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Employment & Contractor Advice

Melbourne Employment & Contractor Lawyers. Commercial, Practical, Decisive. 

If your business relies on people - employees, contractors or freelance talent, get advice that protects your cashflow, limits liability and removes uncertainty. Whelan Lawyers are Melbourne-based leading employment and contractor lawyers who deliver commercially-focused legal advice for employers, contractors and professional services firms across Melbourne and Victoria.

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What Does an Employment Lawyer Do for Melbourne Businesses?

 

Our employment lawyers advise businesses and employers on the legal issues involved in hiring, managing and protecting their workforce. This can include employment agreements, workplace policies, contractor arrangements, performance management, disciplinary matters, termination, workplace disputes and compliance with Australian employment laws.

Contact our employment team to get started

Call us for a complimentary initial consultation to discuss your legal matter, or simply email us and we’ll promptly call you back.

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Employment & Contractor Law Services

Business Employment Contract Lawyers 

An Employment Contract Determines How Rights, Responsibilities and Risk Are Allocated.

 

We advise on the drafting, review and negotiation of employment agreements, including:

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  • Permanent and casual employment contracts

  • Full time and part time employment agreements

  • Executive and senior management contracts

  • Fixed term employment agreements

  • Employment contracts for professional and specialist roles

  • Remuneration, commission and incentive arrangements

  • Confidentiality and intellectual property provisions

  • Restraint of trade and non solicitation clauses

  • Termination provisions and notice periods

  • Employment policies and procedures

  • Bespoke employment agreements

  • Variations to existing employment contracts

 

We assess provisions dealing with remuneration, duties, performance expectations, leave and entitlements, confidentiality, intellectual property, restraints, termination, notice periods and applicable workplace law obligations.

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Contractor Agreement Lawyers Melbourne

A Contractor Agreement Defines How Services, Payment and Commercial Risk Are Allocated

 

We advise on the drafting, review and negotiation of contractor agreements, including:

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  • Independent contractor agreements

  • Subcontractor agreements for construction and commercial projects

  • Scope of services, deliverables and performance obligations

  • Contractor fees, invoicing and payment terms

  • Variations to the scope of work

  • Project milestones, deadlines and completion requirements

  • Insurance, indemnities and liability provisions

  • Confidentiality and intellectual property ownership

  • Restraint and non solicitation clauses where appropriate

  • Termination rights, notice periods and contractual remedies

  • Contractor versus employee classification

  • Sham contracting risks and legal compliance

  • Bespoke contractor agreements and variations to existing arrangements

 

We assess provisions dealing with the scope of work, payment obligations, performance standards, variations, insurance, liability, intellectual property, confidentiality, termination and applicable legal requirements. We also consider whether the contractual terms accurately reflect the working relationship and whether the arrangement creates potential worker classification risks.

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Why choose Whelan Lawyers for employment & contractor advice in Melbourne

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  • Leading employment & contractor team: lawyers who understand modern workforce models: fixed-term, casual, gig workers and independent contractors.

  • Commercial, outcome-first advice: we don’t bury you in legal theory: we give pragmatic, enforceable documents and strategies that preserve business value.

  • No junior handballing: senior lawyers lead every matter from day one.

  • Preventative & reactive services: from drafting bulletproof contractor agreements to defending unfair dismissal and adverse action claims.

  • Transparent fees & aggressive risk management: upfront cost estimates, pragmatic settlement strategy, and assertive enforcement when required.

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Core services, employment and contractor law Melbourne

 

We provide end-to-end legal support tailored to commercial outcomes:

  • Employee contracts & contractor agreements: bespoke and template contracts, clear IP, confidentiality, restraint and payment terms.

  • Independent contractor structuring & risk assessment: worker classification, ABN vs PAYG, contractor vs employee tests, and outsourcing models.

  • Unfair dismissal & general protections (adverse action): representation at FWC, negotiation, pre-litigation strategy and settlements.

  • Enterprise agreements & modern awards: drafting, bargaining, compliance and disputes.

  • Redundancy, terminations & performance management: lawful termination process, unfair dismissal risk reduction, exit packages.

  • Confidentiality, IP & restraint of trade: draft and enforce confidentiality clauses and restraint provisions to protect client lists and trade secrets.

  • Workplace investigations & policies: impartial investigations, reports, and policy drafting (bullying, sexual harassment, misconduct).

  • Work Health & Safety (WHS) intersection advice: contractor safety obligations, documentation and regulatory risk mitigation.

  • Litigation & alternative dispute resolution: Commercial Court, FWC proceedings, mediation and arbitration.

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Typical clients we represent

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  • Small & medium enterprises (SMEs) across Melbourne and Victoria

  • Startups & scaleups employing contractors and remote teams

  • Professional services (accountants, architects, engineers)

  • Construction & trade businesses engaging subcontractors

  • Independent contractors & gig workers seeking clarity and fair terms

  • HR teams and in-house counsel needing external escalation

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How we work. Rapid, commercial framework

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  • Fast triage: immediate risk assessment (classification, limitation, urgent injunctions) and a clear “go / no-go” plan.

  • Fix the problem: bespoke agreements, termination letters, enforcement or defence strategy.

  • Future-proof: policy updates, templates, training and drafting to reduce repeat exposure.

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Take Control of Your Employment and Contractor Arrangements Today​

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Ready to protect your business and clarify your employee and contractor arrangements? Contact our team at Whelan Lawyers in Melbourne today to schedule a consultation and let us tailor employment and contractor solutions that remove risk, preserve value and drive your commercial goals. Your workforce deserves clarity, let’s get started.​

Whelan Lawyers Melbourne 

Address

Level 11/456 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000

Opening Hours

Mon - Fri

9:00 am – 5:30 pm

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