Our Services and Areas of Expertise

    • Advising on high risk, high value procurements.

    • Advising on the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013,
      the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, Commonwealth Grant Rules and Guidelines, Resource Management Guides, and Accountable Authority Instructions.

    • Advising on information and communications technology (ICT) and joint procurements.

    • Embedding as legal advisors in multidisciplinary teams.

    • Drafting and advising on all procurement documentation including RFx, contracts, and deeds of standing offer.

    • Developing business cases for government regarding funding required for legal programs.

    • Drafting contracts and advising on major asset, maintenance and in-service support contracts.

    • Advising on the acquisition, delivery and sustainment of Commonwealth assets.

    • Advising on core commercial legal matters such as insurance, indemnities, warranties and termination.

    • Advising on legal compliance and contractual disputes including contractor performance.

    • Advising on memoranda of understanding for joint procurements, information sharing and shared services between Commonwealth departments and portfolio agencies.

    • Advising on the intersection between Commonwealth and State statutory and regulatory frameworks.

    • Advising on commercial matters concerning not-for-profit organisations and Commonwealth entities.

    • Developing practical and easy to sustain probity processes by utilising Syn’s Probity Advisor Model.

    • Providing Independent Probity Advisory services to complement internal project teams.

    • Providing high quality, practical and robust probity audit services through our deep knowledge of probity processes and probity risk management.

    • Advising on governance, legal structure and Commonwealth frameworks.

    • Establishing governance and probity frameworks for Commonwealth entities.

    • Providing decision briefs and minutes for executives and delegates relating to legal risks.

    • Drafting instruments of authorisation and delegation and advising on executives’ or officers’ potential liability.

    • Providing probity briefings and probity sign-off and assurance.

    • Drafting and reviewing probity documentation including probity notification forms, probity plans, probity registers, confidentiality deeds, conflict of interest declarations, communications protocol, business as usual protocol and information security protocol.

    • Providing specialist advice, drafting and negotiations on ICT contracts including data licensing, end-user licence agreements and major ICT procurements.

    • Uplifting Commonwealth entities’ ICT procurement practice and contracts.

    • Developing bespoke operational procedures to meet Commonwealth entities’ specific requirements.

    • Providing assistance to help source and procure the latest ICT technology.

    • Preparing contract negotiation directives and negotiation gap lists.

    • Drafting negotiation plans including ‘Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement’ and ‘Worst Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement’.

    • Preparing teams for negotiations.

    • Conducting negotiations, particularly in relation to liability frameworks, indemnities, performance management, warranties, intellectual property and insurance.

    • Negotiating and leading complex, high risk and high value transactions.

    • Producing contract negotiation reports.

    • Advising on the use of intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP audits.

    • Advising on the protection of IP during procurement processes and through contracts.

    • Advising on options in dealing with IP created through collaborative working arrangements.

    • Negotiating IP arrangements.

    • Drafting and reviewing IP provisions to protect our clients’ interests.

    • Providing outsourced FOI and access-to-information determination services, Internal Reviews and advising on OAIC Merit Reviews and AAT proceedings.

    • Advising on compliance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), as well as the adequacy of privacy policies & notices and Privacy Management Plans.

    • Undertaking Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) and Threshold Privacy Assessments (TPAs).

    • Managing privacy complaints and regulatory reviews.

    • Managing and responding to notifiable data breaches, running data breach simulations and advising on uplifting data breach response plans and associated governance protocols.

    • Consulting and advising on the use, storage, disposal and disclosure of records, data and other information in accordance with public sector archiving and record retention obligations.

    • Development of privacy and FOI policies, procedures, tools, resources, and templates as well as the implementation of BPE initiatives using Lean Six Sigma techniques to reduce processing delays and backlogs, as well as enhancing review and appeal protocols.

    • Training decision-makers on drafting FOI, privacy and other administrative access decisions.

    • Sharing of data for research purposes pursuant to legal and ethical requirements.

    • Drafting of contractual clauses to reflect public sector requirements in relation to archiving, access-to-information, privacy and FOI obligations, data handling, security and audit requirements.

    • Advising on and conducting reviews of regulatory, administrative and policy frameworks.

    • Ensuring compliance with administrative law frameworks and recommending improvements to business rules, operational protocols and other processes.

    • Providing legal, governance and advisory support to Senate Committees and similar oversight bodies.

    • Legal advice, secretariat and related support for Royal Commissions and similar inquiries, including supporting witness statements, preparation of evidence, reviews of submissions, drafting responses, facilitating public hearings and assisting in the implementation of recommendations.

