Imogen Szumer

Prior to starting at Maurice Blackburn, Imogen gained experience working as a national industrial officer for a trade union, and subsequently as a solicitor for Legal Aid NSW. Imogen acts for clients in a wide array of matters including workplace investigations, unfair dismissal and redundancy, general protections, underpayments, contractual disputes and restraints of trade, and discrimination and sexual harassment. Imogen also has experience advising and acting for trade unions in various matters, including in enterprise agreement and bargaining disputes.

Imogen brings a strategic and pragmatic approach, working closely with each client to achieve their personal objectives.

“There is an inherent power imbalance in the employment relationship, and this is often exacerbated in disputes. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is helping empower my clients to uphold their legal rights and reclaim agency in their working lives,” says Imogen.

Some of Imogen’s previous matters include:

1. Acting for a trade union, representing the union member in his unfair dismissal case after the member was fired on medical incapacity grounds from a job in a safety-critical industry. The matter settled on the first day of the hearing, with the member receiving 52 weeks’ pay.
2.  Representing a union in an enterprise agreement dispute in the Fair Work Commission, and instructing counsel on appeal. The union succeeded on appeal, securing hundreds of thousands of dollars in back-paid allowances for members.
3.  Instructing in Federal Circuit Court litigation for a worker pursuing over $200,000 in unpaid entitlements.
4.  Instructing in sexual harassment litigation in the Federal Circuit Court and negotiating favourable settlement agreements.
5. Representing employees in adverse action conciliations in the Fair Work Commission and securing compensation and undertakings for employers to conduct internal training.
    

Memberships & accreditations

• Law Society of New South Wales Member
• Australian Labour Law Association Member
• Redfern Legal Centre former volunteer