Nick Ruskin is a partner in the firm's Labor, Employment, and Workplace Safety practice. He approaches workplace issues in an efficient, forthright and practical way. His enthusiasm for these areas of law is a hallmark of his practice. Nick has a preference for resolving disputes rather than engaging in unnecessary, technical and usually dissatisfying long game litigation.
His experience lies in healthcare, education, the public sector, retail and service industries with particular knowledge in employment claims including workplace complaints and investigations, termination and discrimination law claims, labour disputes and advocacy before Tribunals.
Nick has been engaged from time to time as an external consultant to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva, New York and Bangkok and has addressed an ILO forum at the United Nations on Australian labour standards.
He is active in human resources circles. He was Convenor of the Employee Relations Interest Group of the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) (Victoria) for over two decades. He was awarded the 2013 AHRI Medal for services to the human resources sector.
Nick is a regular and popular speaker and commentator at professional conferences on labour relations and employment law.
He is an accredited mediator.
He is on the ER/IR National Advisory Panel of AHRI. He was a member of the Legal Profession Reference Group, an advisory body to the President of the Fair Work Commission, Justice IJK Ross.
Prior to legal practice, Nick worked as labour relations practitioner for several organisations and regularly appeared before industrial tribunals.
Before joining the firm, Nick was a partner and national practice leader of a leading employment law practice in Australia and New Zealand.
- Recognised by Chambers Asia-Pacific for Employment: Victoria in Australia, 2022-2026
- Recognised by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific as a Recommended Lawyer for Labour and Employment in Australia, 2026
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in Australia™
- Employee Benefits Law, 2021-2023, 2025-2026
- Labour and Employment Law, 2008-2023, 2025-2026
- Listed by Doyle's Guide as a
- Leading Employment (Employer Representation) Lawyer in Victoria, Australia, 2013-2026
- Leading Workplace Health & Safety Lawyer in Victoria, Australia, 2018-2019
- Recognised by Lexology Index (Formerly Who's Who Legal: Australia and New Zealand) as a Recommended Lawyer for Labour, Employment & Benefits, 2025
- Recognised by Who's Who Legal as a
- Global Leader in Labour & Employment in Australia, 2021-2022
- National Leader in Australia for Labour, Employment & Benefits, 2020, 2022-2024
- Member of Australian Human Resources Institute
- Law Institute of Victoria
- Pro-bono lawyer to several organisations
Nick is a regular contributor to human resources and legal journals and is on the editorial panel of the legal publication Inhouse Counsel.
Nick has also presented on employment law topics, including casual employment (part of the Closing the Loophole series), for The Education Network.
- Co-author, "Comparison of terms facilitating flexibility in minimum terms and conditions of employment", Practical Law/Westlaw, 7 May 2025
- Quoted, "4 legislation changes HR needs to be across in 2024", HRM Online, 13 February 2024
- Quoted, "Best practices for a 4-day work week", HRM, 10 November 2023
- Quoted, "Three Secure Jobs Bill changes that are about to come into effect", HRM, 26 April 2023
- Quoted, “How the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill will impact flexible work,” HRM, 23 January 2023
