Who we help
Empowering businesses and employees with expert legal guidance
MDC Legal provides expert employment law guidance, helping businesses and employees navigate complex legal challenges, protect their rights, and achieve fair, strategic outcomes for all parties.
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Businesses of all sizes
Our team works with businesses of all sizes, offering tailored employment law solutions to ensure compliance, minimise risks and resolve workplace disputes. Whether you’re a startup, small-to-medium-sized enterprise or large corporation, our expert team provides strategic legal advice to protect your business and support long-term growth and operational success.
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Executives & senior employees
MDC Legal supports executives and senior employees with expert advice on employment contracts, terminations, and disputes. We provide strategic legal guidance to protect your rights, negotiate fair outcomes, and manage complex workplace issues, ensuring your career and professional interests are safeguarded at every stage.
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Organisations
We work closely with organisations, including non-profits, government bodies, and industry groups, providing specialised employment law support. We help ensure legal compliance, resolve workplace disputes, and implement best practices, enabling organisations to focus on their mission while managing employees and workplace challenges effectively and lawfully.
Our difference
No surprise billing
At MDC Legal, we prioritise transparency in our billing. Clear, upfront information on fees and cost-effective rates for legal representation, HR advice, and workplace solutions ensure there are no surprises. Flexible fixed-fee services can be tailored to meet your specific needs.
Safeguard your interests
Your interests are paramount. We focus on compliance and business protection with robust HR and workplace solutions. While we advocate for efficient dispute resolution and settlement, our battle-ready lawyers are prepared to defend your interests in court when necessary.
Expert compliance guidance
We specialise in navigating the complexities of the Fair Work Act, state legislation, and workplace awards and agreements. Ensure compliance, enhance workplace practices, and receive the guidance to keep your business on track.
Personalised client engagement
Each client receives personalised attention from our team, ensuring legal strategies are perfectly aligned with individual business goals and challenges.
Proactive risk management
Anticipate potential legal issues and manage them proactively to prevent disruptions and secure your business’s future.
Access to Perth’s best employment lawyers
Direct engagement with our senior lawyers ensures you benefit from top-tier legal expertise at every interaction.
Communication every step of the way
Informed communication is essential. Expect continuous updates and straightforward communication from your dedicated legal team.
Long-term partnership focus
Each client receives personalised attention from our team, ensuring legal strategies are perfectly aligned with individual business goals and challenges.
Testimonials
They went well beyond my expectations, achieving a phenomenal outcome.
What an amazingly talented team I had through my recent trial. Truly a level beyond in professionalism, respect for the law and demonstrated themselves to be a class above the plaintiff in the Supreme court. They went well beyond my expectations, achieving an phenomenal outcome. Superb communication throughout the whole process, with outstanding advice and direction. I could not recommend anyone better than this team for my legal representation. Thank you again so much.
MDC legal are a highly professional and ethical legal firm.
I recently sought their advice and representation in an employment related matter, and engaged the services of Joanna Knoth. MDC Legal and Joanna responded quickly to my initial enquiries and throughout out period of interaction, and were extremely knowledgeable in workplace legislation. Costs were well explained upfront and as my case proceeded so there were no ‘surprises’. They communicated well at all times, explained required processes effectively and ultimately achieved a positive outcome for me as their client. I would highly recommend them as a legal firm and would engage their services again if I had further need for legal advice.
Excellent service from an outstanding professional team.
MDC Legal took the initiative, worked hard, were honest, spoke from a position of expertise which gave them the opportunity to challenge lesser expertise with great confidence. We were treated with respect and given very honest feedback every step of the way. We have left our meetings with Mark Cox feeling humbled by his support and respectful of his integrity and the huge energy he has for his work. Most of all we felt supported.
Our employment law services
HR Advice & Support
Expert HR advice for employers to help you navigate complex workplace issues, ensuring compliance, effective management, and a positive workplace culture for your business.
