Sarah-Jayne Rayner

Special Counsel

Sarah-Jayne is an accomplished Work, Health Safety (WHS) lawyer with more than 11 years’ experience in litigious, regulatory and strategic, WHS matters. She has acted for public and private sector clients, officers and individuals across a wide range industry sectors in all Australian jurisdictions.

Throughout her career SJ has acted for clients during regulatory investigations and WHS / resources sector prosecutions. She provides pragmatic advice and support to clients assisting them to achieve successful outcomes.

SJ also has experience in the development and implementation of safety management systems, procedures and policies, due diligence frameworks, undertaking legal compliance audits, emergency response, risk management and incident investigation in the context of general WHS laws and other workplace regulatory sectors including maritime safety, education and care services, aged care, mining and explosives, transport safety including road, rail and air.

Prior to joining Hamilton Locke SJ was a Senior Associate at Kingston Reid. She has also worked for several leading global and national firms.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Work Health and Safety and Regulatory Law.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Arts – University of Newcastle
Master of Occupational Health & Safety – University of Newcastle
Bachelor of Laws – Macquarie University
Admitted to practice in Queensland (as an interstate practitioner admitted in NSW) and the High Court of Australia

SELECTED REPRESENTATIONS

Acting for individuals charged under Resource Safety Laws, including successfully defending individuals facing multiple charges and resolving matters on technical pre-trial applications,
Providing due diligence training to private sector Boards and executive teams.
Advising on the development and implementation of safety management systems, including industry best practice and legislative requirements.
Acting for a local government in negotiating an enforceable undertaking in respect of an alleged breach of WHS Laws.
Acting in coronial inquests arising from workplace fatalities, sporting events and in respect of fatalities alleged to have arisen from the conduct of a business or undertaking.
Acting for a national childcare provider across several jurisdictions in response to alleged breaches of Education and Care Services National Laws and responding to information disclosure requests under the Australian Privacy Principles.
Providing immediate advice and support to body corporates and public sector clients following serious workplace incidents including fatalities.