35 WEST CHAMBERS

Workplace Health and Safety Law in Brisbane

At 35 West Chambers, our barristers provide professional mediation in Brisbane for solicitors and their clients seeking practical, efficient resolution of disputes. Located in the heart of the CBD, our chambers offer a calm and confidential setting for negotiation, guided by barristers with deep experience in advocacy and dispute resolution.

At 35 West Chambers, our barristers provide specialist advocacy and legal advice in workplace health and safety law for solicitors and their clients. Based in Brisbane’s legal precinct, our members represent individuals, employers, corporations, and government bodies in WHS investigations, prosecutions, and related regulatory proceedings.

With extensive experience in criminal, regulatory, and administrative law, our barristers are well placed to advise on all aspects of WHS compliance, enforcement, and litigation under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) and associated regulations.

Our approach combines technical precision, courtroom experience, and practical insight to help solicitors manage their clients’ workplace safety obligations with confidence.

Brisbane Workplace Health and Safety

WHY CHOOSE 35 WEST CHAMBERS

For almost two decades, 35 West Chambers has provided trusted counsel in complex and sensitive regulatory matters. Our members bring a deep understanding of Queensland’s workplace health and safety legislative framework and have appeared before state and federal jurisdictions in a wide range of WHS and regulatory cases.

Solicitors engage our chambers for:

  • Specialist Knowledge – Advocacy and advice across the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) and related regulations.
  • Strategic Insight – Practical, balanced guidance informed by years of experience in regulatory prosecutions, defence, and compliance reviews.
  • Professional Integrity – Independent, objective advice that supports fair and efficient outcomes for solicitors and clients.

Located within Brisbane’s legal precinct, our chambers provide convenient access to conference facilities and courts, ensuring efficient preparation and representation.

OUR EXPERTISE

Areas of Practice – WHS Law Services in Brisbane

Our Brisbane-based barristers offer representation and advice across all facets of workplace health and safety law, assisting solicitors and their clients in both advisory and litigious contexts.

  • Regulatory Investigations
    Advising employers, officers, and individuals during investigations conducted by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland or other regulatory bodies. Our barristers assist in managing communications, preparing responses, and ensuring procedural fairness.
  • Enforcement and Prosecution
    Defending clients in WHS prosecutions, including Category 1–3 offences, enforceable undertakings, and enforcement actions. We provide strategic advocacy designed to mitigate risk, limit exposure, and preserve professional and corporate reputations.
  • Coronial Inquests and Reviews
    Assisting solicitors in preparing and representing clients at coronial inquests and statutory reviews concerning workplace incidents. Our members offer experience in managing complex evidence and sensitive public scrutiny.
  • Compliance and Advisory Matters
    Providing proactive advice on WHS duties, officer obligations, and compliance systems. We assist solicitors advising clients on safety audits, policy development, and risk management strategies.
  • Administrative Appeals and Disciplinary Matters
    Representing clients before tribunals and commissions in matters arising from regulatory enforcement, licensing, or disciplinary actions.

Each case is handled with discretion, precision, and a clear understanding of the commercial and reputational sensitivities often involved in WHS matters.

MEET THE TEAM

The Role of Solicitors in WHS Matters

Solicitors play a critical role in preparing and managing workplace health and safety cases. At 35 West Chambers, we work closely with instructing solicitors to ensure every aspect of a client’s case—whether advisory, investigative, or litigious—is handled efficiently and strategically.

Our barristers assist solicitors by:

  • Providing early advice on prospects, liability, and case strategy.
  • Drafting submissions, statements, and pleadings for regulatory and court proceedings.
  • Appearing as counsel in conferences, inquests, and trials.
  • Delivering training and seminars on evolving WHS obligations and enforcement trends.

We respect the solicitor–client relationship and aim to complement, not compete with, the solicitor’s advisory role. Our chambers provide responsive, knowledgeable support that enhances client outcomes.

Our PARTNERSHIP

When to Involve a Barrister

Engaging a barrister early in a workplace health and safety matter can significantly improve case preparation, risk assessment, and overall resolution outcomes.

Solicitors commonly brief 35 West Chambers when:

  • A client is subject to a Workplace Health and Safety Queensland investigation.
  • A notice of intention to prosecute or enforceable undertaking has been issued.
  • Independent assessment of compliance systems or incident liability is required.
  • A matter progresses to court proceedings, coronial inquests, or disciplinary hearings.

Our members’ familiarity with the practices of Queensland courts, coroners, and regulators ensures informed and effective advocacy. We anticipate procedural and evidentiary challenges, providing proactive strategies to achieve the best possible outcomes.

OUR PROCESS

WHS Expertise at 35 West Chambers

Our barristers bring wide-ranging experience across industries and regulatory environments. We regularly advise and appear in matters involving:

  • Construction and Infrastructure – Workplace accidents, subcontractor liability, principal contractor obligations, and site safety incidents.
  • Manufacturing and Industrial Operations – Equipment safety, manual handling, and workplace systems compliance.
  • Transport, Mining and Energy – Industry-specific safety obligations, investigation responses, and regulatory enforcement.
  • Government and Public Sector – Internal compliance reviews, policy enforcement, and disciplinary proceedings.
  • Professional Disciplinary and Review Proceedings – Representing professionals and officers in tribunals and boards following WHS breaches.

Our collective experience across criminal, civil, and administrative jurisdictions enables us to handle each matter with insight, attention to detail, and professionalism. We assist solicitors in achieving practical, sustainable outcomes while maintaining the highest standards of legal conduct.

Workplace Health and Safety in Brisbane

FAQ

Solicitors should brief a barrister as soon as a client becomes aware of an investigation or receives correspondence from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. Early involvement allows counsel to guide responses, manage privilege, and shape strategy before enforcement or prosecution proceedings commence under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld).

Our Brisbane barristers have extensive experience defending individuals, corporations, and government officers in WHS prosecutions, regulatory enforcement actions, and compliance investigations. Members regularly appear in Queensland courts and tribunals, advising on Category 1–3 offences, enforceable undertakings, and coronial inquests.

Barristers from 35 West Chambers assist solicitors in advising clients on compliance systems, officer duties, and due diligence obligations. This includes reviewing policies, conducting risk audits, and developing proactive compliance frameworks that align with the regulator’s expectations and statutory requirements.

Our members advise across sectors where workplace risks and regulatory scrutiny are high, including construction, manufacturing, transport, mining, energy, and public sector organisations. Each industry faces distinct obligations, and our barristers tailor representation to its specific operational and legislative context.

Early engagement enables strategic case management, risk assessment, and negotiation with regulators. Involving a barrister from the outset can clarify liability issues, guide evidence preparation, and often prevent escalation to prosecution—leading to faster, more cost-effective resolutions for solicitors and their clients.

Our Details

Office Address

Level 35 Santos Place
32 Turbot Street, Brisbane Qld 4000

Find an ADR Barrister IN BRISBANE

When your matter involves workplace health and safety law, 35 West Chambers provides access to barristers with significant experience in WHS compliance, prosecution defence, and regulatory proceedings.

Our members combine technical knowledge with strong advocacy skills to achieve outcomes that are fair, efficient, and commercially realistic. Whether assisting during an investigation, advising on compliance systems, or representing clients in enforcement actions, our chambers deliver clarity, expertise, and reliability.