Simon Obee Email & Phone Number

Sydney, Nsw, Au

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Sydney, Australia

Sydney, Australia

Sydney, Australia

Sydney, Australia

I provide advice to Swaab’s varied client-base of SME’s, high-net-worth individuals and start-ups. As well as being responsible for my own portfolio of clients, I also support the work of two partners.I chiefly advise on employment law, but also provide general commercial law advice.Particular areas of responsibility include:· Drafting employment contracts and enterprise agreements.· Representing clients in unfair dismissal, general protections and breach of contract claims including conducting conciliations, mediations and hearings.· Advising on workplace restructuring involving transfer of business and redundancies.· Advising on employee entitlements under modern awards and the Fair Work Act.· Advising on employee equity schemes.· Drafting and negotiating commercial contracts.· Providing ad hoc advice on commercial law, franchising, defamation, consumer and IP/privacy law.

Sydney

Employsure is one of Australia’s fastest growing businesses and provides legal advice, representation and insurance against legal claims to its 4,000 SME clients for a fixed fee based on employee numbers.In my role I provide advice on all aspects of the employment relationship including:• Drafting contracts, workplace policies and deeds of release.• Advising on modern award interpretation, particularly in regards to pay.• Advising on disciplinary, performance management and incapacity matters, often involving termination of employment.• Handling complex redundancy situations.• Protecting clients from claims e.g. unfair dismissal, adverse action, breach of contract, discrimination, etc.• Advising on industrial action.I am also responsible for mentoring more junior members of the team, delivering training across the organization and supporting our Business Development Managers in securing new contracts.

London, United Kingdom

As in-house legal counsel at the Department for Education I worked within a team of 50 exceptional lawyers providing advice to the Secretary of State for Education and his officials. All advice was provided within the context of the Department's work being subject to detailed public scrutiny and - at the time of the GFC - having to be aware of tight commercial restraints.My main areas of responsibility were:EMPLOYMENT· Providing advice to internal stakeholders on all matters concerning the Department’s 4,000 employees.· Managing litigation brought by employees (e.g. unfair dismissal, discrimination, bullying, etc).· Advising on issues arising from Central Government restructuring (e.g. redundancies, staff transfers, termination of senior officials, etc).· Drafting employment contracts and staff policies.GENERAL COMMERCIAL· Providing general commercial advice, in particular relating to procurement and tenders.· Drafting commercial contracts and dealing with contractual disputes.GENERAL GOVERNMENT WORK· Advising the Department on its obligations under statute, including whether proposed government policies could be implemented within the existing statutory framework.· Assessing compliance of schools and local government authorities with their statutory duties and taking enforcement action as appropriate.· Drafting new legislation.· Working closely with Ministers to ensure the effect of new laws matched government policy.· Attending Parliament to advise Ministers as legislation was debated.

London

Providing advice on a range of employment, commercial and property matters in this boutique firm, including:· Drafting and negotiating commercial contracts.· Advising on all aspects of employment law and representing clients in disputes.· General conveyancing work (commercial and residential).· Representing clients in property disputes (including legal aid work for homeless clients in applications to local authorities for housing).

Practical Legal Training

Constitutional Law - 86%, Corporations Law - 75%, Professional Conduct - 80%, Evidence & Proof - 72%, Distinction (Average)

Legal Practice Course, Commendation

Post-Graduate Diploma In Law / Common Professional Exam, Commendation

Bachelor'S Degree, Contemporary History, 2:1 Ba(Hons)

Education record