Richard Thompson

Richard brings over 30 years of experience in employment law and commercial dispute resolution, having served as an industrial relations advisor, lawyer, and barrister. Throughout his career, he has developed a broad practice representing both commercial and individual clients across all areas of employment law and business disputes. In employment law, Richard has acted for clients from a diverse range of industries including manufacturing, retail, transport, shipping, recruitment, labour hire, finance, IT, medical, education, and legal firms. He provides expert advice on employee relations, performance management, termination, and employment agreements, and frequently represents clients in matters involving unfair and unlawful dismissals, general protections and adverse action claims, wage disputes, discrimination, bullying and harassment. His advocacy extends across multiple jurisdictions including the Fair Work Commission, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Tribunals, VCAT, Magistrates Court, Supreme Court, Federal Circuit Court, and Federal Court. Richard works closely with CEOs, directors, management teams, and employees, offering practical and strategic guidance on workplace policies, payroll compliance, workplace investigations, redundancies, restraint of trade, and whistleblower protection. In the commercial and corporate arena, Richard provides advice and representation in disputes relating to the sale and purchase of companies and shares, shareholder conflicts, intellectual property matters, cybercrime proceedings, debt recovery, and contractor and freight disputes. He has extensive experience conducting negotiations, mediations, and settlement conferences, and manages disputes from pre-litigation through to court proceedings, including matters involving Supreme Court injunctions and administrative law issues such as constitutional and election disputes. Richard earned his Bachelor of Laws from Bond University in 1996, followed by a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law, Sydney, and a Graduate Diploma in Labour Law (MBA) from the University of Melbourne. He was admitted to the Victorian Bar in 1999 and has contributed to the profession as a member of the Law Institute of Victoria Workplace Relations Executive Committee.