Maddocks

Background & Legal Expertise

Bruce has over 20 years' experience advising on all aspects of employment and labour relations law. He advises on various employee benefit arrangements in a range of industries including:

  • financial services
  • insurance
  • telecommunications
  • health
  • manufacturing
  • transport
  • construction

Bruce provides strategic advice in the context of corporate projects including mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and outsourcings.

Bruce has also advised many of Australia's largest companies on senior executive appointments and terminations. He  is regarded as one of Australia's leading employment litigators, with extensive experience in managing large disputes, and has a strong background in occupational health and safety and discrimination law. Bruce has also been recognised as one of Australia's Best Lawyers (2009) in Labour and Employment.

Recent Experience

  • Investigating allegations of inappropriate workplace behaviour and performance made between senior partners of the client. The investigation included interviewing over 40 partners, employees and contractors in connection with the allegations made by the complainant. A report and associated recommendations were prepared.
  • Assisted in the investigation about and the reporting of the emergency landing of a helicopter operated by an air services operator in which our client's employees were seriously injured. This included dealing with the police, the WorkCover Authority and the Transport Safety Bureau. Recommendations included improvements to employee training, tendering arrangements and the terms on which air service operators are engaged in the future.
  • Acted for Sydney Diagnostic Services in an occupational health and safety prosecution which was a test case concerning occupational overuse syndrome allegedly suffered by white collar workers engaged in the provision of health services.
  • Acted for Health Communication Network in a test case in the New South Wales Court of Appeal on the incorporation of employer policies into contracts of employment.
  • Acted in HBOS' sale of BankWest dealing with various employment issues arising in connection with the acquisition of BankWest by the Commonwealth Bank.
  • Development of an implementation strategy, for an Australian insurer - conducted a review of over 50 employer policies and 30 contracts, advising on legal risks and appropriate alterations, and assisted in the development of an implementation strategy, for an Australian insurer.