ChrisGardner
Partner
International Employment Law
cgardner@seyfarth.com
Chris partners with leading employers on the engagements that matter to them, drawing on his considerable expertise in workplace change forged in the toughest environments.
More About Chris
For more than 20 years, Chris has advised some of Australia's leading employers on workplace strategy, complex human resources issues and high-stakes litigation.
Chris loves the engagements that really matter for clients, working with business leaders who can best take advantage of his experience. For Chris, workplace law is his expertise, but helping businesses achieve their goals is his passion.
His considerable expertise in workplace change has been forged in the toughest of environments, including stevedoring, construction, road transport, and rail.
He has assisted countless employers involved in challenging bargaining negotiations and disputes aiming to deliver pragmatic and solution-orientated advice. The legal context is only one part of the puzzle when balancing strategy and risk. Chris is passionate about helping employers get the results they deserve.
Chris has recently helped employers with:
- The implications of introducing automated technology in traditional blue-collar environments
- Developing leading-edge enterprise bargaining agreements
- Limiting the downside of difficult enterprise bargaining negotiations
- A move from traditional to more progressive workplace outcomes
- The defence of litigation aimed at preventing operations
- Proactive litigation aimed at restoring business operations
Chris has been at the forefront of developing the Seyfarth Workplace Bargaining Toolkit, providing clients with a holistic analysis of their negotiation position and the capacity to improve it.
Chris is regularly seen in the press, with features in Boss Magazine, the Australian Financial Review Magazine, and Qantas Q Radio. His views are often sought by leading journalists covering workplace issues.
Our Australian practice operates as Seyfarth Shaw Australia, an unincorporated legal practice. Legal services provided by Seyfarth Shaw Australia are provided only by the Australian legal practitioner partners and employees of Seyfarth Shaw Australia.
Chris loves the engagements that really matter for clients, working with business leaders who can best take advantage of his experience. For Chris, workplace law is his expertise, but helping businesses achieve their goals is his passion.
His considerable expertise in workplace change has been forged in the toughest of environments, including stevedoring, construction, road transport, and rail.
He has assisted countless employers involved in challenging bargaining negotiations and disputes aiming to deliver pragmatic and solution-orientated advice. The legal context is only one part of the puzzle when balancing strategy and risk. Chris is passionate about helping employers get the results they deserve.
Chris has recently helped employers with:
- The implications of introducing automated technology in traditional blue-collar environments
- Developing leading-edge enterprise bargaining agreements
- Limiting the downside of difficult enterprise bargaining negotiations
- A move from traditional to more progressive workplace outcomes
- The defence of litigation aimed at preventing operations
- Proactive litigation aimed at restoring business operations
Chris has been at the forefront of developing the Seyfarth Workplace Bargaining Toolkit, providing clients with a holistic analysis of their negotiation position and the capacity to improve it.
Chris is regularly seen in the press, with features in Boss Magazine, the Australian Financial Review Magazine, and Qantas Q Radio. His views are often sought by leading journalists covering workplace issues.
Our Australian practice operates as Seyfarth Shaw Australia, an unincorporated legal practice. Legal services provided by Seyfarth Shaw Australia are provided only by the Australian legal practitioner partners and employees of Seyfarth Shaw Australia.
- LLB, Monash University
- BEc, Monash University
- An Australian legal practitioner admitted in Victoria
Related Services
Related Key Industries
Related Regions
Blogs
Chris has represented:
- A major Australian telecommunications provider in respect of its workplace relations change strategy.
- A leading Australian stevedore in respect of its national enterprise bargaining campaign.
- A leading warehouse and distribution provider in respect of union organised picketing conduct and related collective bargaining.
- An Australian manufacturer in respect of its desire to make a two tier enterprise agreement.
- A leading beverage manufacturer in respect of its bargaining campaign leading a termination of the bargaining and a workplace determination.
- A leading logistics provider in respect of its Greenfield Agreement strategy.
- A major retailer in a union coverage dispute with multiple proceedings in the Fair Work Commission and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.
- A major retailer in the first Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal hearing for orders.
- Logistics and transport operators in the development of new enterprise agreements in near fully automated environments.
