Sparke Helmore has announced the promotion to Partner for Emma Gruschka (Workplace) and Naomi Simmons (Corporate & Commercial), both based in their Newcastle office.

Emma Gruschka is an experienced workplace lawyer who advises on employment and work health and safety (WHS) issues.

She works with clients in diverse sectors, including mining, transport, financial services, insurance, health care and government.

Emma is particularly well regarded for her ability to assist client to navigate complex and difficult workplace matters ranging from investigations, disciplinary issues, enterprise bargaining and organisational change through to workplace incidents and litigation.

She’s focused on finding solutions that allow her clients to get back to their ‘core business’ and equip them to manage risk into the future. A self-confessed law nerd, she has a knack for translating legal concepts in into everyday, language helping clients build and sustain compliant, safe, and healthy workplaces.

Naomi Simmons is an Accredited Specialist in Planning and Environment Law.

Her expertise includes Land and Environment Court litigation, local government law, aboriginal land claims, drafting and negotiating planning agreements, pollution investigations and prosecutions and biodiversity conservation law.

Naomi’s clients include local government, developers, resources companies and statutory authorities.

She assists clients to understand and comply with their statutory obligations and to solve legal problems arising in the local government, planning and environment fields.

Naomi’s background in science and consultancy brings a unique perspective to her legal practice.

She works with her clients to reach innovative and practical solutions to meet their objectives, while ensuring legislative obligations are met.

“I’m proud of the work we do for clients in Hunter and across our national team,” Emma said.

“I’ve been so lucky to build a career here working at a local, regional, state and national level.”

“I’m looking forward to taking on this new role and the opportunity to grow our team in the Hunter region and beyond. My goal is to continue to build on existing client relationships, ensuring that we maintain the high level of service that our clients have come to expect. I’m also excited to explore new opportunities in the market,” Naomi added.

Sparke Helmore is also pleased to announce the promotion to Senior Associate of Newcastle-based Ariel Curtis and Jessica Phillips.

Ariel Curtis is an Employment Lawyer with experience advising small and large organisations on a vast range of industrial matters including award coverage, underpayment disputes and contractual issues.

Her work has exposed her to a range of industries including the banking, insurance, not-for-profit and health services industries.

Jessica Phillips is an employment and industrial relations lawyer with a particular focus on providing plain language advice to clients and working with them to find practical and commercial solutions to workplace issues.

These promotions reflect Sparke Helmore’s ongoing commitment to Newcastle and the Hunter where they started business back in 1882.

IMAGE | Emma Gruschka & Naomi Simmons get promoted to Partners at Sparke Helmore Newcastle (left-right).