Marissa is a highly regarded expert in Work Health and Safety (WHS) law, known for her proven litigation track record, extensive incident response experience, and strong business acumen. With over 20 years dedicated to mitigating WHS legal risks for leading employers across multiple jurisdictions, she employs a comprehensive three-pronged approach: demonstration of proactive legal compliance, clear and effective crisis and incident management, and advanced strategic judgement in litigation.
Marissa’s practice encompasses a wide array of industries including construction, manufacturing, healthcare, transport & logistics, retail, and energy & resources. She provides practical guidance to clients navigating complex WHS challenges, including compliance with emerging areas of WHS laws such as workplace manslaughter and psychosocial regulation.
Marissa’s expertise includes:
- Crisis Management and Incident Response: development of robust protocols following serious workplace incidents, ensuring clients are well-prepared to respond to regulatory investigations and to assist them mitigate their legal risk.
- Proactive Compliance Strategies: assisting clients in creating and implementing compliance frameworks that balance legal obligations with commercial realities, particularly in multiparty workplace scenarios and where employment and WHS laws intersect.
- Litigation Strategy and Representation: proven success in representing and defending clients in complex legal matters, including regulatory investigations, criminal prosecutions, and coronial inquests, leveraging her extensive experience with regulatory authorities and across multiple jurisdictions.
- Training and Education: drawing on her background as an educator, Marissa regularly conducts WHS briefings and compliance training for boards and senior executives, equipping them with the knowledge to drive organisational change and demonstrate due diligence.
Marissa’s unique perspective is enhanced by her experience as a business owner in two different industries, allowing her to appreciate the competing challenges faced by clients. She understands the profound reputational, operational, and financial implications of WHS legal matters, and her strategic insights are instrumental in navigating these high-stakes challenges.
Marissa is a sought-after speaker for briefings to boards and senior executives, and broader groups at industry conferences and events, delivering tailored content that resonates with each audience and provides practical insights into WHS law.
Marissa has been recognised as a “Leading” WHS lawyer in Doyles Guide for more than 6 years.
