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Emma Purdue

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With over a decade of experience, Emma's practice covers all aspects of workplace relations and employment law, with a particular focus on discrimination, human rights, disputes, investigations and training.

Experience

Emma's legal career has seen her working on a range of significant matters, from the High Court of Australia to a remote Indigenous community in the Northern Territory.

Driven by an interest in discrimination law, Emma undertook further studies, completing a Masters of Human Rights Law in 2017.

Emma's aim is always to provide advice and support in a manner that is practical and sensitive to the unique personalities and needs of her clients.

Career highlights

Emma's experience includes:

  • instructing in the landmark Barclay case before the High Court of Australia regarding the protection of union representatives under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)
  • defending a major Australian university and its employees against allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination and victimisation before the Federal Court of Australia
  • conducting investigations into alleged misconduct in the Victorian public sector
  • working in-house to advise a Victorian public sector client on change management and redundancy
  • drafting a handbook on discrimination law for the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
  • acting pro bono for a remote Indigenous community in a discrimination claim against the Northern Territory government
  • designing, tailoring and delivering training for clients and their staff on various topics including social media use, ethics and appropriate workplace behaviour.

Insights by Emma