One of the nation’s pre-eminent workplace relations and employment lawyers, Paul Burns, has joined Australia’s leading independent law firm, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, as Partner in Melbourne.
The appointment of Paul, formerly a senior partner in Herbert Smith Freehills' industrial relations practice, is a key step in Corrs’ ongoing drive to enhance its elite employment and workplace relations practice as it assists clients shape the future of their organisations and swiftly respond to the ever increasing demands of a modern, globalised economy.
Paul has deep experience and expertise in workplace reform projects, crisis management, dispute resolution and organisational restructures, providing high level advice to many of Australia's leading corporates for more than 25 years. He is recognised for his strategic thinking and innovative solutions and also has a deep understanding of the complexities of public sector employment arrangements.
He services significant clients in a wide range of industries around Australia, including mining, retail, logistics, energy, manufacturing, finance, telecommunications, hospitality and government.
“Businesses and organisations in virtually every industry and sector are under enormous pressure given their exposure to employment, labour and safety issues,” said Corrs Chambers Westgarth CEO and Partner John W.H. Denton AO.
“Traditional employment models are being tested by hyper competitive landscape, fragmentation of labour, globalisation and the growing impact of the digital economy and automation. Many businesses are faced with unwinding unsustainable and non-competitive labour enterprise agreements to reduce labour costs and improve flexibility.
“With Paul joining our firm in a role with a strong national focus, our employment and workplace relations team is now better than ever equipped to offer real commercial insight and solutions to employers about their people, threats to their brand, business and reputation from employment litigation, organised labour and restructuring.
“Paul’s admission to the partnership enhances our firm’s strategic objective to maintain Corrs’ employment, labour and safety practice’s reputation as amongst the leading offerings in Australia.”