Who We Are

Tony Smetana is the Managing Director at HLS Legal.

Tony has specialised in employment law, industrial relations and safety law for over 30 years.

Tony has represented employers in landmark employment law and industrial relations cases in Western Australia and Australia.

As a testament to Tony, a number of his clients have remained unchanged in 30 years. He is consistently recommended as a Leading Employment & Workplace Relations Lawyer by his clients and peers.

Tony has extensive experience in assisting companies to negotiate large scale enterprise agreements, particularly in the mining, resources and energy sectors, including the Gorgon and Ichthys Projects.

Tony is an experienced and successful litigator and represents companies in the Federal Court and Supreme Court of WA in complex disputes.

Tony has been at the forefront of strategic thinking in industrial relations for many years, guiding clients through the introduction of legislative change and identifying opportunities for their businesses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Jurisprudence (University of Western Australia)
• Bachelor of Laws (University of Western Australia)

Admissions

• Supreme Court of Western Australia
• High Court
• Federal Court

Tony is consistently Recommended by Doyle’s Guide, as an Employment Law Lawyer (Employer Representation)

Michael Baldwin is Special Counsel at HLS Legal.

Michael has over 20 years of experience in Industrial and Workplace Relations and is an accountable team leader at the firm.

Mike has top tier legal and employer association experience and has worked as in-house counsel for several international resource companies. He advises across all aspects of the employment relationship for various sized businesses and is experienced across multiple sectors including construction, mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, education and retail.

Michael advises our clients with his core expertise in:

• ER/IR project management in large, remote LNG, Mining and Construction projects;
• Designing and implementing sophisticated industrial relations strategies within unionised and non-unionised environments;
• Termination of employment (unfair dismissal, general protections, breach of contract and defending stop-bullying applications);
• Advocacy in industrial tribunals, district and federal courts;
• Workplace investigations;
• Award interpretation;
• Leading enterprise bargaining negotiations;
• Performance management and HR Business Partnering;
• Strategic IR (eg Protected Action ballots) and employment advice
• Management of industrial disputes;
• Workplace change and restructure;

Michael also sits on the Industrial Relations Committee of the Law Society.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (University of New South Wales)

Admissions

• Supreme Court of Western Australia
• Supreme Court of Australian Capital Territory
• Supreme Court of Queensland
• High Court

Megan provides practical advice and assistance to clients on the prevention, preparation, resolution and response to claims across a broad spectrum of employment law, industrial relations and contract issues, including:

• human resources assistance
• contracts and workplace policies
• unfair dismissal claims
• general protection claims
• discrimination claims
• award and enterprise agreement disputes and underpayments (federal and state)
• enterprise agreement negotiation and approval (including BOOT analysis)
• workplace change and restructure
• termination procedure and entitlements
• workplace health and safety
• deeds of settlement and release

Megan has experience with matters before a range of courts and tribunals, including the Fair Work Commission, the WA Industrial Relations Commission, the WA District Court, the Federal Circuit Court and the Federal Court.

Prior to starting at HLS Legal, Megan participated in a student exchange at the National University of Singapore and afterwards completed a year-long cultural exchange in the United States of America.

 Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (Distinction) (University of Western Australia)
• Bachelor of Science: Major Geography (University of Western Australia)

Admissions

• Supreme Court of Western Australia

Danielle assists our clients with a range of employment, industrial relations and contractual law issues, including:

• drafting and reviewing independent contractor, consultancy and employment contracts;
• advising on contractual issues and entitlements, including restraints of trade;
• drafting and reviewing policies;
• determining award coverage and entitlements;
• advising on termination of employment procedure;

Prior to starting at HLS Legal, Danielle worked at the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission as an Associate to Senior Commissioner Kenner.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (Curtin University)

Admissions

• Supreme Court of Western Australia

Calvin provides advice in employment law, industrial relations, safety law and corporations law.

He has assisted on matters in the Fair Work Commission, WA Industrial Relations Commission, Industrial Magistrates Court, Magistrates Court, and Federal Circuit Court.

Calvin advises our clients on:

• termination of employment (unfair dismissal, general protections, breach of contract and defending stop-bullying applications);
• contracts of employment and workplace policies;
• enforcing restraint of trade and confidentiality obligations;
• underpayments;
• Fair Work Ombudsman investigations;
• transfer of business;
• union right of entry;
• director duties;
• duty of care;
• BOOT analysis;
• workplace investigations;
• award interpretation;
• workplace change and restructure; and
• performance management.

