Richard Gunningham
Richard leads the employment, industrial relations and safety practice at Batch Mewing Lawyers. He delivers practical and strategic solutions to employers of all sizes on matters ranging from day-to-day human resources issues to complex collective disputes.
Richard advises clients on how to build their relationship with their workforce on an individual and collective level. He prioritises avoiding and managing disputes but if a dispute escalates he is an experienced litigator focused on delivering his clients’ preferred outcomes.
Richard has deep experience working with clients in the building, construction and infrastructure sectors and beyond, including in the labour hire, transport, maritime, mining, government, real estate, retail and health industries.
Working in house in “front line” industrial relations roles has given Richard the negotiating and advocacy skills he brings to his practice. He appreciates the value of concise and practical advice.
Richard’s experience includes:
- Industrial Relations: Planning, strategy, union relations, right of entry, enterprise agreements (drafting, negotiating, approval and disputes) and compliance with the ABCC’s Code for the Tendering and Performance of Building Work 2016.
- Employment: Managing and resolving any issue relating to the employment relationship including conduct and performance, termination of employment, discrimination and illness and injury.
- Litigation: Bringing and responding to claims of a breach of confidentiality and/or restraint of trade, underpayment, breach of Modern Award, sham contracting, injurious falsehood and interference with contractual relations.
- Safety: advising and training employers on their duties, incident prevention and incident management.