Related News & Insights
-
Recognition
03/13/2024
16 Seyfarth Lawyers Earn Acclaim in Who’s Who Legal: Labour, Employment & Benefits 2024
-
Blog Post
Mar 4, 2024
The next ten years: Seyfarth’s partners discuss the future of employment and workplace safety law in Australia
-
Blog Post
Feb 28, 2024
A decade in Australia: Seyfarth’s partners reflect on changes in employment and workplace safety law
-
Recognition
01/17/2024
Seyfarth Ranked Highly in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024
- Recognised in International Employment Lawyer Global Elite (2024)
- Recognised in International Employment Lawyer Elite (2022)
- Recognised in Best Lawyers Australia, Labour & Employment Law (Woodward/White Inc.) (2008-2024)
- Recognised in Chambers Asia Pacific, Band 1, Employment (2019-2023)
- Rated "preeminent" in Employment Law, Doyle’s Guide (2017-2023)
- Recognised by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific as a "Leading Individual" for Labour and Employment (Legalese Ltd.) (2020-2024)
- Australian Human Resources Institute
- Industrial Relations Society of Victoria
- Co-Author, "Board accountability and sexual harassment in the new regime," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 26, 2023)
- Co-Author, "Closing loopholes or throwing lifelines…," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 13, 2023)
- Co-Author, "Closing loopholes or creating a noose?," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 5, 2023)
- Co-Author, "Labor’s changes to labour strategy," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 1, 2023)
- Author, "Five Key Issues in the Australian Workplace—Highlights for Multinational Employers," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 17, 2022)
- "Productivity Commission: Workplace Relations Framework review brings big changes," Sydney Morning Herald (August 6, 2015)
- "Industrial relations system creates high-cost, low-productivity projects," Australian Financial Review (May 26, 2015)
- "Short-term gain, long-term pain," Matthew Stevens, Australian Financial Review (January 2013)
- "Where is Productivity Bargaining in Australia," Commerce & Industry Magazine (Spring 2010)
- Contributing Author, The Workplace Relations Handbook: "A guide to the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth)," Butterworths (2004)
- AmCham Human Capital Committee chair (2017-2019)
- National Heart Foundation, Victoria, board memeber (2019)
- Offshore & Specialist Ships Australia (OSSA), board memeber (2019-present)
Chris partners with leading employers on the engagements that matter to them, drawing on his considerable expertise in workplace change forged in the toughest environments.
More About Chris
For more than 20 years, Chris has advised some of Australia's leading employers on workplace strategy, complex human resources issues and high-stakes litigation.
Chris loves the engagements that really matter for clients, working with business leaders who can best take advantage of his experience. For Chris, workplace law is his expertise, but helping businesses achieve their goals is his passion.
His considerable expertise in workplace change has been forged in the toughest of environments, including stevedoring, construction, road transport, and rail.
He has assisted countless employers involved in challenging bargaining negotiations and disputes aiming to deliver pragmatic and solution-orientated advice. The legal context is only one part of the puzzle when balancing strategy and risk. Chris is passionate about helping employers get the results they deserve.
Chris has recently helped employers with:
- The implications of introducing automated technology in traditional blue-collar environments
- Developing leading-edge enterprise bargaining agreements
- Limiting the downside of difficult enterprise bargaining negotiations
- A move from traditional to more progressive workplace outcomes
- The defence of litigation aimed at preventing operations
- Proactive litigation aimed at restoring business operations
Chris has been at the forefront of developing the Seyfarth Workplace Bargaining Toolkit, providing clients with a holistic analysis of their negotiation position and the capacity to improve it.
Chris is regularly seen in the press, with features in Boss Magazine, the Australian Financial Review Magazine, and Qantas Q Radio. His views are often sought by leading journalists covering workplace issues.
Our Australian practice operates as Seyfarth Shaw Australia, an unincorporated legal practice. Legal services provided by Seyfarth Shaw Australia are provided only by the Australian legal practitioner partners and employees of Seyfarth Shaw Australia.
Chris loves the engagements that really matter for clients, working with business leaders who can best take advantage of his experience. For Chris, workplace law is his expertise, but helping businesses achieve their goals is his passion.
His considerable expertise in workplace change has been forged in the toughest of environments, including stevedoring, construction, road transport, and rail.
