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

11 Jul 2024  Google David H
Great service, great advice, always available and a great result.
28 Jun 2024  Google Ewa D

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

05 Jun 2024  Google Janet C
Outstanding warm professional service with exceptional knowledge at all stages of interaction with this company. Highly recommend Tim at Hall Payne Lawyers
24 May 2024  Google Tessa B
The whole team were so helpful and the advice I received from Charlotte was explained so well and very thorough.
I would highly recommend Hall Payne to anyone who needs help with employment issues.
19 Mar 2024  Google Benjamin A

4-star rating

08 Mar 2024  Google Rob O

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!

22 Feb 2024  Google Jonathan C

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.

14 Feb 2024  Google Zaneta H

Very knowledgeable and nice to work with!

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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More Blogs From Joseph