In his new role, Mr Zyngier will be based in the firm’s Melbourne office where he will be responsible for Gilchrist Connell’s national employment practices liability and management liability practice.

Mr Zyngier brings to his new role experience in advising and defending employers in employment law disputes and workplace safety prosecutions. He also has extensive experience in both dispute work and front-end employment and safety law, acting for insurers and employers right across Australia.

Gilchrist Connell managing principal Richard Wood said he is delighted to welcome Mr Zyngier to the firm, saying his appointment is testament to his “leadership and deep experience in workplace relations and safety law, and indicative of the strength of Gilchrist Connell’s practice”.

“It’s a natural evolution of the firm’s uncompromising, excellent service to the insurance industry and commercial defendants,” he added.

“In 2016, we won the Australian Law Awards’ Insurance Team of the Year, were recognised as Australia’s most flexible legal workplace, and Lawyers Weekly and The Australian ranked us as one of the country’s fastest growing law firms.

“Our entire team deserves congratulations for these achievements. Although this announcement singles out Joel’s remarkable talent and our employment practices liability and management liability practice, it also marks the start of an exciting 2017 for Gilchrist Connell.”

Commenting on his new role, Mr Zyngier said: “I’m delighted to lead a fast-growing national practice, and work with a great team of lawyers across our Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane offices.”

“I enjoy outstanding support from the firm and our clients, and it’s great to be part of an industry-leading firm with an exciting future,” he said.