The practice will adopt Mills Oakley’s approach to fees, providing alternative arrangements such as fixed and value-based fees, which CEO John Nerurker said are increasingly prevalent in the market.

“With a number of corporates and government instrumentalities due to review their panel arrangements in the coming year, we are looking forward to making a case for the value Mills Oakley can bring to the table,” said Mr Nerurker.

The new workplace relations and employment law practice will be headed up by special counsel Kate Walawski and Daniel White, who are both new lateral hires for the firm.

Ms Walawski previously operated her own practice, KRW Legal, while Mr White joined from Norton Rose Fulbright.

Ms Walawski’s experience includes advising on employment law issues arising under state workplace laws, the Fair Work reforms and Australia’s safety net systems, including compliance with the National Employment Standards.

She has worked closely with a wide range of clients, including human resources practitioners and business owners in the development and implementation of workplace policies and procedures, conducting workplace audits and investigations, conducting workshops and providing appropriate training to line managers.

Mr White specialises in assisting clients on a range of contentious and non-contentious industrial relations, employment and workplace discrimination/harassment issues.

He has represented clients in the Fair Work Commission, the Federal Circuit Court and Federal Court, the Supreme Court of Western Australia and specialist industrial and equal opportunity courts and tribunals.