Mr Gaffney has over 15 years’ experience in contentious and non-contentious employment matters, including developing and implementing workforce planning strategies, industrial disputes, M&A and outsourcing.

He has represented clients before courts and tribunals in Australia and the United Kingdom.

Lavan Legal managing partner Dean Hely said: “Franklin is a highly skilled employment lawyer whose legal knowledge has been honed by his early work as an industrial advocate and his 15 years of experience working in employment law in private practice in Australia and in the United Kingdom.”

Mr Gaffney is also a native title specialist, having negotiated and drafted native title and heritage agreements in relation to significant resource and development projects in Western Australia.

He represented the National Native Title Tribunal in the review of the native title system that culminated in legislative amendments and significant institutional changes.

Further, Mr Gaffney has been CEO of two Indigenous corporations in Western Australia, including MG Corporation during the Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project.

“Franklin’s experience in and understanding of native title goes beyond the practice of law. It is significantly enhanced by his work as CEO of two Aboriginal corporations and by his extensive academic pursuits in this area,” Mr Hely said.

“We believe Franklin will bring an unmatched level of knowledge, service and representation to our clients in relation to native title matters.”

Mr Gaffney has a master of laws (labour law) from the London School of Economics and Political Science and is currently completing a PhD on the implementation of native title agreements at the University of Western Australia.