- Telephone (08) 8235 3044
- Email Michael Kay
- Save my contact details
- Download my Profile
-
View my profile on
Michael Kay
Partner
Michael Kay leads Wallmans Lawyers’ Employment, Safety and Workers’ Compensation practice.
Michael has been repeatedly recognised in Best Lawyers Australia* in both Labour and Employment Law and Occupational Health and Safety Law, and in Doyles’ Guide to the Legal Profession as a Leading Employment Lawyer and WHS Lawyer in South Australia. In 2021, Michael was named the sole Lexology Client Choice Award Winner for the whole of Australia, in the category of Employment and Labour Law.
Michael provides advice to employers in relation to all aspects of labour strategy, employment disputes, and legal compliance.
Michael’s advice includes the review and preparation of enterprise agreements, contracts of employment, workplace policies and procedures, and statutory compliance. Michael also has significant expertise advising on (and defending disputes relating to) terminating employment, injury and absence management, performance management, workers’ compensation, work health and safety, allegations of underpayment, investigations and prosecutions by regulatory bodies, allegations of bullying, redundancies and restructures, privacy and FOI, allegations of breach of general protections, and all matters arising under anti-discrimination law. Michael also acts for both vendors and purchasers in relation to employment law due diligence arising from complex mergers and acquisitions. Michael also advises and represents registered employers in relation to workers compensation matters before the South Australian Employment Tribunal.
Michael has a significant background in litigation, having represented employers in most employment related jurisdictions, in particular the Federal Court of Australia, the Fair Work Commission and the South Australian Employment Tribunal. Michael has degrees in Laws and Legal Practice (Honours) and Behavioural Science (Organisational Psychology). Active in his field and known for his personable, pragmatic and decisive approach with clients, Michael frequently provides media comment and conducts workshops for leading industry bodies.
Memberships / associations
- The Law Society of South Australia
- Australian Human Resources Institute
- Industrial Relations Society of South Australia
- Australian Labour Law Association
- Telephone (08) 8235 3044
- Email michael.kay@wallmans.com.au
- Save my contact details
- Download my Profile
-
View my profile on
Areas of Practice
Honours & Awards
- Michael Kay | Partner of the Year Awards Finalist - Employment Partner | Lawyers Weekly 2023
- Michael Kay | 2023/24 Best Lawyers Australia Listing - Occupational Health & Safety Law
- Michael Kay | 2023/24 Best Lawyers Australia Listing - Labour & Employment Law
- Leading Employment Law Firms (Employer Representation) – South Australia - 2023 Doyles Guide
- Leading Workplace Health & Safety Law Firms – South Australia, 2023 Doyles Guide
- Michael Kay | Doyles Guide - Leading Employment Lawyers (Employer Representation) - SA, 2023
- Michael Kay | 2022/23 Best Lawyers Australia Listing - Occupational Health & Safety Law
- Michael Kay | 2022/23 Best Lawyers Australia Listing - Labour & Employment Law
- Leading Workplace Health & Safety Law Firms – South Australia, 2022 Doyles Guide
- Michael Kay | Doyles Guide - Leading Employment Lawyers (Employer Representation) – SA, 2022
- Leading Employment Law Firms (Employer Representation) - South Australia - 2022 Doyles Guide
- 2021 Lexology Client Choice Award- Employment and Labour Law (Australia)
- Michael Kay | 2021/22 Best Lawyers Australia Listing - Occupational Health & Safety Law
- Michael Kay | 2021/22 Best Lawyers Australia Listing - Labour & Employment Law
- Leading Workplace Health and Safety Firms - South Australia - 2021 Doyles Guide
- Leading Employment Law Firms (Employer Representation) - South Australia - 2021 Doyles Guide
- Michael Kay | Doyles Guide - Leading Workplace Health & Safety Lawyers - South Australia, 2021
- Michael Kay | Doyles Guide - Leading Employment Lawyers (Employer Representation) – SA, 2021
- Michael Kay | 2020/21 Best Lawyers Australia Listing - Occupational Health & Safety Law
- Michael Kay | 2020/21 Best Lawyers Australia Listing - Labour & Employment Law
