Cynthia Elachi
Clayton Utz
Cynthia is both knowledgeable and personable, making it easy to reach out to her on employment issues which arise. Cynthia always makes herself available to assist and she is one of our 'go to lawyers' when we need extra legal support, particularly for more complex employment issues.
– Global IT company
Cynthia is a seasoned employment law expert with a keen commercial sensibility. Her extensive experience spans various facets of employment law, from strategic counsel and litigation defence to conducting workplace investigations, where she addresses sensitive issues like harassment and intoxication across diverse industries.
Cynthia's commitment to promoting positive workplace culture is evident through her client workshops and speaking engagements, where she imparts her knowledge on topics like performance management, EEO, and workplace investigations.
- Played a key role in overturning 50 years of legal precedent in a landmark case for Wipro Limited, redefining how "service" for long service leave is calculated for employees working abroad.
- Successfully represented Infosys Technologies Limited in a Court of Appeal challenge against the State of Victoria, reshaping the interpretation of the Victorian Long Service Leave Act 2018.
- Advised Afterpay on the employment implications of its acquisition by Block, covering consultation obligations, workforce consolidation, transfer of business issues, and senior executive terminations.
- Providing ongoing strategic advice to a financial services group on workforce management, discrimination claims, senior management exits, and employment contracts.
- Advised a large ASX listed company on complex industrial relations matters related to a mass redundancy, encompassing consultation, termination documentation, and impact analysis.
- Offering legal support during workplace transformations, particularly in large-scale redundancies and executive exit strategies.
- Investigated sensitive sexual harassment allegations involving a high-profile Managing Director.
- Conducted investigations into a Senior Executive facing 19 sexual harassment and discrimination allegations across multiple countries.
- Investigated a whistleblowing complaint against a General Counsel, exposing systemic bullying issues within the organisation.
- Investigated an alleged sexual assault by a manager involving an impaired employee, working in tandem with the police investigation.