RachelBernasconi

Partner

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Rachel takes a lead role advising Australia's foremost companies in their high-stakes employment matters and industrial disputes.


More About Rachel

Rachel's practice focuses on the full spectrum of employment and labour law. Rachel's extensive experience in handling a wide range of employer challenges and opportunities positions her as a trusted adviser to leading Australian employers and multinational corporations.

With more than 20 years of experience working with leading employers, Rachel is often sought out by employers in professional and corporate services, labour hire, transportation, maritime, tourism, and pharmaceuticals to address complex industrial relations matters, resolve contentious disputes and enterprise bargaining, and assist in closing out difficult individual employee issues such as complaints, claims, and contested terminations.

Working closely with large organisations in relation to their workforces in Australia and overseas, Rachel is trusted to find solutions that meet their strategic aims whilst minimising their employment law risks. Rachel does not shy away from challenges when supporting employers with highly unionised workforces whose disputes, more often than not, reach the headlines.

Rachel’s experience includes:

  • Defending employment litigation in various Australian jurisdictions.
  • Reducing industrial and legal risks associated with major business restructuring.
  • Developing and implementing strategic industrial arrangements and collective bargaining strategies.
  • Managing and resolving complex industrial disputes and dealing with industrial action.
  • Managing discrimination and sexual harassment complaints and proceedings.

Rachel's practical and strategic approach is appreciated by clients, who have described her as “magnificent: highly pragmatic and very commercial,” “an excellent lawyer who gives digestible advice in a practical and structured form,” and “a real standout lawyer."



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
  • BCom, University of Sydney
  • Rachel has completed courses in strategy, management, and negotiation at Harvard University.
  • An Australian legal practitioner admitted in New South Wales