on the employment aspects of its recent sale to KPMG; and
- Local Councils in managing restructures and voluntary redundancy processes arising from recent NSW Council amalgamations.
Fay is a recognised expert and go-to person on employment issues. She regularly speaks at a number of events on the topic of “people and workplace” issues; is sought for quotes on employment issues by the AFR and other publications; writes and comments on current employment trends and issues, frequently featuring on industry blogs including the Australian Human Resource Institute, HR Daily and the Mandarin; and has recently appeared on the Seven Network’s Weekend Sunrise to discuss employers’ obligations when it comes to managing mental health in the workplace.