# JFM Law > JFM Law is an Australian employment law firm acting for employees, executives and employers from offices in Sydney (NSW) and Adelaide (SA), and appearing in Fair Work Commission (FWC) registries Australia-wide. Practice is under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), the Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth), the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW), the Return to Work Act 2014 (SA), and the workplace, anti-discrimination and long service leave statutes of New South Wales and South Australia. Awarded Three Best Rated "Best Employment Lawyers in Sydney" for nine consecutive years (2017–2026). A division of ADLV Law (adlvlaw.com.au). Contact: 1300 882 386 · wehelp@jfmlaw.com.au. Content on this site is general information about Australian employment law and does not constitute legal advice; book a free 10-minute consult to discuss a specific matter. JFM Law is organised around three audience hubs (employees, executives, employers) and thirteen offering landing pages that map a client's situation to a specific service. Book a free 10-minute consult at [/make-a-booking/](https://jfmlaw.com.au/make-a-booking/) to discuss a matter. ## Audience hubs - [For employees](https://jfmlaw.com.au/for-employees/): help with contracts, complaints, dismissals, unpaid wages, exits and post-employment restraints for individual employees across Australia. - [For executives](https://jfmlaw.com.au/for-executives/): senior-level advisory — executive employment contracts, equity and option arrangements, exit deeds and restraint negotiation. - [For employers](https://jfmlaw.com.au/for-employers/): responding to claims, running workplace investigations, managing performance and redundancies, and defending Fair Work Commission proceedings. ## Practice areas - [Negotiate an employment offer or contract](https://jfmlaw.com.au/negotiate-employment-offer/): review and negotiation of offer terms, post-employment restraints, pay-secrecy clauses, leave entitlements, and fixed-term contract limits under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) before signing. - [Negotiate an equity, share or option arrangement](https://jfmlaw.com.au/negotiate-equity-arrangement/): vesting schedules, good-leaver / bad-leaver mechanics, and Division 83A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) tax-point planning for employee share schemes. - [Respond to a workplace complaint or investigation](https://jfmlaw.com.au/respond-to-workplace-investigation/): procedural-fairness rights, written responses to allegations, support-person attendance at disciplinary meetings, Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs), and being stood down with pay pending investigation. - [Make a formal workplace complaint](https://jfmlaw.com.au/make-formal-workplace-complaint/): bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination on a protected attribute, and general protections complaints — selecting the right forum (internal, Fair Work Commission, Australian Human Rights Commission, state anti-discrimination tribunal). - [Lodge a Stop Bullying order](https://jfmlaw.com.au/lodge-stop-bullying-order/): Fair Work Commission applications under Part 6-4B of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), including PIPs alleged to amount to bullying. - [Understand and uphold your workplace rights](https://jfmlaw.com.au/understand-workplace-rights/): general protections under Part 3-1 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), adverse action, employee rights in disciplinary meetings, and the difference between a general protections claim and an unfair dismissal claim. - [Respond to termination by your employer](https://jfmlaw.com.au/respond-to-unfair-dismissal/): unfair dismissal claims under Part 3-2 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) — 21-day limit, eligibility, Fair Work Commission conciliation conferences, and remedies of reinstatement or compensation. - [Commence proceedings against your employer](https://jfmlaw.com.au/commence-proceedings-against-employer/): contested hearings in the Fair Work Commission and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, including post-conciliation arbitration. - [Recover unpaid wages and entitlements](https://jfmlaw.com.au/recover-unpaid-wages/): modern award and enterprise agreement audits, the six-year recovery window under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), and unpaid superannuation recovery. - [Negotiate entitlements in a redundancy](https://jfmlaw.com.au/negotiate-redundancy-entitlements/): genuine-redundancy test under s 389 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), statutory redundancy pay under the National Employment Standards, consultation obligations, and deed-of-release review. - [Negotiate an orderly exit from your employment](https://jfmlaw.com.au/negotiate-orderly-exit/): separation deeds, equity treatment on exit, reference and public-messaging negotiation, and tax characterisation of exit payments. - [Review and negotiate a