Mick Sheils
Special Counsel

T: (02) 9291 7306
F: (02) 9221 1117
E: Mick Sheils

Areas of Practice
Employment & Industrial Law

Current Practice
Mick Sheils is Industrial Relations Advisor/Accredited Mediator in the firm's Employment and Industrial Relations Group. Former long-serving New South Wales Industrial Relations Commissioner and having had a wealth of Australia-wide experience in industrial relations in the private and public sectors, Mick is a highly valued member of the Group.

Professional Experience
In 1986 Mick was appointed Commissioner of the New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission. During his time as Commissioner, from 1986 to 1997 he was responsible for both the electricians and engineers awards, administrative and clerical occupations, electricity supply industry, police and public sector employment. He also had responsibility for the bread industry during its difficult period of deregulation. He was well regarded by employers and unions for his ability to have disputing parties reach an amicable settlement in very difficult matters.

Following his time at the Commission, Mick was appointed General Manager, Industrial Relations of Transfield Pty Ltd. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, he was responsible for handling industrial relations for some of the company's most high profile activities, such as the Walsh Bay redevelopment, Melbourne City Link, Airport Link in Sydney and the Northside Storage Tunnel.

During his extensive career, Mick has gathered specialised knowledge, particularly in relation to union negotiations on matters such as industrial disputes and workplace certified agreement settlements across Australia. He is also a skilled accredited mediator and during his time at Carroll and O'Dea has dealt with many sensitive matters in the private sector, Not for Profit organisations, government departments and instrumentalities.

Whilst at Carroll & O'Dea Mick has worked on a range of employment and industrial relations matters with a particular focus on transmission of business issues. Mick has assisted the new owners of the Bourbon and Beefstake Bar during the acquisition process and a number of not for profit organisations including Boys Town (the incorporation of BoysTown from the Trustees of the De La Salle Brothers) and the transfer of welfare services from Mercy Family Centre Ltd, Waitara to Centacare.