First, the 5 firms we picked in Sydney, with the reason for each. Then every other firm in the area, so you can compare. Whether a firm suits your situation is something to check with the firm directly.
Firms we picked
5
Picks last checked
1 October 2026
How we pick
Every firm in our picks meets all four. Picks are not for sale.
1An office in the cityThe firm has an office in the city.
2A page for this area of lawIt has a dedicated page for this area of law on its own website.
3An active ABNIt has an active ABN, which we check on ABN Lookup (abr.business.gov.au).
4A merit signal we can citeIt has at least one merit signal we can point to: a Doyle's Guide listing for this area and state, a law society accredited specialist in this area, a Google rating of 4.5 or above from 50 or more reviews, or a notable reported case or recognised award.
What “our picks” means
These are our picks, which means our opinion, not a ranking and not a guarantee. We explain the reason for each pick and link to the evidence we used. Picks are not for sale. If a firm ever pays to be listed, it appears in a separate slot labelled Sponsored and is never counted among our picks.
Our picks
This is our opinion: firms that meet every criterion above. It is not a ranking, and the Google rating beside a firm is Google’s, not part of why we picked it.
Danny King Legal provides employment law, industrial relations, mediation and workplace governance services in Sydney. The firm supports both employers and employees and advises on workplace disputes and governance. It was founded in 2011.
What the firm says it handles
Termination of employment
Employment contracts
Bullying
Discrimination
Sexual harassment
Workplace investigations
+1 moreShow fewer
Industrial relations
Why we picked it
A Sydney employment boutique that Doyle's Guide puts in the First Tier for employee-side work in NSW, with Danny King himself ranked Preeminent, and which also acts for employers.
Maurice Blackburn provides legal services in work and road injuries, medical injuries, employment law, class actions, wills and related areas across Australia. It has been helping and guiding clients for over 100 years.
What the firm says it handles
Work injuries
Road injuries
Medical injuries
Unfair dismissal
Employment contract
Workplace bullying
Why we picked it
A large national plaintiff firm that Doyle's Guide puts in the First Tier for employee-side employment work in NSW, with principal lawyer Mia Pantechis ranked Preeminent (employee side).
Hall Payne Lawyers is an Australian plaintiff law firm providing practical legal support to individuals, workers, families and professionals. It has offices across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania and has operated for more than three decades.
What the firm says it handles
Unfair dismissal
Workplace discrimination
Enterprise bargaining & award rights
Restraint of trade
Redundancy
Immigration
Why we picked it
A mid-sized employee-side firm that Doyle's Guide places in the Second Tier for NSW employment law, with two lawyers (Luke Forsyth and Joe Kennedy) ranked Leading.
Haywards Solicitors provides employment law services for employers, employees and contractors. The firm is based in Sydney and provides services nationally.
What the firm says it handles
Contracts of employment
Employment entitlements
Discrimination, harassment and bullying
Workplace investigations
Post-employment restraints
Why we picked it
A small Sydney employment boutique that Doyle's Guide places in the Second Tier for NSW employee-side work, with principal Phil Hayward ranked Leading, and which also advises employers.
Kingston Reid is a specialist workplace law firm advising employers across Australia. Founded in 2019, it combines specialist expertise in workplace law and has expanded its national presence.
What the firm says it handles
General employment issues
Documentation, advice & interpretation
Terms & conditions of employment
Diversity & discrimination
Executive employment
Employment disputes & claims
+1 moreShow fewer
Global mobility
Why we picked it
An employer-side specialist (it acts only for employers) that Doyle's Guide puts in the First Tier for NSW employment law, with Alice DeBoos and Christa Lenard ranked Preeminent.
LawAccess NSW phone line, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Legal Aid NSW lists 'My job' workplace problems among the areas it helps with.
1300 888 529
All firms
Different city or area?
When you need a employment lawyer
Situations where people commonly speak to a employment lawyer:
You have been dismissed, made redundant, or told your role is changing, and the process looks unclear.
You have raised or been the subject of a bullying, harassment or discrimination complaint at work.
You are being asked to sign an employment contract, a settlement or a restraint of trade clause.
Questions about employment lawyers in Sydney
How does Zoe pick employment lawyers in Sydney?
