Wotton Kearney continues to build momentum in its government team with the appointment of Special Counsel, Kirsty Easdale, a seasoned employment and industrial relations expert with more than a decade of experience advising Commonwealth government agencies.

Kirsty joins the firm from MinterEllison, bringing significant expertise in complex employment law, industrial relations strategy, discrimination, and work health and safety matters. Her in-depth understanding of the public sector is shaped by years of direct experience working in, and alongside, key agencies. Kirsty has worked closely with some of the Commonwealth’s largest employers, including the Department of Defence, Department of Home Affairs, Services Australia, and the Australian Federal Police.

Her work spans the full scope of employment legal services, from litigation and advocacy to advisory and investigations. Notably, she has managed APS Code of Conduct and PID investigations, appeared in unfair dismissal and general protections matters for several agencies, and supported enterprise agreement development and compliance audits for public sector and commercial clients.

“Kirsty’s appointment is a key step in further strengthening our government legal service offering in employment, industrial and workplace safety law,” said Clare McNamara, Commonwealth Government Client Relationship Partner. “She offers unique insights into government employment frameworks and brings a sophisticated approach to sensitive and high-stakes matters.”

Kirsty’s combination of government experience and commercial acumen enables her to offer strategic, practical advice that aligns with both regulatory requirements and broader organisational goals.

Speaking about her new role, Kirsty said, “I’m excited to join a firm that is growing with purpose and investing in the legal areas that matter most to government clients. Wotton Kearney’s people-first culture and the growing momentum behind its government practice made this a natural next step for me.”

Kirsty’s appointment follows Wotton Kearney’s inclusion on the Whole of Australian Government Legal Services Panel, effective from 1 July 2024. It further strengthens the experience and depth of the firm’s government practice, building upon the firm’s appointment of experienced litigator and strategic adviser Clare McNamara as Commonwealth Government Lead Partner in February 2025, and experienced government litigator John McPherson in its Canberra office in July 2025.

Since Wotton Kearney’s founding in 2002, the firm has grown from two partners to 94 with a dynamic force of over 500 legal professionals across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand.

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