Luke Forsyth

Principal

Luke Forsyth is a Principal in Hall Payne’s Sydney office. He practises in the firm’s industrial relations and employment law teams. Since 2014 Luke has been consistently recognised as one of Australia’s leading employment lawyers by his peers in the Doyle’s Guide.

Luke started with Hall Payne in 2001, before leaving to work as the Senior Legal Officer at the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union in 2008. He returned in 2012 and was appointed Principal.

Luke brings 21 years' experience to his work. He acts for a large range of clients, from senior executives of listed corporations to unions and their members across the country.

He is known for his commercial acumen and is frequently retained to act for senior executives in employment disputes. Luke’s focus is on the timely and confidential resolutions of employment disputes, ensuring not only that his clients are adequately compensated for the wrongs against them, but that their future employment prospects are protected by recognising that an equally important task in resolving a dispute is ensuring that his client’s reputations are protected.

Luke’s practice across defamation and employment law means he has an acute understanding of the importance of how reputation is the cornerstone of someone’s professional and personal life. With this focus, Luke has achieved strong outcomes for employees at all levels, while maintaining the relationships and reputations of his clients throughout the process.

Luke is an experienced litigator, acting for clients in Federal and State Courts and tribunals. He specialises in advising on matters of:

  • all Fair Work Act 2009 matters including unfair dismissals, general protections claims and claims for contraventions of the Fair Work Act 2009;
  • State and Commonwealth public sector employment disputes and claims;
  • employee contractual entitlements and common law claims;
  • recovering short term incentive (“STI”), long-term incentive (“LTI”) and other bonuses;
  • restraint of trade and confidential information matters;
  • defamation;
  • professional, particularly health practitioners, registration and professional misconduct matters;
  • Competition and Consumer Act claims;
  • discrimination and sexual harassment;
  • all termination of employment/unfair dismissal claims; and
  • research misconduct matters.

Luke is a member of:

  • New South Wales (NSW) Law Society;
  • NSW Law Society’s Employment Law Committee;
  • Union Lawyers and Industrial Officers NSW; and
  • NSW Industrial Relations Society.

He is also an accomplished author, contributing to the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union’s “Nurses and Law”, editions 1, 2 and 3 and is a contributor to the first edition of Lexis Nexis publication “Workplace Investigations: Principles and Practice”.

When not at work, Luke enjoys reading, cycling and heading to the beach.

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 Luke

Registered health practitioners have an obligation to notify their National Board of criminal charges

Health practitioners’ obligations to notify AHPRA of criminal charges

In most cases, health practitioners are required to inform AHPRA if they have been “charged” with a criminal offence, whether or not they are convicted.

Read more

What happens when conditions are imposed on a health practitioners’ registration?

What happens when conditions are imposed on a health practitioners’ registration?

Despite a health practitioner’s best efforts, sometimes conditions may still be imposed upon their registration by a Health Practitioner National Board via AHPRA or the Office of the Health Ombudsman in Queensland.

Read more

When health practitioners face proposed immediate action

Immediate action against health practitioners

For health practitioners, facing the prospect of having immediate action taken against their professional registration can be one of the most stressful times in a health practitioner’s professional career, and it can be difficult for health practitioners to determine who to turn to for assistance.

Read more

AHPRA framework to manage vexatious complaints against health practitioners

AHPRA framework to manage vexatious complaints against health practitioners

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency is aware that vexatious notifications are made against health practitioners from time to time. To help identify and manage vexatious complaints, AHPRA has developed a framework for use by staff and regulatory decision-makers.

Read more

More Blogs From Luke