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
My experience with Hall Payne Lawyers was very positive. Highly professional yet at the same time warm and approachable. Both the legal assistants and solicitor was excellent, and I felt well supported. Highly recommend
4-star rating
Hall Payne Lawyers were referred to me and I'm so glad I engaged their services. Joe, Tim and Luke were nothing but professional, efficient and great to work with.
From my initial contact the facts and potential outcomes were clearly communicated with empathy yet the commercial reality of any court proceedings. During the process I found the matter seamless within the firm and was really appreciative of a very successful outcome.
Appointing good legal representation is of the outmost importance and Hall Payne certainly did the job for me!
Contacted Hill Payne Lawyers for some help with a contract. Delighted with the prompt availability over the phone, reasonable prices and billing terms. Tim spoke clearly and was easy to follow and provided valuable insights.
Very knowledgeable and nice to work with!
Recent Blogs by Joseph

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

Win for RTBU in underpayment of wages case

Major changes for casual employees in 2021
