Rachel Lee

Head of Legal - Employee Relations

Greater Perth Area

About

I am an employment and industrial relations legal practitioner focussed on providing person centred advice that enables a safe and productive workplace.

Experience

  • Head of Legal - Employee Relations at BHP
    Jun 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 2 mos

    Oversee a national team of employment lawyers and provide strategic legal advice on industrial relations, human resources, employee relations and investigations issues across Australia, Asia and Europe.

  • Deputy Chair at Teach Learn Grow (TLG)
    Feb 2020 - Present · 6 yrs 6 mos

    Board member and Compliance Sub-Committee member for not-for-profit organisation Teach Legal Grow. Teach Learn Grow provides free one-on-one tuition and mentoring to rural and remote Australian students in NSW and WA, with the aim of empowering students to realise their full potential. Community Volunteer Organisation of The Year Award at the 2021 Volunteer of The Year Awards and a finalist in the Small Organisation Category at the Community Services Excellence Awards.

  • Herbert Smith Freehills (8 yrs 4 mos)
    • Senior Associate
      Jul 2020 - Jun 2023 · 3 yrs

      I have experience with advising clients from a range of industries on day-to-day employment issues, enterprise bargaining, workplace investigations, industrial relations strategic advice, industrial action and acting on claims in the Equal Opportunity Commission, Fair Work Commission and in various Australian Courts. I also have experience as advocate before the Commission in contested employment and industrial relations matters. I am a member of the Perth Community Committee, which facilitates the firm's outreach to community organisations. I co-ordinate HSF's relationships with community organisations including the Big Issue, United Way, Kulbardi and the Community Legal Centres Association.

    • Solicitor
      Mar 2015 - Jul 2020 · 5 yrs 5 mos

      Solicitor in the Employment, Industrial Relations and Safety team. I have completed an 18 month graduate program, including six month placements in the Employment practice, Disputes practice (with a focus on arbitration and corporate regulatory work) and the Mergers & Acquisitions practice in the Perth office.

    • Secondee Solicitor London
      Sep 2016 - Mar 2017 · 7 mos

      Graduate lawyer selected through competitive Australia-wide application process for a six month secondment to the HSF London Disputes team, specialising in consumer products regulatory advice and litigation.

  • Legal Counsel - Employee Relations (Secondee) at BHP
    Dec 2021 - Jun 2022 · 7 mos

    Secondee from Herbert Smith Freehills to BHP's national employment and industrial relations focused legal team. Worked on matters across the BHP managed assets in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Provided advice and representation, including advocacy, in contentious matters.

  • Senior Consultant - Advisory (Secondee) at Coles
    Jul 2019 - Oct 2019 · 4 mos

    Providing advice and support to Coles on workplace relations matters including investigations, enterprise agreement interpretation and disputes, non-work related ill and injured employees and employment related litigation.