Specialist employment law firm, Aitken Legal has promoted two employment lawyers based in its Sunshine Coast office and one in its Gold Coast office.

Angela Engel, who heads the firm’s Gold Coast office, has been promoted to Senior Special Counsel.  Angela has over 20 years’ experience practicing in employment law with 12 of those years spent at Aitken Legal advising employers.

With over 10 years’ experience as an Employment Lawyer working at Aitken Legal, Hamish Procter has been promoted to Special Counsel in the Sunshine Coast office.  The promotion comes shortly after Hamish was recognised as an Accredited Specialist in Workplace Relations Law in Queensland and Victoria.

Harry McDonald, a Sunshine Coast local who joined the firm early in 2022, has been promoted to Associate.

The promotions are aligned with the firm’s development strategy to mentor lawyers to become leading specialists in their field.

Managing Director, Lisa Aitken commented on the promotions:

“It is a proud moment when we are in a position to announce promotions. 

Hamish began his Employment Law journey with our firm as a Graduate Lawyer and we’ve had the pleasure of watching him develop into an exceptional employment lawyer.  Becoming an Accredited Specialist in Workplace Relations Law is no mean feat and illustrates Hamish’s high level of expertise.  There is only around 22 Accredited Specialists in Workplace Relations Law in Queensland and two of those are employment lawyers at Aitken Legal. 

Harry has always had a passion for employment law.  He completed his Practical Legal Training with our firm in 2017 and knew then that he wanted to be an employment lawyer.  He joined us full-time in early 2022 to be mentored by specialist employment lawyers, and it is great to see him developing into a true specialist under the guidance of our senior team.

Angela has been with Aitken Legal since we opened the Gold Coast office in 2011.  She heads that office and is extraordinary employment lawyer with a wealth of experience advising employers in all aspects of this area law.” 

With five employment lawyers, and over 90 years’ combined experience, the firm only advises Employers on Employment Law and Industrial Relations matters from its offices in the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Melbourne.

About the year ahead, Lisa added:

Employment law is continuously changing, and this year will be no exception.  The Federal Government has now successfully passed the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 which arguably contains the most significant reforms to the Fair Work Act since its introduction over 13 years ago.  Some amendments will have immediate impacts for employers, whilst others will result in medium and long-term changes and implications.  It is imperative that employers stay abreast of these changes to ensure they continue to meet their workplace obligations.”