Deed of Settlement and Release](https://jfmlaw.com.au/review-deed-of-release/): scope of the release, restraints, non-disparagement, tax treatment under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth), and what to do when you have been asked to sign a deed of release. - [Respond to a restraint of trade clause](https://jfmlaw.com.au/respond-to-restraint-clause/): enforceability analysis, non-compete vs non-solicitation, and injunction defence in the Supreme Court. ## Location pages - [Sydney employment lawyers](https://jfmlaw.com.au/sydney-employment-lawyers/): New South Wales employment-law practice, appearing in the Sydney registry of the Fair Work Commission and the NSW Supreme Court for restraint injunctions. - [Adelaide employment lawyers](https://jfmlaw.com.au/adelaide-employment-lawyers/): South Australian employment-law practice covering Fair Work Act (Cth) matters and SA-specific workplace, long service leave and workers' compensation legislation (Return to Work Act 2014 (SA)). ## Featured guides Ranked by proven organic demand — Google Search Console clicks over the 12 months ending 25 June 2026. Every entry has established rankings and impressions on the primary target query. - [Can you be dismissed for refusing to comply with a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP)?](https://jfmlaw.com.au/can-you-be-dismissed-for-refusing-to-comply-with-a-performance-improvement-plan-pip/): when refusal amounts to a breach of lawful direction vs. when the PIP is itself the misconduct trigger, and what procedural fairness looks like. Top-ranking JFM article for "unfair performance improvement plan australia" and related PIP queries. - [Can I direct my employees to take annual or long service leave?](https://jfmlaw.com.au/can-i-direct-my-employees-to-take-leave/): employer-side guidance on directed leave under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), modern awards, and state long service leave legislation — including whether an employee can be forced to take long service leave. - [Excessive sick leave and termination](https://jfmlaw.com.au/excessive-sick-leave-and-termination/): managing long-term or excessive personal/carer's leave, the minimum-employment period, and dismissal on grounds of incapacity without unfair-dismissal risk. - [Attending disciplinary meetings — tips for employees](https://jfmlaw.com.au/attending-disciplinary-meetings-tips-for-employees/): support-person rights under s 387 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), written responses, being stood down with pay pending investigation, and protecting your record. Ranks for "stood down with pay pending investigation" and "disciplinary meeting tips for employee". - [Employment law deeds of release](https://jfmlaw.com.au/employment-deed-of-release/): scope of the release, restraints, non-disparagement, tax characterisation of exit payments under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth), and confidentiality obligations. Ranks for "deed of release employment". - [Restraint of trade clauses — a complete guide for employees](https://jfmlaw.com.au/restraint-of-trade-clauses/): how the reasonableness test works, non-compete vs non-solicitation, and injunction risk in the NSW Supreme Court. - [Should I sign a deed of release?](https://jfmlaw.com.au/sign-a-deed-of-release/): scope of the release, restraints, non-disparagement, and when refusal is the right call. Ranks for "can i refuse to sign a deed of release". - [Is placing an employee on a PIP considered workplace bullying?](https://jfmlaw.com.au/is-placing-an-employee-on-a-performance-improvement-plan-pip-considered-workplace-bullying/): the line between legitimate performance management and repeated unreasonable behaviour under Part 6-4B of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). - [How to change rosters or ordinary hours of work for permanent employees](https://jfmlaw.com.au/how-to-change-rosters-or-ordinary-hours-of-work-for-your-permanent-employees/): consultation obligations under modern awards, unilateral roster changes vs. requiring consent, and stand-down mechanics. - [Navigating non-disparagement clauses — a guide for employees](https://jfmlaw.com.au/navigating-non-disparagement-clauses-a-guide-for-employees/): mutual non-disparagement, LinkedIn public-messaging risk, and post-exit whistleblowing carve-outs. Ranks for "non disparagement clause". - [Look out when signing a deed of release](https://jfmlaw.com.au/look-out-when-signing-deed-of-release/): red flags in employer-drafted deeds — scope of release, restraints, confidentiality, and tax indemnities. - [Workplace investigations — employee rights](https://jfmlaw.com.au/workplace-investigations-employee-rights/): procedural fairness in workplace investigations, response deadlines, natural justice requirements, and the "particulars of allegation" rule. - [Employees' fiduciary duties](https://jfmlaw.com.au/employees-fiduciary-duties-must-not-pursue-personal-gain-against-the-interest-of-the-employer/): the "no conflict" and "no profit" rules