John Blackburn SC

John Blackburn SC is a leading workplace relations barrister.

John practises almost exclusively in industrial and employment matters. He regularly advises and appears in Federal and State courts and tribunals on matters ranging from large scale industrial disputes to executive employment litigation, adverse action and discrimination claims by individuals.

John has appeared in many notable cases, both at first instance and appellate level, including in 2021 in the High Court’s landmark CFMMEU v Personnel Contracting case on the distinction between employees and independent contractors.

John also acts as an arbitrator in industrial and employment disputes.

John has over 30 years’ experience in industrial and employment law – having worked as an industrial advocate and IR Manager at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA (CCI), employment lawyer at Minter Ellison and general counsel at CCI. He joined the Independent Bar in 2003 and was appointed senior counsel in 2015.

In 2022 John was named “Lawyer of the Year” for Labour and Employment Law in Perth in the AFR Best Lawyers in Australia, having been recognised in Best Lawyers since 2014. John is also consistently recognised in Doyles Guide as a “Leading” Senior Counsel in Labour and Employment Law in WA and is “Recommended” Australia-wide.