Siobhan Flores-Walsh
Partner
Siobhan is a partner in Norton Rose’s OHSS practice, ‘the pre-eminent occupational health and safety firm in Australia’ (per the Asia Pacific Legal 500 2013). She has over 20 years’ experience with OH&S and workplace relations laws and is recognised by clients, peers and legal directories such as Chambers (2011, 2012, 2013), ALB (2010), Asia Pacific Legal 500 (2013) and Best Lawyers (2013), as a leading OH&S practitioner. Chambers says “Siobhan commands ‘a lot of respect’ for her expertise in health and safety law. “She is particularly in demand for her advice on compliance matters, especially in the construction industry, and also provides training on discrimination and harassment issues”. Chambers also notes that “she has a deep understanding of governance and assurance needs, operational safety and the nature of organisational behaviour in the field”.
Siobhan has acted in landmark cases that redefined areas of law. For example, she recently acted for QUBE Ports Pty Ltd on appeal in QUBE Ports Pty Ltd v Chief Executive Department of Justice and Attorney General & Anor [2012] QCA 285. QUBE successfully challenged a decision that an OHS Regulator’s decision to refuse an ‘enforceable undertaking’ was not amenable to judicial review – this landmark decision changed the relationship between OHS and administrative law and produced an excellent client outcome.
In addition to her prowess as a litigator, in the past year Siobhan has designed and facilitated the implementation of private sector and government client responses to OHS obligations arising during public private partnership (PPP) projects; the implications of OHS laws under various operating structures, including joint ventures (incorporated and unincorporated), alliances (pure and otherwise) and similar; new OHS corporate governance obligations and the personal liability of senior management, (including the provision of innovative training across the spectrum from Boardrooms to construction sites); business to business issues arising under new OHS laws (including the direct negotiation of controversial contractual provisions and dispute resolution); controversial coercive powers used by OHS Regulators to obtain information; OHS incident investigation, particularly serious and fatal injuries and associated legal professional privilege issues; Federal Safety Commissioner accreditation issues and exposure drafts of OHS Regulations and Codes of Practice.
Siobhan is sought after in the legal speaking circuit, presenting regularly at commercial conferences for both the human resources community and lawyers seeking training in OHS and employment law.
She authored the chapter “Employer responses to incidents of alleged harassment and discrimination” in two editions of the CCH publication the Australian Master Human Resources Guide and has published numerous articles about workplace/OHS law including 2013 publications in The Australian, Human Resources Magazine, Lawyers’ Weekly, Human Capital Magazine, Lexology, HR Monthly and National Safety Magazine. Siobhan is frequently quoted in The Australian and the Australian Financial Review.
Siobhan’s current practice is comprised of blue chip corporations that sit principally in the Infrastructure, Mining and Commodities industries, as well as government (local, state and federal), energy generators and participants in the stevedoring industry.