Bill Shorten, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, announced on Thursday (28 March) that Catanzariti (pictured) was one of eight Fair Work Commission appointments.

Adam Hatcher SC joins Catanzariti as a vice president, with Shorten also appointing four deputy presidents and two commissioners.

 “I am confident these appointments will further enhance the experience, integrity and balance of the Commission,” he said.

Catanzariti has been a partner at Clayton Utz for 23 years, and is a former head of the workplace relations, employment and safety practice group.

“We congratulate [Catanzariti] and are confident he will provide outstanding service,” said LCA president-elect Michael Colbran QC, who will be replacing Catanzariti.

Corrs to lose heavyweight partner

Among the four newly-appointed deputy presidents is Corrs’ workplace relations partner Val Gostencnik.

Gostencnik has advised the Federal Government on the drafting and implementation of the Fair Work Act and represented the NSW and Victorian governments in the recent Qantas dispute.

“Val is a deserving candidate for this honour,” said Corrs’ CEO John Denton. “[He] will serve the Commission and the people of Australia well.”

Industrial relations partner John Tuck will take over as the national head of Corrs’ workplace relations practice

The remaining deputy president appointees are former secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Jeff Lawrence; Fair Work Australia commissioner Ingrid Asbury, and former Maurice Blackburn principal Anne Gooley. The latter two are also currently commissioners of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

Fair Work Ombudsman Nick Wilson and Leigh Johns, the chief executive of Fair Work Building & Construction, have been appointed as Fair Work Commissioners.