Leanne Nickels

Partner

Leanne is responsive and has a good understanding of our business. I value her calm demeanour, and I trust what she is telling me as she can articulate it in a way that I understand and am clear on the strategies.

— Client

Emailleanne.nickels@dlapiper.com

Call+61 8 6467 6168

Perth

About

Areas of FocusEmployment

Professional QualificationsBarrister and Solicitor of the High Court of AustraliaBarrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western AustraliaSolicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales

EXPERIENCE

Acting for the employer in the matter of Collins v Trimatic Contract Services Pty Ltd [2019] FCCA 1018, which subsequently went on appeal from the Federal Circuit Court. This matter involved a dispute with a senior executive over leave and termination entitlements and characterisation of the relationship based on the contractual arrangements.
Acting for the employer, a university in defending proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia in 2017 until the matter was ultimately resolved some years later and which involved multiple alleged breaches of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), the enterprise agreement and the contract of employment.
Acting for 7 respondents including the employer and the Board members in proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia before Her Honour Justice Jagot prior to her elevation to the High Court. The matter resolved prior to trial but Leanne appeared as Counsel on argued matters relating to discovery and legal privilege as well as at mediation. The claim involved allegations of breach of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), breach of the employment contract, breach of the Constitution and breach of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
Acting for the Plaintiff in the matter of Talent Konnects Pty Ltd v Marvelli and Ors [2022] WASC 128, a matter in the Supreme Court of Western Australia involving an injunction application to protect goodwill and confidential information based on the restraints in the employment contract.
Acting for the employer in a long running dispute with United Voice about redundancy entitlements arising from a transferred enterprise agreement. The matter progressed through the Federal Court to the stage of a special leave application to the High Court.
Acting for the employer in a dispute in the Supreme Court of Tasmania with the Tasmania Long Service Leave Board concerning long service leave entitlements.
Acting for two of the four Respondents in the matter of FWO v Quest South Perth Holdings Pty Ltd and Ors (No 4) [2017] FCA 580 which involved sham contracting allegations and was subsequently appealed to the High Court.
Acting for the Respondent in the matter of ABCC v Corestaff WA Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 893, an age discrimination matter in the Federal Court of Australia.
Acting for Bristow Helicopters Australia Pty Ltd in the matter of Bristow Helicopters Australia Pty Ltd v Australian Federation of Air Pilots [2017] FWCFB 487, in relation to a dispute over payments to pilots during a period of stand down.