Jamie Robinson

Partner and Team Leader

Jamie leads the firm’s Brisbane practice having relocated to Queensland. 

Jamie brings in excess of 15 years national experience to Queensland in all aspects of employee relations. This national experience is vital to Australian organisations operating under the new Work Choices industrial relations system. 

Having graduated from the University of Western Australia with degrees in Jurisprudence, Law and Commerce, Jamie commenced practice with Freehills in 1991, shortly thereafter becoming a Certified Professional Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute. 

During his time in Perth, Jamie: 

• advised some of Perth’s largest companies (particularly in the mining and transport sectors) and assisted with the litigation against various unions and officials following the freedom of association strikes at Hamersley Iron; 

• advised in relation to various employee relations aspects of corporate acquisitions and due diligence; 

• assisted clients in relation to award compliance and defence of award and agreement breach claims; 

• advised various companies in relation to their OH&S obligations and provided representation in relation to the defence of prosecutions of those companies; and 

• provided substantial on site OH&S and risk management training to clients particularly in the mining sector. 

In 1996, Jamie moved to Sydney to expand his employee relations experience and shortly after that time left Freehills to join Harmers. Jamie became a partner of the firm in January 2000 and played a substantial role in the establishment of the firm’s Melbourne office. 

Since joining Harmers, Jamie’s practice has advised on employment, industrial relations and OH&S strategy for companies primarily in the mining, manufacturing, construction, mechanical engineering, earth moving and transport sectors. 

This advice has included:  

• downsizing of client businesses; 

• significant outsourcing of clients’ business units without disputation or loss of productivity; 

• consolidation of union representation on client sites resulting in significantly improved industrial stability; 

• representing clients in all relevant tribunals and courts in relation to all forms of employment related disputes; 

• negotiation of enterprise agreements, including continuous shift roster greenfield agreements at significant mining operations;  

• defending award breach claims; 

• development of a strategies to improve OH&S performance of various clients, including one which was repeatedly prosecuted by the relevant authorities; 

• advising and representing clients in relation to appropriate response to all forms of workplace related injury and disease (including mental illness) in all tribunals including the Coroners Court, Chief Industrial Magistrate’s Court and Industrial Relations Commission in QLD, NSW and Victoria; and 

• advising and representing clients in relation to response to strikes and secondary boycott action. 

Jamie regularly conducts employment law, workplace relations and occupational health and safety training sessions for leading Australian businesses, and regularly presents at external conferences and conventions across a broad range of workplace relations topics. Jamie also provides training to lawyers as part of their continuing CLE obligations. 

In times when stakeholder return is paramount and legal expenses are carefully scrutinised, Jamie’s practice is built around partnering with clients to provide the best commercial outcomes, ensuring maintenance of trust and confidence, as well as cost-efficient advice.

jamie.robinson@harmers.com.au