A seasoned employment and industrial relations lawyer joins the firm
Squire Patton Boggs (SPB) has boosted its team in Sydney with the addition of a seasoned employment and industrial relations lawyer.
John Oakes commenced as a partner at the start of the month, bringing to the firm nearly 30 years’ experience in the law. Oakes moves to SPB from Sydney boutique Watson Mangioni.
“John’s extensive experience, his pragmatism and his international experience will bring added firepower to our client offering,” said Campbell Davidson, SPB managing partner.
Oakes also launched a lawyer mentoring consultancy with Ron Nathans, a fellow seasoned top-tier firm partner, earlier this year. He was formerly a partner at DibbsBarker and Clayton Utz. He was also head of workplace and employment and international managing partner at Minter Ellison.
He is a strategic commercial advisor to national and international companies in a wide range of industries, SPB said. He also has a broad perspective and extensive strategic and operational expertise coming from his experience as senior HR and industrial relations executive in the media and construction industries.
“John’s expertise is in developing tailored employment and industrial relations strategies to meet the needs of a client, project or issue. His track record in the early identification and resolution of conflicts is highly regarded by his clients, as is his practical and commercial approach,” SPB said.
The new partner will be working closely with Perth-based partner Bruno Di Girolami, as well as other professionals across the international network of the firm. To advise on employment issues across the region, he will also work with Tony Chong, head of the firm’s Australian Asia desk.
“My move to Squire Patton Boggs was prompted by the increasing globalisation of workforces and the expansion of many Asia-Pacific headquartered organisations across the region,” Oakes said.
He said that legal advisers need a strong network like the SPB platform to support clients. He said he was also very impressed with the innovative programs that the labour and employment team has developed for clients.
John Oakes
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