Monica Fitis

Full Profile

Monica is an Associate in our Sydney office with experience in employment law, industrial relations, consumer law and general commercial litigation. She has been with the firm since 2019.

Monica assists in advising clients on a wide range of strategic and regulatory issues in the workplace including work health and safety, industrial disputes, discrimination, bullying and harassment. Monica’s full perspective of the workplace landscape ensures that clients are provided with both nuanced and practical advice that is relevant to their operations.

Monica is experienced in responding to workplace incidents and fatalities, undertaking investigations, drafting and negotiating employment contracts, drafting policies and procedures, terminating employment and dealing with bullying and harassment claims.

Monica also assists employers in various types of work health and safety and employment-related litigation, including prosecutions arising out of a workplace incident or fatality, breach of contract claims, unfair dismissal claims, general protection (adverse action) claims, industrial disputes and discrimination and harassment claims. 

Experience

• Acting for a global vehicle manufacturer in a high-profile New South Wales Coronial Inquest into Australian deaths and injuries involving Takata Airbags, including investigations into industry and regulatory recall responses.
   
• Advising employers on obligations and employee entitlements under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) including the start to end process for implementing a mandatory vaccination policy in the workplace.
   
• Acting in relation to a claim brought in the Supreme Court of New South Wales arising out of a toxic environmental incident for alleged losses suffered in the amount of AUD 52 million and a cross claim brought against downstream contractors for alleged breaches of contract.
   
• Acting for a rail safety provider in relation to an investigation conducted by the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) regarding a multi wagon derailment of cargo filled wagons.
   
• Advising and acting in relation to investigations and prosecutions undertaken by a broad range of regulators including corresponding with regulators in the investigation and enforcement phase, assisting with the preparation of requests for information, preparing witnesses for interviews, reviewing briefs of evidence, drafting chronologies, evidence matrices and prospect advice.
   
• Investigating allegations of sexual harassment and bullying by employees involving interviewing witnesses, preparing statements, drafting incident reports, providing advice regarding potential liability, attending mediation and drafting settlement documentation.
   
• Assisting in the conduct of privileged investigations, including interviewing key personnel and drafting witness statements, conducting site visits, preparing privileged investigation reports with recommendations for remedial action and preparing advice on liability.
   
• Advising on potential causes of action in tort, contract and consumer law in relation to the supply of goods and services.