Every firm in our picks meets all of these. The firm has an office in the city. It has a dedicated page for this area of law on its own website. It has an active ABN, which we check on ABN Lookup (abr.business.gov.au). It has at least one merit signal we can point to: a Doyle's Guide listing for this area and state, a law society accredited specialist in this area, a Google rating of 4.5 or above from 50 or more reviews, or a notable reported case or recognised award. These are our picks, which means our opinion, not a ranking and not a guarantee. We explain the reason for each pick and link to the evidence we used.
Are these lawyers paid to be listed?
No. Picks are not for sale. If a firm ever pays to be listed, it appears in a separate slot labelled Sponsored and is never counted among our picks.
What does employment law cover?
Work disputes: dismissal and redundancy, bullying, harassment and discrimination complaints, and employment contracts, settlements and restraint of trade clauses. This is general information, not legal advice about your situation.
When do people speak to a employment lawyer?
Situations where people commonly speak to a employment lawyer: You have been dismissed, made redundant, or told your role is changing, and the process looks unclear; You have raised or been the subject of a bullying, harassment or discrimination complaint at work; You are being asked to sign an employment contract, a settlement or a restraint of trade clause. This is general information about common situations, not advice about yours.
Are there free options for employment matters in Sydney?
Yes. If cost is the problem, this page lists Employment Rights Legal Service (Kingsford, Inner City and Redfern Legal Centres) and Legal Aid NSW / LawAccess NSW under free options.
ZoeLaw is not a law firm. Picks are our opinion; we don't share your details.
AI-generated legal information, not legal advice. Zoe can make mistakes. Check the cited sources, and before you act on this, rely on it, or use any draft, get a qualified Australian lawyer to check it.
Danny King Legal provides employment law, industrial relations, mediation and workplace governance services in Sydney. The firm supports both employers and employees and advises on workplace disputes and governance. It was founded in 2011.
What the firm says it handles
Termination of employment
Employment contracts
Bullying
Discrimination
Sexual harassment
Workplace investigations
+1 moreShow fewer
Industrial relations
Why we picked it
A Sydney employment boutique that Doyle's Guide puts in the First Tier for employee-side work in NSW, with Danny King himself ranked Preeminent, and which also acts for employers.
Maurice Blackburn provides legal services in work and road injuries, medical injuries, employment law, class actions, wills and related areas across Australia. It has been helping and guiding clients for over 100 years.
What the firm says it handles
Work injuries
Road injuries
Medical injuries
Unfair dismissal
Employment contract
Workplace bullying
Why we picked it
A large national plaintiff firm that Doyle's Guide puts in the First Tier for employee-side employment work in NSW, with principal lawyer Mia Pantechis ranked Preeminent (employee side).
Hall Payne Lawyers is an Australian plaintiff law firm providing practical legal support to individuals, workers, families and professionals. It has offices across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania and has operated for more than three decades.
What the firm says it handles
Unfair dismissal
Workplace discrimination
Enterprise bargaining & award rights
Restraint of trade
Redundancy
Immigration
Why we picked it
A mid-sized employee-side firm that Doyle's Guide places in the Second Tier for NSW employment law, with two lawyers (Luke Forsyth and Joe Kennedy) ranked Leading.
Haywards Solicitors provides employment law services for employers, employees and contractors. The firm is based in Sydney and provides services nationally.
What the firm says it handles
Contracts of employment
Employment entitlements
Discrimination, harassment and bullying
Workplace investigations
Post-employment restraints
Why we picked it
A small Sydney employment boutique that Doyle's Guide places in the Second Tier for NSW employee-side work, with principal Phil Hayward ranked Leading, and which also advises employers.
Kingston Reid is a specialist workplace law firm advising employers across Australia. Founded in 2019, it combines specialist expertise in workplace law and has expanded its national presence.
What the firm says it handles
General employment issues
Documentation, advice & interpretation
Terms & conditions of employment
Diversity & discrimination
Executive employment
Employment disputes & claims
+1 moreShow fewer
Global mobility
Why we picked it
An employer-side specialist (it acts only for employers) that Doyle's Guide puts in the First Tier for NSW employment law, with Alice DeBoos and Christa Lenard ranked Preeminent.
Every employment law firm we could find in Sydney and its suburbs, sorted by number of reviews. It is a list, not a recommendation, and more reviews does not mean a better firm.
141 firms · 144 offices
Pannu Lawyers
★4.9 out of 5· 898 Google reviews
Unit 4/1 Boys Ave, Blacktown NSW 2148
Listed as: Family law attorney, Conveyancer, Criminal justice attorney, Divorce lawyer
Their practice page
Their practice page
