Michelle Cowan

Michelle is a Senior Associate within our Employment & Workplace team.

Biography

I am passionate about employment, workplace safety and associated areas of law, and I love helping people to pre-empt or solve their workplace issues by providing pragmatic advice and solutions that meet the client’s unique needs.

Employment advice is not a ‘one size fits all’ and it is important to me that I understand what outcome a client is seeking so I can present them with options that sit well with them and meet their requirements.

I became a lawyer after many years in retail management, because I came to appreciate that understanding the law is essential to being the best you can be as an employer or an employee, to add value to client experiences and to grow a business effectively. Australia’s workplace laws touch everyone every day in some way, and yet many people don’t understand how our laws operate to protect both employers and employees and to serve broader community purposes.

Since graduating, I have represented employers, employees and worked in the administration of workplace laws. I have experience in a range of employment, safety, industrial relations, discrimination and related matters for private sector, public sector, not for profit and charities, across a diverse range of industries.

I have experience interpreting and applying a range of Modern Awards, drafting employment contracts and award based individual flexibility agreements. Having spent many years recruiting and managing large groups of employees, I understand and can advise on the practical application of the relevant laws, providing a holistic and strategic approach to problem solving.

I relish the opportunity to work with you to optimise your employment practices in an ever changing business landscape.

Practice Areas

Qualifications & Reputation

Professional Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
  • Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice
  • Admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland
  • Admitted to the High Court of Australia

Associations

  • Member of Queensland Law Society
  • Member of Industrial Relations Society of Queensland

    Contact Information

    Direct Line: 07 3164 1113