    • Investigations into allegations of fraud, Code of Conduct and Legal Services Directions breaches, as well as providing advice on proposed sanctions and other recommendations.

    • Public Interest Disclosures (PID) investigations, review and revision of PID policies and procedures, as well as the provision of resources and training.

    • Systemic reviews of legal practices (such as litigation or procurement programs) so as to support best practice initiatives, improved outcomes, while building capacity and cost-effectiveness.

    • Reviewing, managing and advising on process improvements for Commonwealth and State Government complaint-management systems, with a focus on vexatious or challenging complaints, as well as mediating between agencies and complainants.

    • Monitoring and facilitating stakeholder compliance with legislation, including conducting compliance visits, investigating alleged breaches and making recommendations.

    • Public Interest Disclosures (PID) investigations

    • review and revision of PID policies and procedures,

    • provision of resources and training.

    • Advising on legislative reforms.

    • Supporting preparation of parliamentary submissions, discussion papers and business cases.

    • Preparation of drafting instructions and working with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

    • Drafting subordinate legislative instruments and formal delegations of authority.

    • Monitoring of legislative and regulatory ‘sunset’ provisions and advising on next steps.

    • Facilitating community consultations and stakeholder workshops.

    • Reviewing regulations and instruments for currency, redundancy and alignment with operational programs, policy goals and compliance with relevant legislative frameworks.

    • Preparation of materials to support the introduction of a Bill, including Explanatory Memoranda, Regulatory Impact Statements and other related materials.

    • Provision of training, tools and resources to facilitate understanding of new legislation by APS staff, agency executives, administering officers and other stakeholders.

    • Training APS staff in Parliamentary and legislative processes.

    • Authoritative, strategic and practical advice on the interpretation of legislation.

    • Development of tools & resources to support decision-makers and advisers in understanding legislation, regulations, legislative instruments and their practical implications.

    • Advice on developing policies and business rules that are consistent and legally compliant.

    • Reviewing communications for industry, stakeholders and the broader community to ensure that information about legislation, regulations, policy and administrative frameworks can be readily understood and are drafted in Plain English.

    • Supporting consultations and negotiations with government agencies regarding proposed legislation and policy reforms impacting on operations and administrative practices.

    • Advising on all aspects of APS employment matters from recruitment to termination, including whole-of-agency protocols and in relation to individual staff members.

    • Conducting Code of Conduct investigations, mediation of workplace disputes and providing legal support in managing challenging employees.

    • Advice on Enterprise Agreements and supporting negotiations with staff and unions.

    • Advice on Machinery-of-Government mergers.

    • Anti-discrimination advisory work and representing agencies with regulatory bodies.

    • Fair Work entitlements advice in relation to leave, underpayments, superannuation and taxation obligations, among other obligations.

    • Advising on statutory appointments, committees and Remuneration Tribunal matters.

    • Workplace Health and Safety legislative compliance and related advisory work.

    • Training in prevention of discrimination, bullying and harassment.

    • Advice on Individual Flexibility Arrangements and s. 24 determinations under the Public Service Act.

    • Providing legal, governance and advisory support to Senate Committees and similar oversight bodies.

    • Legal advice, secretariat and related support for Royal Commissions and similar inquiries, including reviews of submissions, drafting responses, facilitating public hearings and assisting in the implementation of recommendations.

    • Providing retainer reach-back advice and support for agencies without inhouse legal capacity and/or capability.

    • Providing general guidance or training.

    • Assisting Commonwealth entities with limited in-house legal functions or resources.

    • Facilitating connections to other, more experienced government lawyers with experience in the challenges faced by in-house lawyers or governance teams.

    • Access to a bank of resources, templates, legal research tools and training materials.

    • Managing and responding to notifiable data breaches, running data breach simulations and advising on uplifting data breach response plans and associated governance protocols.

    • Advising on the use, storage, disposal and disclosure of records, data and other information in accordance with public sector archiving and record retention obligations.

    • conducting investigations into alleged breaches by regulated professionals of legal and ethical standards.

    • Development of tools and resources in relation to ethical conduct, conflicts-of-interest, procurement practices, PGPA obligations as well as building capacity for individuals, organisations and across industries.

    • Advice to assist disciplinary panels and tribunals as to the interpretation of standards, procedural fairness, as well as appropriate sanctions in sporting, volunteering and similar organisations.