Joseph Kennedy

Principal

“I use the law progressively as a vehicle to address inequality, unfairness and injustice.”

Joseph Kennedy is a Principal at Hall Payne, working in Sydney’s employment and industrial relations team. He is admitted to both the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court of Australia.

Joseph has a wealth of experience providing strategic legal advice to employees and unions to help them navigate a variety of difficult disputes.

He has specialist accreditation from the NSW Law Society in Employment and Industrial Law and is a member of the Advisory Committee for that practice area. Joseph regularly appears, both as advocate and instructing Counsel, in contested hearings in various Australian courts and tribunals, with a focus on Fair Work Commission and Federal Court matters.

Joseph is also independently recognised in Doyle's Guide as a Leading Employment Lawyer in NSW.

Before joining Hall Payne, Joseph worked at a private labour law firm in Sydney. He has also worked as a lawyer with the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and with the previous iteration of the United Workers Union.

“I get a lot of satisfaction from using the law to achieve lasting positive change for our clients in a cost-effective way.”

Joseph’s most satisfying cases at Hall Payne to date have been the successful appeal to the full court of the Federal Court in Fair Work Building Inspectorate v Bragdon & Ors which developed the principles of right of entry for union officials, the reinstatement of CFMMEU member and labour hire coal mine worker Kim Star and the reinstatement of a Sydney bus driver and RTBU member (in both of those FWC matters Joseph appeared as advocate).

Outside work, Joseph volunteers at community legal centres, is a founding director of RUN DIPG (a child cancer charity) and did a volunteer internship with the UN Refugee Agency in Zambia. He is a member of the NSW Law Society, APHEDA, and a proud union member.

Reviews for Hall Payne Sydney

18 Aug 2023  Google Paul M

5-star rating

21 May 2023  Email Nadine

To Joe and Brooke 

After suffering a work place injury with my employer, one of the largest multi national companies in the world, didn’t waste time in making life very difficult for me, started to attack my workplace rights as well as given me unreasonable directions. 

This is when I meet Joe Kennedy from Hall Payne. 

Joe was understanding and compassionate about my position but most importantly he was absolutely honest on where I was at. 

Over the next 3 years Joe helped me manoeuvre the many legal and industrial mine fields that was laid out before me. He always offered the best options. Joe  listened to my concerns and desired outcomes and set about achieving those for me. 

Personally I can’t thank Joe enough for all the hard work he has done, no matter what time of day or night Joe would always reply to my messages, emails and calls and delivering the best possible outcome given the circumstances. 

Without Joe I wouldn’t have stood a chance against the Goliath I worked for. Joe is most definitely the man to have in your corner. 

Thank you Brooke for all your help over the last few years too such a amazing firm.

Kind regards, Nadine

23 Feb 2023  Google Mark D

I would highly recommend Tim and Luke at Hall Payne. Not only did they provide expert advice and representation, but were understanding of the emotional stress of the situation and showed genuine care and compassion.

07 Feb 2023  Google Bec

I highly recommend Hall and Payne. Tim gave me sound, expert legal advice and the matter was settled very quickly with a positive outcome. The professional approach of all of the staff helped to expedite the outcome and to avoid the stress of a protracted process. Thank you to all involved.

17 Jan 2023  Google Mike O

Excellent, valuable and prompt advice from Tim Grellman in the area of employment law. Thank you Tim.

05 Dec 2022  Google Ivo D

I would highly recommend the team at Hall Payne Lawyers to support you and deal with those unreasonable non compete enforcement orders from the previous employer. Luke, Tim and the team are very thorough in their approach to keep you calm and optimistic of a favourable process. My advice is to be prepared to do some detailed work yourself to assist the team put together a rock solid case against these orders.

Hall Payne were referred to me after some serious searching....quoting "you want these guys in your corner" for these matters.

Very happy with their work and the outcome.

11 Nov 2022  Google Edwin V

Hi; I was issued with a Court Attendance notice; so through my Union traffic fund was contacted with Hall Payne Lawyers to take over my case and had Time Grellman to represent me and take to Court;

From beginning Tim gave me confidence in communicating via email, phone calls and lately in person; all this communications were very satisfactory and answers professionally and right away, then the day in Court he look after me,

I am very happy with his professionalism and personality not to mention the outcome. Thanks Tim and Hall Payne Lawyers

09 Nov 2022  Google Alex R

Excellent and professional service, very helpful and use your time and money respectfully and thoughtfully.

More Reviews 

Recent Blogs by Joseph

Medical discharge of firefighter due to PSTD overturned by NSW IRC

Employer’s decision to medically discharge a firefighter with history of PTSD was wrong

NSW Industrial Relations Commission determines the medical discharge of a firefighter, due to PTSD, was wrong and decision overturned.

Read more

RTBU wins an underpayment of wages case for its Sydney bus drivers

Win for RTBU in underpayment of wages case

Hall Payne Lawyers successfully represented the RTBU and its members in Federal Court proceedings against Transit Systems Pty Ltd for failing to pass on annual wage increases.

Read more

Significant changes to entitlements of casual employees

Major changes for casual employees in 2021

In March 2021, changes to the Fair Work Act came into effect which were the result of the federal government’s attempts at defining casual employment.

Read more

CFMMEU win significant victory opposing ABCC prosecution

Hall Payne & CFMMEU win significant victory opposing ABCC prosecution

In June 2020, we represented the CFMMEU and 2 of their officials in relation to allegations of taking unlawful industrial action at the Qube construction site at Broadbeach in Queensland. On 12 November 2020, the Court handed down its judgment, dismissing the proceeding.

Read more

More Blogs From Joseph