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Libby Pallot

Principal

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws (Honours)

  • Aged Care
  • Health
  • Water
  • Government
  • Not-for-Profit
  • Disability
  • Workplace Relations
  • Employment and Safety
  • Anti-Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
  • Employment Advice
  • Employment Disputes
  • Equal Opportunity and Discrimination
  • Industrial Relations
  • Workplace Health and Safety
  • Workplace Agreements

Libby is the head of Russell Kennedy’s Workplace Relations, Employment and Safety practice and a partner of the firm. She has worked at Russell Kennedy for almost 25 years. Libby is an experienced practitioner in the area of employment law and industrial relations.

Her employment law experience is vast and she concentrates on providing advice concerning performance and disciplinary actions and all matters involving the workplace including contractors, human resources policies and manuals. Libby regularly presents as an expert on employment law and industrial relations to numerous sectors. She was recognised by Best Lawyers 2014 - 2024 for expertise in Employee Benefits Law and Occupational Health and Safety Law.

Experience

  • Acting on significant cases where there are employment issues involving a breach, awards and enterprise agreements, claims, unfair dismissals, disciplinary action, key personnel, reforms, investigations, coronial inquests and complaints to Ahpra
  • Advising on all aspects of employment law including preparation of employment contracts interpretation of contracts, general advice on performance and disciplinary action
  • Advising in the allied health industries including home care, caring for people with disabilities, labour hire services and community care related areas. This includes advice on minimum wage, low paid bargaining, award coverage and occupational health and safety issues
  • Advising and preparing human resources policies and manuals
  • Advising on termination of employment including summary dismissal, performance related issues and redundancy, preparation of matters and appearing in Courts and Tribunals including the Fair Work Commission
  • Advising on Awards, enterprise agreements, industrial disputes and Fair Work Act 2009
  • Advising on equal opportunity matters, anti-discrimination and sexual harassment preparation of matters for hearing in VCAT, AHRC and VEOHRC
  • Advising on privacy issues concerning the workplace
  • Presenting seminars and proposals on employment law and industrial relations including at national and state conferences in the aged care and retirement living sectors
  • Writing articles on employment law and industrial issues for various media publications
  • Advising corporate clients including accounting firms, IT businesses, recruitment companies, engineering businesses, media and public relations
  • Acting for clients in the property industry advising in relation to issues involving Award coverage, sales commission, safety issues and restraint provisions

Leadership

  • Member, Victorian Women's Lawyers
  • Board Member, Australasian College for Emergency Medicine
  • Ranked as Leading Employment Lawyer by Doyle's Guide in Victoria, 2024
  • Recognised by Best Lawyers for expertise in Employee Benefits Law (since 2014), and in Occupational Health and Safety Law (since 2014)
  • Graduate and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Provider of pro-bono services to various, organisations, individuals, including Footscray Legal Service, Legal Assistance Scheme and PILCH
  • Former Board Member, Russell Kennedy Lawyers 
  • Former Board Member, Uniting AgeWell (2006 - 2016)
  • Former Committee Member, Discrimination & Equal Opportunity Committee Law Institute of Victoria