Joshua Handley

Joshua has been working in employment and industrial law since 2016. His passion for this area is evident in his meticulous approach to each case. He has successfully represented clients in a diverse range of matters, ranging from industrial disputes, alleged breaches of industrial instruments, and claims for unlawful discrimination, unfair dismissals, and general protections. 

Joshua’s well-rounded experience enables him to provide tailored legal strategies that align with his clients' unique needs and objectives. He has provided invaluable advice to clients in various industries, including state and federal government, higher education, health, aged care, and disability services.

Prior to joining Bartier Perry, Joshua worked for a boutique law firm specialising in employment and discrimination law. Joshua has also worked as an Associate to a Deputy President of the Fair Work Commission. 

 

Qualifications/Memberships

• Bachelor of Creative Arts/Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (University of Wollongong)

• Juris Doctorate (with Distinction) (University of New South Wales)

• Admission to the Supreme Court of NSW

• Admission to the High Court of Australia

 

A word from Joshua

Employment law oscilates between highly commercial matters and those that are most personal to people. Practitioners in this area are privileged to be invited into assisting clients with some of the most sensitive issues they or their businesses will ever face. Our clients often have to navigate complex regulatory requirements while managing the day-to-day experience of what happens in the workplace. 

I am always grateful for the opportunity to help guide organisations through these challenges, defend their interests, and move them towards more positive outcomes.  

          
Career highlights

• Appearing before the Fair Work Commission and successfully defending multiple unfair dismissal claims.

• Successfully defeating a claim for unlawful disability discrimination before the Federal Court of Australia and establishing precedent that clarifies the meaning of “reasonable adjustments”.

• Redesigning numerous enterprise agreements to remove complexity, simplify language, and promote productivity.

• Advising a large private sector client on a site closure, the redeployment of its workforce, and subsequent redundancies without any disputes or claims being brought.

• Advocating before NCAT and having a client’s administrative decision affirmed by the Tribunal. 

 

Specific areas of focus

• Appearing as an advocate for clients before State and Federal industrial tribunals.

• Preparing suites of customised employment contracts that meet clients’ specific business needs.

• Simpifying clients’ enterprise agreements and reducing administrative burden on managers, human resources, and payroll staff.

• Advising on improving workplace policies and procedures to ensure regulatory requirements are met.

• Counselling clients on managing restructures and redundancies.