Darren Taylor

About Darren

Darren is an employment lawyer and litigator with more than 10 years' experience helping employers navigate complex legal and regulatory requirements and workforce issues, while safeguarding business reputation. He leads Thynne + Macartney's Employment + Safety group as Special Counsel.

With extensive expertise across employment law, workers' compensation and industrial relations, Darren seeks to minimise the risks and liabilities associated with managing a workforce while emphasising proactive and instructive guidance to help his clients make informed strategic decisions that drive growth and success in their operations.

Darren assists employers to comply with new and evolving regulatory requirements regarding employment law, employer obligations and pay and leave entitlements, including Sexual Harassment Prevention Plans, Child Safe Standards and compliance with Payday Super regulations.

Darren advises employers, management teams and senior executives on the full spectrum of end-to-end employment law, disputes and complaints, workplace safety and industrial relations issues, including:

• tailored employment policy development and implementation
• transfer, restructuring and sale of business advice including terminations, redundancies and re-deployments
• responding to applications for general protections claims
• preparing responses to unfair dismissal and unlawful termination claims
• conducting investigations into discrimination and sexual harassment complaints
• drafting contracts, including executive contracts, fixed or maximum term contracts, independent contracting agreements
• advising on disciplinary actions, performance management and misconduct
• wage compliance and underpayments advice including conducting audits, implementing remediation programs and drafting regulator responses
• conducting workplace incident investigations including process design, interviews, findings and implementation of recommendations
• managing injured or ill employees
• workers' compensation claim reviews, appeals and advice
• managing all aspects of enterprise agreements including industrial strategy, bargaining and advising on union right of entry
• bespoke employment law training and education.

A capable litigator, Darren advocates for employers in the Fair Work Commission and federal and state courts providing pre-litigation advice through conciliation, hearing and settlement.

Darren believes in taking a pragmatic approach. He works closely with clients to help them to understand and take the necessary steps to mitigate risk through the provision of straightforward and easily digestible training and education.

Qualifications

• Admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of Queensland, 2001
• Bachelor of Laws – University of Queensland, 1999
• Bachelor of Arts – University of Queensland, 1996

Memberships & Appointments

• • Queensland Law Society