Non-disclosure Agreements in Workplace Sexual Harassment Matters: Legal Ethics and Practice
Description
Curtin Law School, in partnership with Circle Green Community Legal's Workplace Respect Project and the Law Society of Western Australia, is pleased to present a panel discussion on the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in workplace sexual harassment matters in WA.
The panel will examine the ethical, legal and professional issues that arise from the use of NDAs, including legal ethics, workplace discrimination law, professional obligations, and current legal and regulatory frameworks. The discussion will also consider reform developments in Victoria and other jurisdictions aimed at regulating the use of NDAs in workplace sexual harassment matters.
Hear from leading practitioners including Elisha Butt (Curtin Law School), Madeleine Brown (Circle Green Community Legal), Nicholas Ellery (Francis Burt Chambers), and Rachel Dawson (Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer), with the discussion moderated by Heidi Guldbaek, Workplace Respect Project Manager. The panel will be followed by a networking session for legal practitioners, students, academics and other stakeholders to connect and continue the conversation.
WA legal practitioners who attend will be eligible to claim 1.0 CPD point in Competency Area 3: Ethics or Professional Responsibility.
Doors open at 3:45pm, for a 4:00pm start.
Attendance is free. However, registrations are essential and places are limited.
Panellist Bio's
Elisha Butt – Panellist
Elisha Butt is a clinical academic and senior lawyer at Curtin Law School, where she supervises law students to provide legal assistance through the John Curtin Law Clinic. She brings experience across legal practice, legal education, policy and reform, and leadership in access to justice services, including direct legal assistance and systemic responses to workplace harm. Her work focuses on discrimination, harassment and the role of legal systems in responding to gender-based violence.
Madeleine Brown – Panellist
Madeleine is a workplace lawyer with a varied professional background. Prior to joining the community legal sector, she worked in private practice and at a high profile union of employers. She is experienced across a broad spectrum of workplace law matters including dismissal based claims, contractual and minimum entitlements and restraints of trade. In her current role as a Senior Lawyer at Circle Green Community Legal, she manages the casework team, who provide representation and ongoing assistance to vulnerable workers in Western Australia with a particular focus on sexual harassment and discrimination matters.
Nicholas Ellery – Panellist
Nicholas Ellery is a barrister practising primarily in industrial relations, employment, discrimination, workplace health and safety and related fields. He joined the Bar after a lengthy career at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, where he managed the Perth workplace and safety practice, led the Perth office as Partner in Charge for over 10 years, and served on the national Board. Nick has represented employers, unions, employees and regulators on a broad range of employment matters including discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying, whistleblower and general protections matters. He also has extensive experience in industrial relations and safety matters. He has been recognised in various legal directories such as Chambers, Doyles Guide, Best Lawyers and others as a leading practitioner in these fields. He served on the Board of the Employment Law Centre of WA (now part of Circle Green) for over 10 years. Currently, Nick is a National Committee member of the Australian Labour Law Association and a member of the Board of Directors of Francis Burt Chambers and the Fremantle Football Club.
Rachel Dawson – Panellist
Rachel Dawson is a Partner in the Perth Employment, IR and Safety practice at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer. She works with a large team of lawyers to assist clients across a range of legal matters, with a focus on industrial strategy, enterprise bargaining, workplace disputes and litigation. Rachel is engaged by clients in mining and resources, utilities, construction and infrastructure, insurance, hospitality, government and not-for-profit sectors. Rachel enjoys the diverse nature of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's clients across the globe and doing meaningful work on projects and for enterprises in Western Australia.
Heidi Guldbaek – Moderator
Heidi Guldbaek is the Project Manager of Circle Green’s Workplace Respect Project, which seeks to address workplace sexual harassment by working across the spectrum of prevention, as well as providing confidential legal advice to people who’ve been targeted by workplace sexual harassment. Heidi has led various state and national initiatives in both government and non-government contexts, focusing on both response and prevention efforts. She is passionate about collaborative work, ensuring that the voices of those affected by violence are central to the development of policies, programs, and legislation aimed at dismantling structural oppression and injustice.
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