- Leading Employment Law Firms (Employer Representation) - South Australia - 2020 Doyles Guide
- Michael Kay | 2019/20 Best Lawyers Australia Listing - Labour & Employment Law
- Michael Kay | Doyles Guide - Leading Adelaide Employment Lawyers (Employer Representation) 2019 (SA)
- Leading Employment Law Firms (Employer Representation) - South Australia - 2019 Doyles Guide
- Michael Kay | In Daily’s 40 Under 40 Winner 2018
- Michael Kay | 2018/19 Best Lawyers Australia Listing - Labour & Employment Law
- Leading Employment Law Firms (Employer Representation) - South Australia - 2018 Doyles Guide
- Michael Kay | 2017 Best Lawyers Australia Listing - Labour & Employment Law
- Michael Kay | Doyles Guide - Leading Adelaide Employment & WHS Lawyers 2017 (SA)
- Michael Kay | 2016 Best Lawyers Australia Listing - Labour & Employment Law
- Michael Kay | Doyles Guide - Leading Adelaide Employment & Industrial Relations Lawyers 2016 (SA)
- Michael Kay | Doyles Guide - Leading Employment Lawyer 2015 (SA)
- Michael Kay | 2015 Best Lawyers Australia Listing - Labour & Employment Law
Publications
- “Closing Loopholes” or Redefining Employment Law?
- Insights Paper | Employment Law Alert - HCA Overturns Casual “Double Dipping” Decision
- Insights Paper | IR Alert - Changes to Casual Employment
- LG Insights- Key legal issues for Councils and Local Government
- Insights Paper | Significant Fair Work Act Amendments Proposed
- Quarterly Employment Law Insights | Winter 2020
- WorkPac v Rossato: What does the “casual double-dipping” case mean for your workplace?
- Paper | COVID-19: Frequently Asked Employment Law Questions
- Privacy considerations for your workplace: Collecting personal information regarding COVID-19
- Quarterly Employment Law Insights | Winter 2018
- Quarterly Insights | Autumn 2018
- Training | Local Government Seminar Series - Employment, WHS and Privacy in South Australia 2018
- Accounting Firm & HR Manager Fined for Involvement in Contraventions of the Fair Work Act 2009(Cth)*
- Professional Advisors, Employers & Franchisors - Worker Protections Significantly Strengthened
- Employment Law | Requests for Conversion From Casual to Permanent Reality for Thousands of Employers
- Employment Case | FWO v Quest South Perth - An Important Lesson for Those Who Engage Contractors
- Quarterly Insights - Autumn 2017
- Fair Work Commission Reduces Penalty Rates
- Insights | Hospitality, Tourism & Development Law
- Employment and Safety Law - Quarterly Insights
- Alleging that an employee is unable to perform the “inherent requirements” of their role?
- Essendon Football Club charged by Worksafe Victoria
- Risk management & dispute solutions - Insights for accountants & advisors - Edition 3
- When managing personnel becomes personal…
- Worker ordered to pay $900,000 in legal fees to former employer
- Worker fired for not shaving his goatee - and with good reason
- ‘Tis the season to be… responsible. Council obligations and the work Christmas party
- Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety | Employer obligations and the work Christmas party
- Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety | Specialist Employment Advice
- Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety | The High Court and employment law
- Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety | Five common employment contract mistakes
- Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety | Social media – are you protected?
- Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety | Five common employment contract mistakes
- Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety | Are you aware of the risks?
- Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety | Social media – are you protected?
- LG Matters | January 2014
- LG Matters | October 2013
- LG Matters | July 2013
- Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety | Important Changes to Rights
- Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety | Unfair Dismissal
- Employment Law Update: The Work Health & Safety Act 2012 (SA) - Four Months In
- LG Matters | March 2013
- Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety | Investigating Serious Employee Misconduct
- Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety | The Importance of a Social Media Policy
- Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety | Redundancy: Four Points to Consider