Termination of Employment
With a high degree of success for our clients, we provide guidance and representation in termination and unfair dismissal cases, protecting your rights and ensuring fair and compliant processes.
General protection
General protections under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) prohibit an employer taking adverse action against an employee or potential employee because they have or exercise a workplace right. These claims are not limited to employees under the high-income threshold. Successful claimants can obtain orders for compensation for economic and non-economic loss, such as for hurt humiliation and distress, and also civil penalties imposed on the corporate entity of the employer and against individuals involved in the breach. There are similar protections under the Industrial Relations Act 1979 (WA) for State employees (employees of the WA government or sole traders or unincorporated trusts).
Bullying, Harassment & Discrimination
Legal support in addressing workplace discrimination and bullying, helping employers maintain a fair, respectful, and legally compliant work environment.
Conducting investigations; Representation in investigations; Representation in litigation in Fair Work Commission, Human Rights Commission, Equal Opportunity Commission WA, Statement Administrative Tribunal; Policies & Procedures; Workplace training on bullying, discrimination and harassment.
Business Restructures & Redundancies
Strategic advice on managing business restructures and redundancies, ensuring compliance with legal requirements while mitigating risks.
NES/MCE, Award and Payroll Compliance
It is important that employers comply with their obligations to employees under various industrial relations laws. Breaches can give rise to claims by employees and unions or investigation and prosecution by the Fair Work Ombudsman. There can be costly litigation and hefty fines for breaches.
With the recent introduction of wage theft laws, there can be criminal sanctions for breaches, including fines and imprisonment.
Performance Management, Discipline, Termination of Employment
We provide experienced guidance on performance management and misconduct investigations to ensure fair, compliant, and effective processes that protect your business.
Managing poor performance and disciplinary processes; Redundancy consultancy and managing risk in terminations; Unfair dismissal claims and litigation in State and Federal Commissions; Settlement of claims.
Directors’ Duties, Remuneration and Corporations Act
Providing advice to boards and directors on Directors’ Duties; Director’s remuneration, LTIP/STIP; Corporations Act, ASX Listing Rules; and Whistleblowing.
Contract Policies & Procedures
Good contracts and workplace policies and procedures are essential business infrastructure to ensure productivity, compliance with legal obligations and good workplace culture. If you don’t have a written employment contract with your employees, the law will assume an unwritten contract with terms implied by the common law and industrial legislation and awards. Employment contracts give your business control of the employment relationship and provide a tool to protect your confidential information and other legitimate interests. We also provide contracts for independent contractors and services and facilities agreements, for example, for health providers. Outside of your contracts, it is important to have policies and procedures to meet your statutory obligations with respect to workplace health and safety and removing discrimination and harassment from the workplace. To manage the range of employment law issues, including recruitment and engagement, performance management, appropriate workplace conduct and culture, investigations, discipline, terminations, redundancies and employee claims.
Workplace Health and Safety
Over recent years, national workplace health and safety laws have extended the reach of obligations on PCBUs, managers and all employees, including with respect to removal of psychosocial hazards. National regulatory authorities, like NOPSEMA and State authorities like WorkSafe have extensive powers of investigation and prosecution. It is important to have in place policies and procedures to minimise and respond to risks.
Restraints of Trade
We are experts at crafting and enforcing restraint of trade clauses to protect your business’s confidential information, intellectual property, and client relationships.
Dispute Resolution
& Advocacy
We provide effective dispute resolution and advocacy services to resolve workplace conflicts efficiently and protect your business’s interests.
Industrial Relations
Expert advice on industrial relations, helping you navigate complex issues and maintain positive employee relations in compliance with the law.
Training & Compliance
Customised training and compliance programs to equip your team with the knowledge needed to meet legal obligations and maintain best practices.
Doing Business in Australia
Comprehensive legal support for foreign businesses entering the Australian market, ensuring compliance with local laws and successful operations.
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