Who We Are

Tony Smetana is the Managing Director at HLS Legal.

Tony has specialised in employment law, industrial relations and safety law for almost 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 over 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)

Amber is a Senior Associate at HLS Legal. Amber provides our clients with advice on day to day employment issues to more complex matters such as industrial action strategies and litigation.

Amber assists our clients with:

• termination of employment and redundancy
• superannuation
• privacy laws
• representation at mediation and conciliation in the Federal Circuit Court, the Fair Work Commission and WorkCover
• defending court and tribunal related employment claims including at the Federal Court

Amber previously worked in employment relations at Wageline, the State Government employment relations advice line, in 2009.

Qualifications

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

Admissions

• Supreme Court
• High Court 

Megan provides advice and assistance to clients on the preparation, lodgement, responses to and resolution of claims across a broad spectrum of Employment Law topics, including:

• human resources assistance
• reviewing of contracts and termination conditions
• unfair dismissal
• general protection claims
• deeds of settlement and release

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

As a part of ten loyal years of service to HLS Legal clients, including two years as a Director, Ali is now our very experienced and highly regarded Special Counsel.

Ali advises and represents employers in employment and industrial relations matters in a wide range of industries including energy and resources, construction, healthcare, education, retail and maritime.

Ali advises employers on:

• their obligations under state and federal workplace relations legislation, occupational health and safety, equal opportunity and anti-discrimination
• industrial relations and employment matters including industrial disputes, unfair dismissal, general protections and bullying claims, employee disciplinary matters, restructuring and redundancies, as well as transfer of business issues, executive terminations
• drafting of enterprise agreements, employment agreements, executive service agreements, contractor agreements, policies, and procedures
• conducting workplace investigations and training

Ali has represented clients in Fair Work Commission unfair dismissal proceedings and general protections claims, in the Equal Opportunity Commission and in mediation in the Supreme Court. Ali has conducted employment and industrial relations related litigation in the Federal Circuit Court and Federal and Supreme Courts.

Ali previously worked for a national law firm in its workplace relations practice area.

Ali also worked as an in-house lawyer to an education sector organisation which employed around 10,000 staff, providing advice to around 160 primary and secondary schools on employment and industrial relations matters.

Before practicing as a lawyer, Ali was an Associate to a Commissioner in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (predecessor to the Fair Work Commission) and an Inspector at the Office of Workplace Services (predecessor to the Fair Work Ombudsman).

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (University of Western Australia)
• Bachelor of Laws (University of Western Australia)
• Master of Laws (Australian National University)

Admissions

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

Aimee is a Solicitor at HLS Legal.

Aimee advises clients on a variety of employment, safety, commercial and industrial relations matters.  Aimee also assists clients with litigious matters in the Fair Work Commission, the Federal Circuit Court of Australia and the Federal Court of Australia.

Aimee has experience with:

• unfair dismissal and general protections claims
• discrimination, harassment and bullying matters
• drafting employment contracts for senior executives
• freedom of information and privacy law matters
• conducting workplace investigations
• advising clients about the show cause process and the termination of employment process
• advising clients about post employment restraints
• union right of entry, the enterprise agreement making process and disputes concerning the interpretation of modern awards and enterprise agreements
• occupational health and safety matters and ill and injured employees
• advising on redundancies and the performance management process

Prior to joining HLS Legal, Aimee worked with one of our foundation Directors, as a lawyer at Heldsinger Legal.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Laws (Curtin University of Technology)

Admissions

• Supreme Court of Western Australia

Brittany is efficient and service-driven, enabling the team at HLS Legal to deliver a high standard of service to our clients.  Brittany has a Bachelor of Laws, and assists with Paralegal work.

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 the accounts and payroll.  She has recently refreshed her qualifications with a Certificate IV in Bookkeeping and Accounting.  Louise has previously been a financial controller in the hotel industry, however now her part time work at HLS Legal is balanced with her role as a busy mum.