Meet our team

Mark (BA LLB Hons, University of Melbourne) leads the specialist employment law team at MDC Legal. He has over 25 years legal practice, mainly in industrial and employment law, with a background as Chief Justice David Malcolm’s Associate, at a commercial litigation firm, then at a national firm, and then as Principal Solicitor of the Employment Law Centre before establishing MDC Legal in January 2010. Mark has been named by Best Lawyers in 2025 and by Doyles as a “market leader” each year since 2017. In addition to providing strategic infrastructural, dispute resolution and compliance advice to start ups and established businesses, not for profits, governmental and regulatory authorities, Mark has conducted litigation and acted as counsel in several state and federal jurisdictions on “both sides of the fence” in advancing or defending a wide variety of litigation, including injunctions and restraint matters, contractual claims, general protections and unfair dismissal claims, bullying and discrimination claims, protected industrial action, demarcation disputes.

As Office Manager, Tina provides high end executive support to the Director, Special Counsel, Senior Associates and Lawyers, as well as managing the firm’s Administration Team and the day to day operations of the office. Tina also provides paralegal assistance, including preparing court files and briefs to counsel, lodging court documents and assisting with client file management. Tina maintains all finance related functions, including trust account and records management and also oversees the firm’s marketing, business development and events management. Tina has over a decade’s experience working in diverse finance management and accounting roles across various industries. Tina has also completed a Bachelor of Education and has formerly worked as a teacher in the Early Childhood industry.

Alison (BEc UWA, LLB Murdoch University, LLM Birkbeck College, University of London) is a Senior Associate at MDC Legal. Alison is an experienced employment lawyer who has worked extensively with senior executives, employees, employers and trade unions. During a long period in the UK, Alison has previously been a partner in a national firm, and subsequently a founding partner in a boutique firm, both of which specialised in employment and discrimination law. Since returning to Australia she has worked in both the WA State and Federal systems, advising clients on dismissals, general protections and discrimination and helping them to negotiate good results. She enjoys working with HR departments to support the resolution of issues at an early stage. Alison is also a qualified investigator.

Monica (BCom, Curtin University, LLB, Murdoch University) is a Senior Associate at MDC Legal. Monica won the Law Society’s Emerging Lawyer of the Year Award in 2022. Monica has previous experience as a human resources consultant and as an industrial relations consultant advising employers on all aspects of employment relations. Prior to joining MDC Legal, Monica worked at a boutique workplace and commercial law firm in Melbourne and then as part of the litigation team in a Perth law firm. Monica has experience advising and advocating for both employees and employers and enjoys working with clients to achieve pragmatic outcomes.

Thilini Kotuwegoda (BCom, JD, University of Western Australia) is an Associate at MDC Legal. Thilini graduated with a Juris Doctor from the University of Western Australia in 2021 and completed her Practical Legal Training with the College of Law in 2022. Thilini conducts legal research and drafts court documents, advice to clients and correspondence with courts, tribunals and other parties. She has also assisted in preparing unfair dismissal and general protections claims and responses, and deeds of settlement. Prior to joining MDC Legal, Thilini volunteered at several organisations, including Circle Green Community Legal Centre, where she assisted the Employment Law team and Gosnells Community Legal Centre, assisting the Domestic Violence team.

Nicholas Morrison (BSc, Murdoch University and JD, University of Western Australia) is a Lawyer at MDC Legal. Nicholas graduated with a Juris Doctor from the University of Western Australia in 2022 and completed his Practical Legal Training with the College of Law in 2023. Nicholas conducts legal research and drafts court documents, advice to clients and correspondence with courts, tribunals and other parties. He has also assisted in preparing unfair dismissal and general protections claims and responses, and deeds of settlement. Prior to joining MDC Legal, Nicholas clerked at Dwyer Durack and Gilchrist Connell as well as volunteering at the Mental Health Law Centre and at the Centre for Asylum Seekers, Refugees, and Detainees.

Paul Hyun (LLB and BCOM, Curtin University) is a lawyer at MDC Legal. Paul graduated with a Bachelor of Law from Curtin University in 2022 and completed his Practical Legal Training with Curtin University through its Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. Paul advises on all aspects of employment law and has experience in assisting with conducting workplace investigations, preparing and responding to unfair dismissal and general protections claims, advising clients on the resolution of disputes and drafting court documents, employment contracts and policies, deed and other legal documents. Prior to joining MDC Legal, Paul has worked at private law firms specialising in workplace law. Paul comes from a Korean background and is also fluent in the language.

Joanne is part of MDC Legal’s legal support team. With great attention to detail, Joanne maintains the firm’s client files and archive systems with exceptional efficiency. Joanne has also assisted with courts files and large-scale document management for injunctions.

Sophie is part of MDC Legal’s legal support team. With a background in legal editing (almost 15 years with Thomson Reuters), she provides secretarial and paralegal assistance, including document drafting and management, preparing court files and briefs to counsel, fielding new enquiries, note-taking and client file management. Sophie originally hails from New Zealand, where she completed an LLB and a BA majoring in Modern Languages at Victoria University of Wellington, Te Herenga Waka.