BenDudley
Partner
International Employment Law
bdudley@seyfarth.com
Ben uses his strategic and commercial acumen to help major employers solve their complex, high-stakes employment and industrial law challenges.
More About Ben
Employment and industrial relations are complex and continually changing areas of the law that require a high degree of technical knowledge, matched with a commercial, practical, and responsive approach to solving problems. To navigate the best course, clients need to balance employment and industrial risks against commercial and market pressures. Ben draws on his depth of skills and legal experience to assist clients with charting the right course through these matters.
With more than two decades of experience, Ben has acted for leading employers across almost all major industries in Australia, in all the courts and tribunals, and in relation to the full spectrum of employment and industrial disputes that might arise. When employers are facing potentially costly and difficult matters, they turn to Ben to help them navigate these issues to achieve the best resolutions for their legal goals. Ben is particularly adept at helping clients successfully deal with contentious collective bargaining, individual employment disputes, and post-employment restraint of trade issues.
As a founding partner of Seyfarth’s Australian practice, Ben is an integral part of Seyfarth’s international employment team and provides support to multinational companies on a broad range of employment law issues that span the United States and Asia Pacific. Having worked for many blue-chip employers in high-profile disputes, Ben has unique insight into the legal challenges that arise in relation to complex employment and industrial matters.
Ben surpasses expectations for accurate, speedy, and concise legal advice by using a hands-on approach in each client matter.
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.
With more than two decades of experience, Ben has acted for leading employers across almost all major industries in Australia, in all the courts and tribunals, and in relation to the full spectrum of employment and industrial disputes that might arise. When employers are facing potentially costly and difficult matters, they turn to Ben to help them navigate these issues to achieve the best resolutions for their legal goals. Ben is particularly adept at helping clients successfully deal with contentious collective bargaining, individual employment disputes, and post-employment restraint of trade issues.
As a founding partner of Seyfarth’s Australian practice, Ben is an integral part of Seyfarth’s international employment team and provides support to multinational companies on a broad range of employment law issues that span the United States and Asia Pacific. Having worked for many blue-chip employers in high-profile disputes, Ben has unique insight into the legal challenges that arise in relation to complex employment and industrial matters.
Ben surpasses expectations for accurate, speedy, and concise legal advice by using a hands-on approach in each client matter.
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, University of Sydney
First class honours
- BEc, University of Sydney
Economics and AccountingFirst class honours
- An Australian legal practitioner admitted in New South Wales
Related Services
Related Regions
Blogs
- Recovering significant compensation for a large Australian stevedoring company in proceedings against a union relating to unlawful industrial action.
- Representing a number of law firm partners in defending post-employment restraints of trade proceedings commenced by their former firms. Ben has advised numerous clients in relation to post-employment restraint disputes, including in connection with disputes involving international transfers, restraints governed by foreign law and litigation in multiple jurisdictions.
- Representing numerous media organisations in relation to collective bargaining, including by providing strategic industrial relations advice in the face of protracted and contentious negotiations.
- Advising large employers on sensitive workplace conduct/behaviour investigations.
- Advising on sensitive senior executive and senior leadership team issues, including negotiated departures.
- Advising on complex wage compliance projects.
- Representing numerous employers in award review proceedings.
Related News & Insights
-
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
-
Recognition
12/05/2023
Seyfarth Named a 2023 IEL Elite Firm by International Employment Lawyer
- Recognised in International Employment Lawyer Global Elite (2024)
- Recognised in International Employment Lawyer Elite (2022)
- Recognised in Best Lawyers Australia, Labour & Employment Law (2014-2024)
- Recognised in Chambers Asia Pacific for Employment (2019-2022)
-
Rated Recommended in Employment Law, Doyle’s Guide (2017-2023)
-
Recognised by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific as a “Next Generation Partner” for Labour and Employment (Legalese Ltd.) (2023-2024)
- Law Society of New South Wales
- Co-Author, "Is the Qantas v TWU decision the death knell for outsourcing?," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 14, 2023)
- Co-Author, "Closing loopholes or throwing lifelines…," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 13, 2023)
- Co-Author, "What do the Jamsek and Personnel Contracting High Court cases really mean for the future of contracts and the performance of work?," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 28, 2022)
- Co-Author, "Preparing for the “Great Resignation” and remote employee departures," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 20, 2021)
- Co-Author, "Coaching emerging leaders during COVID-19," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (May 28, 2020)
- Co-Author, "5 years on – in human resources, industrial relations and workplace health and safety law," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 12, 2018)
Ben uses his strategic and commercial acumen to help major employers solve their complex, high-stakes employment and industrial law challenges.
