Sherriff was one of three OH&S experts appointed by the Federal Government to develop a model for harmonised national workplace safety laws - one of the Government's key election promises.

The firm's OH&S practice group head, Michael Tooma, said that Sherriff's appointment was significant for the team.

"The model laws currently being debated represent the most significant change to OHS laws in this country for more than 30 years - they've been more than five years coming and are being closely followed by businesses," he said. "To have one of the architects of those laws join the team puts us in a tremendously strong position and gives our clients an advantage when it comes to trying to understand the [likely] impact on their business."