About John Farren

DIRECTOR

John has extensive experience in all aspects of workplace and employment law. He has advised and represented numerous employers and employees across the public sector, not for profit, statutory authorities and private sector before Workplace and Industrial, Administrative and Statutory Tribunals and Courts at both State and Federal levels.

Dispute resolution through both advocacy in the courts and tribunals and skilled negotiation are John’s areas of special interest and experience.

Before co-founding Farren McRae Workplace Lawyers and Consultants, John practised as a Barrister-at-Law at the Queensland Private Bar for over six years.  John’s move to practising as a solicitor arose from his core drive to help individual employees and employers of all sizes effectively resolve complex workplace disputes and issues – a drive he believed was better achieved in practice as a solicitor heading his own firm.

John is also a trusted legal adviser to both employers and employees in relation to a wide range of employment law issues. In 2024, John was included in the Doyles List in the Leading Employment Lawyers (Employer Representation) – Queensland category.

In addition to his legal experience, John has over 20 years’ experience in undertaking complex workplace investigations relating to misconduct, corrupt conduct, bullying and workplace harassment, serious disciplinary matters (including Code of Conduct breaches), grievances, discrimination and worker’s compensation issues.

John is an experienced workplace mediator, having developed his own distinctive style of mediation that focuses on assisting the parties to identify the root causes of their conflict and agreeing upon how their working relationships can move forward in a more positive way.

He is also currently one of two Specialist Directors on the Board of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (QLD) Ltd and from 2012 to 2017 served pro bono as an independent Board member on the National Board of Management of the Salvation Army’s Employment Plus.

From 2004 to 2007, John sat as a part-time member of the Queensland Public Service Appeals Tribunal (as it then was), as a delegate of the Public Service Commissioner. 

Qualifications

• Admitted Solicitor
• Legal Practitioner of the Supreme Court of Queensland
• Juris Doctor, University of Queensland
• Graduate Diploma Professional Legal Education and Training, University of Queensland
• Bachelor of Commerce (IR and HRM), Griffith University

Legal Practice Areas

Consulting Service Areas