
Julia Sutherland
Partner
Ashurst Perkins Cole
Julia has over 20 years of experience practising in employment law, industrial relations and discrimination law, as well as work health and safety law.
Julia has particular experience in employment law litigation, both in common law courts (involving matters such as breach of contract) and in Federal and State employment and anti-discrimination Tribunals. Julia regularly advises on employee transfers, redundancy and consultation processes in business sales and restructures. Julia frequently advises on the terms and conditions of executive employment and assists clients to manage executive exits.
As a senior member of our safety practice, Julia has over 25 years' experience in advising public and private sector organisations about their compliance with WHS laws in most Australian jurisdictions. Julia has attended on numerous fatalities and serious incidents, advises clients about managing internal, Regulator and Police investigations into those incidents and regularly acts for clients in prosecutions by safety Regulators arising from incidents. Julia regularly presents to Boards of Directors on how to comply with their personal due diligence duties.
SESSIONS
3:05
Interactive Scenario: The Flexibility Tension: Performance, Culture & the Right to Request
This session explores the changing requirements and recent case law about responding to requests for flexible working arrangements, the possible impact of the Equal Opportunity (Work From Home) Bill 2024 and the relevance of performance concerns, team equity, and operational requirements in these processes. Delegates will gain practical tips for decision-making and balancing flexibility with accountability.
• Understand legal obligations around flexibility requests
• Learn practical decision-making tips
• Balance flexibility with accountability and culture
Julia Sutherland, Partner, Ashurst Perkins Cole