He has assisted countless employers involved in challenging bargaining negotiations and disputes aiming to deliver pragmatic and solution-orientated advice. The legal context is only one part of the puzzle when balancing strategy and risk. Chris is passionate about helping employers get the results they deserve.
Chris has recently helped employers with:
- The implications of introducing automated technology in traditional blue-collar environments
- Developing leading-edge enterprise bargaining agreements
- Limiting the downside of difficult enterprise bargaining negotiations
- A move from traditional to more progressive workplace outcomes
- The defence of litigation aimed at preventing operations
- Proactive litigation aimed at restoring business operations
Chris has been at the forefront of developing the Seyfarth Workplace Bargaining Toolkit, providing clients with a holistic analysis of their negotiation position and the capacity to improve it.
Chris is regularly seen in the press, with features in Boss Magazine, the Australian Financial Review Magazine, and Qantas Q Radio. His views are often sought by leading journalists covering workplace issues.
Our Australian practice operates as Seyfarth Shaw Australia, an unincorporated legal practice. Legal services provided by Seyfarth Shaw Australia are provided only by the Australian legal practitioner partners and employees of Seyfarth Shaw Australia.
- LLB, Monash University
- BEc, Monash University
- An Australian legal practitioner admitted in Victoria
Related Services
Related Key Industries
Related Regions
Blogs
Chris has represented:
- A major Australian telecommunications provider in respect of its workplace relations change strategy.
- A leading Australian stevedore in respect of its national enterprise bargaining campaign.
- A leading warehouse and distribution provider in respect of union organised picketing conduct and related collective bargaining.
- An Australian manufacturer in respect of its desire to make a two tier enterprise agreement.
- A leading beverage manufacturer in respect of its bargaining campaign leading a termination of the bargaining and a workplace determination.
- A leading logistics provider in respect of its Greenfield Agreement strategy.
- A major retailer in a union coverage dispute with multiple proceedings in the Fair Work Commission and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.
- A major retailer in the first Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal hearing for orders.
- Logistics and transport operators in the development of new enterprise agreements in near fully automated environments.
Related News & Insights
-
Recognition
03/13/2024
16 Seyfarth Lawyers Earn Acclaim in Who’s Who Legal: Labour, Employment & Benefits 2024
-
Blog Post
Mar 4, 2024
The next ten years: Seyfarth’s partners discuss the future of employment and workplace safety law in Australia
-
Blog Post
Feb 28, 2024
A decade in Australia: Seyfarth’s partners reflect on changes in employment and workplace safety law
-
Recognition
01/17/2024
Seyfarth Ranked Highly in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024
- Recognised in International Employment Lawyer Global Elite (2024)
- Recognised in International Employment Lawyer Elite (2022)
- Recognised in Best Lawyers Australia, Labour & Employment Law (Woodward/White Inc.) (2008-2024)
- Recognised in Chambers Asia Pacific, Band 1, Employment (2019-2023)
- Rated "preeminent" in Employment Law, Doyle’s Guide (2017-2023)
- Recognised by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific as a "Leading Individual" for Labour and Employment (Legalese Ltd.) (2020-2024)
- Australian Human Resources Institute
- Industrial Relations Society of Victoria
- Co-Author, "Board accountability and sexual harassment in the new regime," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 26, 2023)
- Co-Author, "Closing loopholes or throwing lifelines…," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 13, 2023)
- Co-Author, "Closing loopholes or creating a noose?," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 5, 2023)
- Co-Author, "Labor’s changes to labour strategy," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 1, 2023)
- Author, "Five Key Issues in the Australian Workplace—Highlights for Multinational Employers," Legal Update, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 17, 2022)
- "Productivity Commission: Workplace Relations Framework review brings big changes," Sydney Morning Herald (August 6, 2015)
- "Industrial relations system creates high-cost, low-productivity projects," Australian Financial Review (May 26, 2015)
- "Short-term gain, long-term pain," Matthew Stevens, Australian Financial Review (January 2013)
- "Where is Productivity Bargaining in Australia," Commerce & Industry Magazine (Spring 2010)
- Contributing Author, The Workplace Relations Handbook: "A guide to the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth)," Butterworths (2004)
- AmCham Human Capital Committee chair (2017-2019)
- National Heart Foundation, Victoria, board memeber (2019)
- Offshore & Specialist Ships Australia (OSSA), board memeber (2019-present)