About Tom
Tom is a Special Counsel specialising in Work Health and Safety, Employment Relations and Government Focused Law.
Tom acts for both private and public sector clients in relation to WHS Law, Rail Safety Law and Heavy Vehicle National Law. This includes front-end advice, responding to major incidents, enforcement and prosecutions, and internal and external reviews of regulator actions and decisions.
Tom advises and appears in Court and Tribunals in relation to the full spectrum of Employment Relations Law, including preparing and negotiating employment contracts, advising on employment structures and termination, dealing with issues of anti-discrimination and harassment, and commencing and defending litigation in relation to these issues.
A key focus of Tom’s practice is State and Federal Government. Tom has an understanding of the unique environment within which Government operates, and applies this regularly with State and Commonwealth clients. Tom has experience in a wide range of Government specific law, including administrative and judicial review litigation, large scale restructuring of Government entities and the design and implementation of enforcement and compliance regimes. Tom commenced his career as a Senior Investigator for Commonwealth WHS regulator, Comcare. In private practice, Tom has completed secondments to the NSW Police Force and the Commonwealth Department of Communications and the Arts, in senior legal positions.
Specialisations
Experience
Australian Rail Track Corporation Limited
Advising on the $10 billion dollar Inland Rail Project, including a 1700km freight rail line, which will see freight delivered from Melbourne to Brisbane, via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
Sydney Trains
Advising on one of the first reported external review applications of a SafeWork NSW inspector’s decision relating to Health and Safety Representatives. The decision dealt with untested provisions under the Model WHS Law relating to union provided HSR training.
Taronga Zoo
Acting as lead investigator for a SafeWork NSW investigation following a serious incident involving an African elephant crushing a zookeeper.
Rail Transport Operator
Advising on Comcare investigation following the amputation of a worker’s leg by a piece of moving plant.
Mining company
Advising on two separate fatal accidents, one double fatal fall from heights and a single fatal accident arising from a mud rush.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Acting in national review of construction and procurement contracts relating to the WHS Law, including drafting state specific schedules on state and territory WHS and OHS Law, and drafting clauses which practically manage the interaction of these laws with the Commonwealth WHS Law.