A Sunshine Coast law firm that started in Lisa Aitken’s house is expanding with an office in Melbourne as it celebrates 15 years.
The employment law firm, Aitken Legal, has grown from a small home office to a strong business with six lawyers spread between the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and now Melbourne.
Last year was a particularly busy year as employers tried to understand their legal obligations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Managing Director Lisa Aitken said 2021 would also be a big year in employment law with an increasing trend of unfair dismissals and possibly more redundancies as JobKeeper support is wound down.
The federal government also introduced a new Fair Work Amendment Bill in December making significant changes to casual and part-time work, agreement making, modern awards and the compliance and enforcement framework.
Aitken Legal opened in 2006 on the Sunshine Coast followed by a Gold Coast office in 2011.
Ms Aitken said she left her previous job to start a firm of “likeminded people who are brilliant lawyers, genuine people and who enjoy a work / life balance”.
“I also wanted a law firm that gave back to the community, something that was very important to me,” she said.
“Thankfully we have been able to do this with more than $500,000 net of costs raised by the firm over the years, which has all gone to local community causes, and we have not stopped there.
“We have reached many milestones, including after a rigorous process, the firm was appointed to the Whole of Queensland Government Legal Services panel for Workplace and Industrial in July 2020 which we are excited about as we join ranks with the top national and international firms on that panel.
“We have a fantastic team and couldn’t be any more proud of how far we have come and what we have achieved for our clients and the community.”
While family reasons prompted legal director Chris Campbell’s move to Melbourne, it presented an opportunity for the firm to open an office in Victoria.
He now works between the Sunshine Coast and the new Melbourne office, located in the trendy suburb of Port Melbourne.
“Chris and I have worked together for more than 12 years and we have always had a strong philosophy that family comes first, so, nothing gave me more pleasure than to support his family decision,” Ms Aitken said.
“Whilst COVID-19 has caused so many challenges, it has taught us all how to work differently, with remote working becoming the new ‘normal’ for businesses worldwide and with this we believe that Chris’ Queensland clients will not notice anything different.”
Aitken Legal is a specialist Employment Law firm which only represents and advises employers in sectors such as local government, construction, private schools, tertiary education, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, transport and real estate.
