Biography

    Dianne is a partner in the Disputes + Investigations group, whose practice focusses on employment and industrial law.

    In particular, Dianne specialises in strategically complex and business-critical disputes and investigations. Her expertise includes employee data and confidentiality breaches, post-employment restraint enforcement, employee fraud, performance management and termination, executive terminations, and investigations into discrimination, sexual harassment, misconduct and critical WHS incidents. She is an experienced employment litigation lawyer acting in all courts and tribunals in which employment-related disputes are litigated including Fair Work Australia, the NSW Supreme Court, Federal Circuit Court and the Federal Court of Australia.

    Dianne has also been at the forefront of advising employers on distributed workforces and the opportunities and challenges that arise from a decentralised model of working. This includes considerations of performance management, work health and safety, data security and compliance, employee surveillance and privacy. Dianne assists clients in implementing and managing the practicalities of flexible working, to ensure their businesses are ‘future proofed’ to succeed in a post-COVID world.

    Dianne’s approach is to achieve practical and commercially sound solutions for clients in the many and varied issues which confront employers in the Australian workplace - from the commencement of the employment relationship to termination. Her clients include government authorities, public and private companies and senior executives. Her work cuts across many industries including private equity, telecommunications, technology, energy and entertainment industries.

    Dianne’s experience includes:

    • Drafting executive service agreements, employment contracts, workplace agreements, company policies, consultancy agreements, proprietary information and inventions agreements, secondment agreements.
    • Advising clients on contractual and award interpretation, work health and safety laws, compliance with employment laws generally and the termination benefit provisions of the Corporations Act and ASX Listing Rules. 
    • Assisting clients to performance manage and terminate staff (particularly in relation to executive terminations) without legal consequence, including the management/resolution of workplace performance, grievances and disputes.
    • Conducting investigations on behalf of employers into allegations of discrimination, sexual harassment, and bullying and whistleblower disclosures and advising employers on the content and implementation of policies impacting on diversity including discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying and employee grievance.
    • Acting in all forms of employment litigation, including wrongful dismissal and other breach of contract claims, general protections, unfair dismissal, discrimination and sexual harassment, work health and safety, small claims, enforcement of restrictive covenants and post-employment obligations.
    • Advising on all employment and industrial issues arising from mergers and acquisitions, including advising on transmission of business issues, strategic industrial relations advice, conducting due diligence and drafting necessary documentation.

    Dianne is ranked Band 3 in Employment: New South Wales.

    THE LEGAL 500 ASIA-PACIFIC 2024

    Dianne is recognised as a leading employment lawyer and has been since 2014.

    Chambers Asia Pacific 2014 - 2023

    Dianne is recognised as a Best Lawyer in Labour and Employment Law.

    Best Lawyers Australia 2014 – 2024

    Dianne is recognised as a Leading Employment Lawyer.

    DOYLE’S GUIDE (2021 – 2023)

    "Dianne is technically one of the most capable lawyers that I know but is pragmatic in her approach. She is always available and makes me feel like I am her only client. She is also great fun to work with. I appreciate the ability to be able to talk through and bounce ideas off her."

    CHAMBERS ASIA-PACIFIC 2023

    Dianne Banks has a broad practice encompassing litigation, investigations and post-restraint obligations. Clients praise her for her client care, depth of knowledge and practicality, with one commenting: "She has the ability to provide innovative advice on complex issues, explain the advice in a simple and practical manner, and resolve disputes with a fair and reasonable approach."

    Chambers Asia-Pacific, 2021

    "Dianne Banks is a pleasure to work with. She has significant employment law experience and is trusted adviser to the executive team and board."

    THE LEGAL 500 ASIA PACIFIC 2020

    "Dianne Banks has such a wealth of experience. She is always thinking 2-3 steps ahead and is to-the-point without being abrupt. She has a great sense of humor, even when situations can be trying at times. and understands our business and the industry."

    THE LEGAL 500 ASIA PACIFIC 2020

    A client describes her as "a savvy operator with a no-nonsense approach that is commercial and practical."

    Chambers Asia-Pacific 2020

    Dianne Banks wins praise from clients for her "very pragmatic and practical" advice on employment and industrial relations. "I truly believe that Di is the best lawyer that I have had the privilege to work with," declares one interviewee, adding that she "has the ability to operate as a true business partner when I have sought her counsel."

    Chambers Asia-Pacific 2018

    Dianne was the exclusive winner of the ILO Client Choice Award for Employment & Labour in Australia.

    ILO Client Choice Awards 2013

    Dianne was the exclusive winner of the ILO Client Choice Award for Employment & Labour in Australia.

    ILO Client Choice Awards 2012