Thomas Du

I am an associate in our International HR Services Group in Sydney, where I advise on employment and industrial law issues and disputes.

I have experience in assisting clients to draft suites of employment contracts, policies and procedures, performance management and termination documents. I also have experience with initiating, defending and reaching settlement agreements in complex proceedings across various jurisdictions in Australia, for a broad range of claims including unfair dismissal, adverse action, underpayment of wages, enforcement of restraints and discrimination. I have appeared before the Fair Work Commission and Federal Courts and am experienced in briefing and working with counsel. I can also assist clients with regulatory questions including Award coverage and interpretation issues, modern slavery and whistleblower compliance.

Through my prior broad engagements with employees in private practice, I understand the ins and outs and intricacies that businesses face on a day to day basis. I have adopted this experience to assist employers create a healthy and compliant workplace, whether that workplace be in an office space or remote, that limits exposure and risk to adverse claims. I do so by approaching matters with a specific client focus and commercial mindset to ensure that businesses can minimise the legal disruptions to their business operations.

I enjoy working with businesses, particularly start-ups, to ensure that they can rapidly adapt to the constantly evolving employment and industrial laws and watching their business flourish!

Prior to joining Bird & Bird, I advised and acted for clients in private practice.

• Salvanah Bennie v Sunnyhaven Disability Services Ltd [2021] FWC 1789