Giacomo Giorgi is an employment and industrial relations specialist helping clients navigate complex and strategic industrial relationships disputes, complex and contentious bargaining matters and other industrial relations issues, employment and post-employment claims and disputes, sensitive workplace investigations and statutory (and other) employment obligations and risks.
Giacomo has extensive experience in the energy and resources sector, throughout the whole project lifecycle: from initial workforce strategy and contractor engagement through construction, commissioning and operation. Giacomo also regularly works closely with manufacturers, retailers, hospitality providers, local governments, public bodies, and universities.
Giacomo’s recent key experience includes:
- representing clients in matters before the Fair Work Commission, WA Industrial Relations Commission and WA Work Health and Safety Tribunal, including appearing as advocate in unfair dismissal claims, enterprise agreement disputes and disputes about union right of entry under the Fair Work Act
- preparing an appeal to the High Court in relation to the important 'ordinary and customary turnover of labour' exception to redundancy entitlements
- appearing as advocate before a Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission on behalf of the coal industry in relation to a test case regarding the new multi-employer bargaining provisions of the Fair Work Act
- acting for a large oil & gas company in proceedings seeking compensation against a union for organising unprotected industrial action
- defending a large construction company in relation to proceedings concerning alleged breaches of an enterprise agreement in the Federal Court
In 2024, Doyles named Giacomo as a “Recommended” for the Leading Employment Lawyers (Employer Representation) – WA, recognising him as a leading individual in Perth for employment and industrial relations.
As a highly skilled advocate, Giacomo regularly represents employers on a wide range of contentious proceedings in courts and tribunals. In relation to Giacomo's advocacy, a Deputy President of the Fair Work Commission commented:
"It is incumbent on me to say from the outset that Mr Giorgi’s preparation and presentation of [the] case was a masterclass in the art of advocacy. Difficult and complex jurisdictional issues were logically, carefully and succinctly explained by reference to one or two key authorities and relevantly applied to the uncontested documentary evidence in the case. Mr Giorgi’s oral presentation was measured and calmly delivered without superfluous flummery or laboured repetition. In short, he was a very persuasive and effective advocate.”
- Kim McRae v Greyhound Australia t/a Greyhound Australia Pty Ltd [2020] FWC 1868 at [60], Deputy President Sams
