Dismissal Process and Disputes: An Essential Guide

Join us for a light lunch and an insightful panel discussion with Employment Lawyers Jess Hill and Katherine Stewart.

When workplace relationships break down, even small missteps can lead to expensive and time-consuming legal disputes. Whether you are a business owner, HR professional or financial adviser supporting employers, this seminar will give you the tools to confidently manage employee exits and minimise legal and financial exposure.

Secure your spot now before they run out.

Employee terminations are one of the most common -and costly- sources of legal risk for businesses. Whether it’s a performance issue, a workplace dispute, or a breakdown in trust, the way a dismissal is handled can determine whether it ends cleanly or results in a claim before the Fair Work Commission.

This seminar unpacks the practical and legal challenges that arise when managing dismissals and general protections risks. Tailored for business owners and their accountants and HR professionals, it offers clear, commercial guidance on how to manage employee exits lawfully and protect your business from unnecessary disputes and their associated expenses.

What You’ll Learn

Across a focused and practical session, we’ll explore the scenarios and strategies that matter most to privately owned businesses, including:

No one-size-fits-all approach: assessing higher-risk and lower-risk dismissals
Understanding risk: unfair dismissal eligibility, general protections exposure and mental health concerns
Procedural fairness: when it applies, and what documentation supports compliance
Complex dismissal cases: executives, sensitive health issues, and high-risk employee claims
Negotiated exits: how to structure settlement discussions to minimise risk
Defending a claim: unfair dismissal, general protections and contractual disputes — and what it might cost
Practical strategies: how to reduce risk and strengthen your business position before issues escalate

Jess Hill

Jess is a multidisciplinary director at Velocity Legal. Drawing on experience across commercial, disputes and employment matters, she helps clients navigate workplace issues that often intersect with broader business and regulatory considerations.

Her work in employment includes advising employers on complex dismissals, defending general protections and sexual harassment claims, and representing business owners and private buisinesses before the Fair Work Commission and federal courts.

Katherine Stewart

Katherine is a Senior Associate in Velocity Legal’s Employment Law team. Known for her lateral thinking, precision and empathy, she helps business owners and advisers resolve complex workplace issues with practical, outcome-focused advice.

Drawing on her background as a Workplace Relations Advisor, Katherine brings a pragmatic understanding of how employment decisions affect people and business performance, ensuring her guidance is both strategic and grounded in real-world experience.

Agenda

12:00 PM

Registration
Light lunch
Networking with experts in the industry

12:30 PM

This session is designed to give business owners and their trusted advisors a clear understanding of:

When a dismissal might expose your business to an unfair dismissal, general protections, or other legal claim.
When and where procedural fairness plays a role in dismissal processes and what documents help to reduce legal risk.
What to do when faced with a Fair Work or other dismissal claim.
The mistakes employers often make and how to prevent them.

1:00 PM

Q&A with Jess and Katherine
- open floor discussion
- practical insights

1:15 PM

Networking
- continue the conversations with our speakers
- share contact details

1:30 PM

Event concludes

Back to Basics - Common Mistakes Employers Make with their Policies

This article explores how poorly drafted or misunderstood workplace policies can create legal risk for employers and highlights key steps businesses should take to ensure their policies are practical, consistent and enforceable.

Employment Law Essentials for Business Owners (Part 1): Managing Dismissals the Right Way

Hear insights on how to manage dismissals the right way, including how to distinguish between performance and conduct issues, when to act quickly, and how to avoid unfair dismissal and general protections risks.

Listen to the podcast

Dismissal Process and Disputes: An Essential Guide

Managing risk starts before the claim: prevention is better than the cure.

What You’ll Learn

Spaces at this exclusive event are limited. Secure your spot below.

Why Attend?

Learn practical strategies

Hear Valuable Legal Insights

Network With Industry Experts

Speakers