Katherine Aistrope

Katherine is a Special Counsel in the Workplace Relations and Safety Group at HWL Ebsworth. Katherine has nearly 20 years’ experience in workplace relations the majority of which has been in private practice advising employer clients. She is an experienced litigator and advocate, including appearances before the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission on a number of occasions. She is highly regarded as a lawyer by peers and clients alike.

Katherine has a breadth of practical experience, including working as a union industrial officer, within government and on a long term secondment for a large employer in the vehicle industry. She draws on that experience to provide effective, practical advice. Her clients value her ability to ‘walk’ with them and manage issues with an in-house feel, as well as providing technically astute advice and strategic advice when it is needed.

Katherine works across a range of industries, with significant experience in the food and beverages sector, disability services, construction and manufacturing.

Experience

Katherine’s recent experience includes advising:

  • A food manufacturer in relation to appeal of a decision of the Fair Work Commission in relation to interpretation of the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Manufacturing Award 2010 and successfully representing the client on appeal (including appearance before the Full Bench);
  • Various clients across a range of industries on large compliance audits and issues associated with annualised salaries, including audits of award and classification coverage;
  • Manufacturing and labour hire clients on portable long service leave schemes, including CoINVEST;
  • Employer clients in unfair dismissal proceedings, including appearances in the Fair Work Commission at first instance and on appeal;
  • Various clients on enterprise bargaining strategy, assistance with the bargaining process including drafting and advice on compliance issues;
  • A major beverage manufacturer in relation to a dispute under an enterprise agreement about whether employees could refuse to undertake training and successfully representing the client before the Fair Work Commission in arbitration of the dispute;
  • Various clients on enterprise agreement interpretation, including representation before the Fair Work Commission in disputes;
  • Employer clients on common law employment matters, including advice on post-employment restraints and misuse of confidential information; and
  • Various clients on managing ill and injured workers, including advising on issues and risks associated with anti-discrimination protections.

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