Luke commenced his career as a corporate trainer with Accor Asia Pacific in 1998 where he “cut his teeth” on the value of training and on being “quick on your feet”.

From there Luke spent many valuable years at top tier law firms Freehills and Clayton Utz where he moved rapidly through the ranks to Special Counsel working in the Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide offices before taking up partnership with Mills Oakley in 2010 with the brief to set up its Workplace Relations Team from scratch. After accomplishing this task, Luke decided to branch out on his own believing that the area of workplace relations is much better suited to a boutique style practice with a “new law” approach to it.

Connolly Workplace Law (the Firm) was established by Luke in 2013.

The Firm was established primarily because, after 20 years, Luke formed the view that workplace relations, employment and safety law (WRES) just isn’t suited to the big firms – to be blunt – they’re a rip off! WRES is a niche area often requiring short, sharp, and responsive advice with fast turnaround, all in the course of an employer’s daily operations and without a ridiculously priced bill sent to you for it.

Luke found more and more that the structure and model posed by the larger firms was restricting his style and the style wanted by his clients. He was also having to charge them far too much each hour in an area of law that is very practical and heavily driven by common sense.

In his own gig, Luke has been able to enjoy offering his own style and is loving it. His clients’ love it too.

By design of our Firm, we manage to keep our rates at the lower end thereby being able to provide ‘top tier service at boutique rates’, and so always remaining extremely competitive and value for money. Given Luke knows his stuff and is a very good lawyer (just ask him), knowing we can then do the job at rates the big firms can’t match but provide the same or (we say) better expertise, is a very good feeling for the Firm and for the client.

We don’t do it like the other guys. We have cast off the traditional Collins Street approach – it’s boring and it’s old. Luke’s business model is founded on kicking out the high overheads – a satellite style approach or often termed “new law”. With major overheads gone, Luke can focus on the more exciting stuff without the stress of justifying high fees and having to meet scary monthly overheads. Things like getting to know a client more, their business, their interests and on building relationships, and, most importantly on having the time to think outside the square – all front and centre with our model.

Luke utilises a team of contract lawyers who he has at the ready to pull into a matter but only when needed. Again, part of the new law approach adopted by Luke in discarding the inflexible and traditional models.

Luke operates from his offices in Lonsdale Street in Melbourne, Elizabeth Street in Sydney and often from home, or even at a cafe, or on his boat.

Luke’s qualifications:

• Bachelor of Laws University of Newcastle 1997
• Bachelor of Business Victoria University 1994
• Admitted to practice in VIC, SA and NSW
• Admitted to practice in the High Court of Australia