Prior to starting at HLS Legal, Calvin worked at the Fair Work Commission as an Associate to Deputy President Binet. 

Calvin has undertaken study in Oxford, United Kingdom and Frederiction, Canada.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (Curtin University)
• Bachelor of Arts: International Relations (Curtin University)

Admissions

• Supreme Court of Western Australia

Kara provides clients with advice on a range of employment, industrial relations, and contractual and commercial law matters.

Kara provides assistance to clients on matters including:

• termination of employment (unfair dismissals, general protections and discrimination);
• contractual issues;
• appropriate termination procedures, including redundancy;
• award coverage and entitlements;
• the transfer and termination of enterprise agreements;
• enforcing restraint of trade, confidentiality and other obligations;
• drafting and reviewing employment contracts and policies;
• drafting and reviewing labour hire agreements;
• drafting deeds of settlement and release; and
• providing advice on complex areas of law, including the coronavirus pandemic, surveillance and privacy.
   

Kara has provided assistance for matters before the Fair Work Commission, the Industrial Magistrates Court, the WA Industrial Relations Commission, the WA District Court, the Federal Court, the Federal Circuit and Family Court, the Australian Human Rights Commission and the High Court of Australia.

Prior to starting at HLS Legal, Kara worked for a prominent family law firm and volunteered at various community legal centres.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws with Distinction (Murdoch University)
• Bachelor of Commerce (University of Western Australia)
   

Admissions

• Supreme Court of Western Australia
   

Fiona graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Juris Doctor postgraduate degree in 2020.

Prior to joining HLS Legal, Fiona worked as a manager in the retail sector and volunteered at a community legal centre.

Fiona has a strong interest in employment law, and brings to HLS Legal a background of excellent service and academic achievement.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (University of Western Australia)
• Bachelor of Commerce: Business Law, Political Science and International Relations (University of Western Australia)

Admissions

• Supreme Court of Western Australia

Joseph is a Paralegal at HLS Legal.

He is currently undertaking a Juris Doctor at the University of Western Australia.

Joseph assists clients with:

• Legal research
• Proof-reading legal advice and employment contracts
• Drafting legal advice
• Note-taking during client meetings

Joseph has a passion for advocacy and legal argument, competing in several UWA and State competitions including mooting and witness examination.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science: Majoring in Engineering (University of Western Australia)

As the General Manager of HLS Legal, Emma works closely with the Director, ensuring the law practice has clear objectives, forging strong links with the HLS Legal values.

Emma offers professional and practical guidance on the administration of the firm, developing robust systems and procedures to ensure compliance, client satisfaction, and meaningful analysis.

Her innovations in project management, business operations, marketing and adult training are key to achieving the planned business outcomes.

Emma’s strong organisational skills and commitment to the HLS Legal values and vision, ensures the underlying foundations of our services are supportive of our core functions as Employment Lawyers.

Key Education

•  The College of Law: Legal Practice Management Course (WA)
•  Certificate IV in Bookkeeping and Accounting
•  Bachelor of Teaching Degree

Memberships

•  Australian Institute of Management WA (AIMWA)
•  Australian Legal Practice Management Association (ALPMA)
•  Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB)
•  Industrial Relations Society of WA (IRSWA)

Louise assists HLS Legal with accounting, payroll and business requirements.

She originally qualified in the UK as an Accounting Technician through AAT UK, relocating to Australia in 1998 initially Sydney then on to Perth. She has recently refreshed her qualifications with a Certificate IV in Bookkeeping and Accounting.

Louise has extensive business and accounting experience, previously working in the hotel industry as a financial controller and hotel owner representative. 

Louise now balances her work at HLS Legal with her role as a busy mum.

As the Practice Manager, Nora is directly involved in running the day to day operations of the office and providing support to the HLS legal team, the General Manager, Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director.

Nora emigrated with her family from the UK to Perth in 2011 and has worked in the legal industry since 2012.

Business oriented and with an innovative drive, Nora strives to provide a seamless working environment for her colleagues and is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that client and staff needs are met.

Nora’s own personal values align well with the firm’s believing that collaboration, integrity and professional excellence is the key to a positive and successful working environment and to fostering client satisfaction.

MEMBERSHIPS

Australian Legal Practice Management Association (ALPMA)