About Bridget
Bridget Little leads Arnold Bloch Leibler’s employment and workplace advisory practice. Her practice involves advising public and private companies on a broad range of employment matters, with a focus on employment disputes, strategic employee engagement, complex restructures, employment issues in commercial transactions and industrial relations.
Bridget has worked on a number of high profile matters including multi-faceted and sensitive restructures, employment litigation in state and federal jurisdictions and strategic industrial relations disputes and negotiations. She works with clients across the finance, retail, health, infrastructure and construction, energy and resources, IT and not-for-profit sectors.
She is regarded for her practical, clear and nuanced advice on all aspects of workplace and employment law. She is also recognised by Best Lawyers® International for her expertise in employee benefits law.
Bridget joined Arnold Bloch Leibler in June 2014 having previously worked with Allens’ commercial litigation team and in-house with the Victorian Department of Education and Training. She was appointed to partner in 2018.
Bridget graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws with Honours, and is currently completing her Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne.
"Bridget brings a rare combination of commercial acumen and a deep knowledge of the law from both a black letter and custom and practice perspective."
Practice focus
Bridget’s practice spans advisory work and litigation, and includes:
- strategic workplace planning and change management
- employment litigation and dispute resolution
- engagement and dismissal of employees, including anti-discrimination and equal opportunity considerations
- terms and conditions of employment, including contracts of employment, executive employment and remuneration
- the enforcement of post-termination restraints and the protection of confidential information and intellectual property
- industrial disputes, enterprise bargaining, and union relationship management
- advice and strategy in respect to annual remuneration reports and ASX disclosures
- workplace policies, procedures and compliance
- workplace investigations, including dealings with regulators, and
- employment considerations arising in commercial transactions.
Experience
Bridget’s recent experience includes acting on behalf of:
- A health network: wholesale restructures, renegotiations and multiple private employment disputes
- Private construction company: litigation in the Supreme Court of Victoria concerning allegations of unfair termination and shareholder oppression
- State owned entity: strategic advice in respect of executive departures and various employment disputes
- Private infrastructure firm: litigation in the Supreme Court of Victoria concerning breach of restraints and breach of contract
- ASX listed corporation: management of historical sexual harassment claims
- Australian Community Media: in relation to large scale enterprise bargaining, industrial disputes and private employment disputes
- Shareholders of Market Eye: in relation to its sale to Automic Group
- Australian Way: in relation to its joint venture with Lagardère Travel Retail, one of the world’s largest travel retail merchants
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A listed FinTech company: in relation to litigation in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia concerning allegations of adverse action and breach of contract
- A large retail company: in relation to managing sensitive executive departures, enterprise bargaining and various employment disputes
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A financial services provider: in relation to the implementation of a new employee remuneration and benefits structure
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An ASX listed corporation: in relation to major litigation in the Federal Court of Australia, concerning allegations of discrimination and breach of contract
- A not for profit organisation: in relation to bullying claims, including conducting an investigation and representation in the Fair Work Commission
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A not for profit land council: in relation to a wholesale employment and workplace review, strategic workplace planning and change management, and
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Various professional services, retail, health and hospitality enterprises: in relation to structuring and enforcing employment obligations, executive contract negotiations, the engagement of independent contractors, implementing redundancies and the termination of employees.
“I found Bridget to be a patient and intelligent listener, capable of a clear enunciation of her thoughts and strongly expert on the subject matter."
Directorships & memberships
Bridget is:
- a member of the Industrial Relations Society of Victoria.
Awards & recognition
Bridget is recognised as a leading lawyer by an international guide to lawyers and law firms:
- Best Lawyers® International: Employee Benefits Law.