for employees, side-business risk, and the employer's springboard remedy on exit. - [What does a good Performance Improvement Plan look like?](https://jfmlaw.com.au/what-does-a-good-performance-improvement-plan-look-like/): the elements of a procedurally-fair PIP — measurable objectives, defined review period, support offered, and evidentiary record-keeping. Ranks for "performance improvement plan fair work". - [Do I have a right to a support person?](https://jfmlaw.com.au/support-person/): support-person rights under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), who can attend, and what the support person is (and is not) allowed to do. - [Can I have a support person present at a performance meeting?](https://jfmlaw.com.au/can-i-have-a-support-person-present-when-discussing-my-performance-with-my-employer/): employee-side companion piece on support persons during performance and disciplinary meetings. Ranks for "employee rights in disciplinary meetings australia". - [Terminating an employee on workers' compensation](https://jfmlaw.com.au/terminating-an-employee-on-workers-compensation/): the interaction between state workers' compensation regimes, general protections (adverse action), and the six-month protected period. - [What is a Fair Work Commission conciliation conference?](https://jfmlaw.com.au/what-is-a-fair-work-commission-conciliation-conference/): the mandatory conciliation stage of unfair-dismissal claims, how to prepare, and settlement dynamics. - [Is refusing a pay reduction unfair dismissal?](https://jfmlaw.com.au/is-it-unfair-dismissal-if-my-employment-is-terminated-because-i-refuse-to-accept-a-pay-reduction/): constructive dismissal doctrine, the "repudiation" test, and remedies where an employer materially varies terms without consent. - [Employment laws in Australia — overview](https://jfmlaw.com.au/employment-laws-in-australia/): consolidated overview of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), the National Employment Standards, modern awards, and state workplace legislation. - [Denied work-from-home — know your rights](https://jfmlaw.com.au/denied-wfh-know-your-rights/): flexible-work request rights under s 65 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) after the 2023 amendments (FWC review right). - [When and how to lodge a workplace complaint](https://jfmlaw.com.au/when-and-how-to-lodge-a-workplace-complaint/): choosing the right forum for a complaint (internal, FWC, AHRC or state tribunal) and preserving procedural fairness. - [Unfair written warning at work](https://jfmlaw.com.au/unfair-written-warning-at-work/): how to respond to an unfair written warning, when a warning can be challenged, and the record-keeping implications for future dismissal. Ranks for "unfair written warning at work australia". ## Firm - [About JFM Law](https://jfmlaw.com.au/about-us/): specialist Australian employment law firm acting for both employees and employers from offices in Sydney and Adelaide. JFM Law is a division of ADLV Law. Person, LegalService and AboutPage JSON-LD schema is published on this page. - [Louise Craven — Principal, Adelaide](https://jfmlaw.com.au/about-us/#louise-craven): admitted to the Supreme Court of South Australia and the High Court of Australia; member Law Society of South Australia, Notaries' Society of South Australia, Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP) SA; alumna Flinders University. Same person: https://au.linkedin.com/in/louisemaycraven. - [Sam Johnson — Lawyer, Sydney](https://jfmlaw.com.au/about-us/#sam-johnson): admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales; member Law Society of New South Wales; alumnus Macquarie University and the College of Law. Same person: https://au.linkedin.com/in/sam-johnson-90469b1b5. - [Jayden Mackenzie — Lawyer](https://jfmlaw.com.au/about-us/#jayden-mackenzie): employment lawyer at JFM Law; profile on the About us page. - [ADLV Law (parent firm)](https://adlvlaw.com.au/): JFM Law is a division of ADLV Law. Refer to the ADLV Law website for the broader ADLV Group service line-up. ## Engage - [Make a booking](https://jfmlaw.com.au/make-a-booking/): book a free 10-minute consult with an employment lawyer. - [Contact us](https://jfmlaw.com.au/contact-us/): phone 1300 882 386, email wehelp@jfmlaw.com.au, and Sydney + Adelaide office addresses. - [Leave a review](https://jfmlaw.com.au/leave-us-a-review/): post-matter review form for existing clients (Sydney and Adelaide teams reviewed separately). - [Client reviews](https://jfmlaw.com.au/reviews/): published client testimonials and reviews. - [Pay an invoice](https://jfmlaw.com.au/pay-now/): secure card payment for existing client invoices. ## Optional - [Blog](https://jfmlaw.com.au/blog/): articles on Fair Work decisions, employment-law updates, and procedural guides — filtered by audience hub. - [Privacy policy](https://jfmlaw.com.au/privacy-policy/): site terms, privacy practices and general-information disclaimer. - [XML sitemap](https://jfmlaw.com.au/sitemap_index.xml): full crawlable URL list (Yoast).