Emily Cossgrove

Partner

Emily is a trusted advisor to clients in all employee-related matters and takes a passionate and engaged approach to her work. Emily assists her clients to achieve the best commercial and practical outcomes whilst managing the complexities that often arise.

Drawing on her extensive experience in employment law and workplace relations, Emily provides invaluable advice on intricate issues governed by the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). She also prepares comprehensive executive employment arrangements and skilfully represents clients in resolving industrial disputes.

Emily’s expertise shines when conducting workplace investigations into whistleblower complaints, as well as allegations of misconduct and bullying. Her meticulous approach ensures that these sensitive matters are handled with utmost professionalism and integrity.

Additionally, Emily seamlessly collaborates with our M&A teams, regularly providing essential guidance on the employment aspects of commercial transactions, corporate restructures, and transfers of business.

Emily has worked in Australia and the UK. Prior to joining Hamilton Locke, Emily worked at King & Wood Mallesons, Minter Ellison and Taylor Wessing LLP in London. Emily also gained in-house experience with secondments to the legal teams of BHP and CBH Group.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Employment Law; Industrial Relations; Discrimination; Work Health and Safety

AWARDS

Doyles, Employment & WHS Law Rising Stars – Western Australia, 2022

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Laws – The University of Western Australia
Bachelor of Psychology – Murdoch University
Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance and Risk Management – Governance Institute of Australia
Admitted to practice in Western Australia and High Court of Australia

SELECTED REPRESENTATIONS

Drafting and negotiating a senior Executive Services Agreement and NED appointment letter for an ASX listed mining company.
Providing employment advice to a real estate company on its investment into an international infrastructure investment business, including the drafting of the employment conditions and warranties in the Share sale and Purchase Deed and advising on integration workforce issues following completion.
Conducting a whistleblower investigation into complaints of corporate misconduct for a national retail chain.
Acting in Federal Court proceedings arising from a coal mining company’s interpretation and implementation of the Black Coal Mining Award 2010.
Providing employment advice as part of a vendor due diligence process to a medical company who were proposing to sell certain shares in its Clinics to one or more new investors via a competitive bid process.
Providing advice to an ASX listed mining company on the termination of its CEO, including advice around termination entitlements and the preparation of a Separation Deed.
Advising a US technology company on its ability to pay its Australian employees in cryptocurrency under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).
Advising a disability support business in relation to a suspected breach of non-solicitation obligations by an ex-employee.
Preparing a suite of global executive employment agreements for a global mining company, including liaising with various international jurisdictions such as USA, Canada and Singapore.
Conducting a workplace investigation into allegations of bullying and harassment for an agricultural company.
Representing a large advertising company in State Administrative Tribunal and Queensland Industrial Relations Commission proceedings to defend claims of age and race discrimination made by a prospective employee.
Acting in Federal Court and Fair Work Commission proceedings in successfully defending a General Protections claim brought by a former Chief Technology Officer of a start-up technology company.
Providing advice to the administrators of an Oil & Gas company on termination of employment and employee entitlements and claims, including advice on the Fair Entitlements Guarantee legislative safety net for eligible employees.
Advising on the options available to a clinical research laboratory to bring the employment relationship to an end in circumstances where informal performance discussions had not been effective.
Acting for a manufacturing company in Fair Work Commission proceedings to resolve an unfair dismissal claim.