Meet the Team
Joseph Kelly, Principal
Our Principal, Joseph Kelly, has extensive experience in commercial litigation and workplace law, having advised employers and employees on all issues relating to industrial relations and employment law. Joseph has advised industry bodies, unions, employers and government and continues to run training and information seminars for legal practitioners.
Joseph is accredited as a specialist in Workplace Relations by the Law Institute of Victoria.
EXPERTISE
- Industrial advice & litigation
- Employment advice & litigation
- Occupational health & safety law
- Equal opportunity & anti-discrimination advice & litigation
- Intellectual Property
- Independent contractors advice & litigation
CAREER HISTORY
- Since 2011 Kelly Workplace Lawyers (Principal)
- 2005-2011 APESMA Lawyers (Managing Partner)
- 2002-2005 Garland Hawthorn Brahe, Solicitors
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & ADMISSIONS
- 2003 Admitted Supreme Court of Victoria
- 2003 Admitted High Court of Australia
- 2001 Bachelor of Laws, LaTrobe University, Melbourne
- 1999 Bachelor of Arts (Hons), LaTrobe University, Melbourne
MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS
- Law Institute of Victoria
- Industrial Relations Society of Victoria
- Australian Labour Lawyers Association
- LIV Accredited Specialist – Workplace Relations
AWARDS
- Doyle’s Guide Leading Australian Employment Lawyer 2025
- Doyle’s Guide Leading Victorian Employment Lawyer 2025
- Doyle’s Guide Leading Victorian Employment Lawyer 2024
- Doyle’s Guide Leading Victorian Employment Lawyer 2023
- Doyle’s Guide Leading Victorian Employment Lawyer 2022
- Doyle’s Guide Leading Victorian Employment Lawyer 2021
- Doyle’s Guide Leading Victorian Employment Lawyer 2020
- Doyle’s Guide Leading Victorian Employment Lawyer 2019
- Lawyer Monthly Human Rights Lawyer of the Year, Australia, 2018
- APAC Legal Awards Commercial Litigator of the Year, Australia, 2018
- Doyle’s Guide Leading Victorian Employment Lawyer 2017
- Doyle’s Guide Leading Victorian Health and Safety Lawyer 2017
Gregory Romeo, Partner
Joining the firm in 2013, Gregory Romeo has handled all forms of employment matters; including general protections, unfair dismissals, mediations, underpayment claims, enterprise bargaining, commercial litigation and contractual matters. Gregory was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2018 and is a full-time solicitor at Kelly Workplace Lawyers.
EXPERTISE
- Industrial advice & litigation
- Employment advice & litigation
- Enterprise Bargaining
- Attending employee disciplinary/investigation/performance management meetings
- Consumer Law
- Corporations Law
CAREER HISTORY
- 2024 Partner at Kelly Workplace Lawyers
- 2018 Solicitor at Kelly Workplace Lawyers
- 2014 Researcher and article writer
- 2013-2017 Law Clerk at Kelly Workplace Lawyers
- 2013 Children’s Law court supervision under Magistrate Peter Dotchin
- 2012 Criminal Law court supervision under QC Paul Holdenson
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & ADMISSIONS
- 2019 Admitted High Court of Australia
- 2018 Admitted Supreme Court of Victoria
- 2010-2016 Bachelor of Law & Bachelor of Arts, Monash University
MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS
- Law Institute of Victoria
AWARDS
- Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch - Employee Entitlements Law 2026
- Doyle’s Guide Leading Victorian Employment Lawyer 2025
- Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch - Employee Entitlements Law 2025
- Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch - Employee Entitlements Law 2024
- Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch - Employee Entitlements Law 2023
Maisie Kelly, Office Manager
Kelly Workplace Lawyers has always been in Maisie’s blood – you could say she was born into it! Maisie is the heart and soul of the firm and makes sure all matters run smoothly and efficiently.
EXPERTISE
- Liaising with clients and stakeholders
- Proficient use of Smokeball and all office software
- Assisting with proposals, briefs and presentations
- Paralegal skills including preparation of materials, data analysis and file management.
Rachel Faris-Cornwell, Consultant
Rachel is a highly experienced Senior HR Generalist with extensive expertise in Human Resources, Organisational Development, Occupational Health & Safety, and Workplace Investigations. With a career spanning over two decades, she has provided strategic HR leadership and consultancy services to diverse industries, including professional services, IT, construction, transport, retail, community health, and not-for-profit organisations.
Rachel provides on-demand HR and ER/IR advisory services, performance management, compliance audits, risk assessments, and workplace investigations. Her expertise extends to employment law interpretation, complex employee relations cases, and mergers and acquisitions.
EXPERTISE
- Human Resources
- Organisational Development
- Occupational Health & Safety
- Workplace Investigations