More About Ben
Employment and industrial relations are complex and continually changing areas of the law that require a high degree of technical knowledge, matched with a commercial, practical, and responsive approach to solving problems. To navigate the best course, clients need to balance employment and industrial risks against commercial and market pressures. Ben draws on his depth of skills and legal experience to assist clients with charting the right course through these matters.
With more than two decades of experience, Ben has acted for leading employers across almost all major industries in Australia, in all the courts and tribunals, and in relation to the full spectrum of employment and industrial disputes that might arise. When employers are facing potentially costly and difficult matters, they turn to Ben to help them navigate these issues to achieve the best resolutions for their legal goals. Ben is particularly adept at helping clients successfully deal with contentious collective bargaining, individual employment disputes, and post-employment restraint of trade issues.
As a founding partner of Seyfarth’s Australian practice, Ben is an integral part of Seyfarth’s international employment team and provides support to multinational companies on a broad range of employment law issues that span the United States and Asia Pacific. Having worked for many blue-chip employers in high-profile disputes, Ben has unique insight into the legal challenges that arise in relation to complex employment and industrial matters.
Ben surpasses expectations for accurate, speedy, and concise legal advice by using a hands-on approach in each client matter.
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.
With more than two decades of experience, Ben has acted for leading employers across almost all major industries in Australia, in all the courts and tribunals, and in relation to the full spectrum of employment and industrial disputes that might arise. When employers are facing potentially costly and difficult matters, they turn to Ben to help them navigate these issues to achieve the best resolutions for their legal goals. Ben is particularly adept at helping clients successfully deal with contentious collective bargaining, individual employment disputes, and post-employment restraint of trade issues.
As a founding partner of Seyfarth’s Australian practice, Ben is an integral part of Seyfarth’s international employment team and provides support to multinational companies on a broad range of employment law issues that span the United States and Asia Pacific. Having worked for many blue-chip employers in high-profile disputes, Ben has unique insight into the legal challenges that arise in relation to complex employment and industrial matters.
Ben surpasses expectations for accurate, speedy, and concise legal advice by using a hands-on approach in each client matter.
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, University of Sydney
First class honours
- BEc, University of Sydney
Economics and AccountingFirst class honours
- An Australian legal practitioner admitted in New South Wales
Related Services
Related Regions
Blogs
- Recovering significant compensation for a large Australian stevedoring company in proceedings against a union relating to unlawful industrial action.
- Representing a number of law firm partners in defending post-employment restraints of trade proceedings commenced by their former firms. Ben has advised numerous clients in relation to post-employment restraint disputes, including in connection with disputes involving international transfers, restraints governed by foreign law and litigation in multiple jurisdictions.
- Representing numerous media organisations in relation to collective bargaining, including by providing strategic industrial relations advice in the face of protracted and contentious negotiations.
- Advising large employers on sensitive workplace conduct/behaviour investigations.
- Advising on sensitive senior executive and senior leadership team issues, including negotiated departures.
- Advising on complex wage compliance projects.
- Representing numerous employers in award review proceedings.
Related News & Insights
-
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
-
Recognition
12/05/2023
Seyfarth Named a 2023 IEL Elite Firm by International Employment Lawyer
- Recognised in International Employment Lawyer Global Elite (2024)
- Recognised in International Employment Lawyer Elite (2022)
- Recognised in Best Lawyers Australia, Labour & Employment Law (2014-2024)
- Recognised in Chambers Asia Pacific for Employment (2019-2022)
-
Rated Recommended in Employment Law, Doyle’s Guide (2017-2023)
-
Recognised by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific as a “Next Generation Partner” for Labour and Employment (Legalese Ltd.) (2023-2024)
- Law Society of New South Wales
- Co-Author, "Is the Qantas v TWU decision the death knell for outsourcing?," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 14, 2023)
- Co-Author, "Closing loopholes or throwing lifelines…," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (September 13, 2023)
- Co-Author, "What do the Jamsek and Personnel Contracting High Court cases really mean for the future of contracts and the performance of work?," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (February 28, 2022)
- Co-Author, "Preparing for the “Great Resignation” and remote employee departures," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 20, 2021)
- Co-Author, "Coaching emerging leaders during COVID-19," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (May 28, 2020)
- Co-Author, "5 years on – in human resources, industrial relations and workplace health and safety law," Workplace Law & Strategy, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (December 12, 2018)