The trusted names in compliance.

Watchdog Compliance is a team of experienced solicitors, compliance professionals and regulatory specialists who help businesses confidently manage legal and compliance risk.

Combining legal expertise with practical commercial experience, we work alongside our clients to identify risks early, solve problems efficiently and support better business decisions.


   Meet our management team.

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David Johnson

Solicitor | | Co-Founder and Director
Product Safety & Consumer Law Specialist 


David Johnson is one of Australia's leading product safety and consumer law specialists, with more than 30 years' experience advising businesses on regulatory compliance, product safety, recalls and consumer protection across Australia and New Zealand.

David helps retailers, manufacturers, importers, distributors and product brands manage complex regulatory issues with practical, commercially focused advice. He is particularly recognised for his expertise in product recalls, mandatory standards, product safety governance and regulatory engagement, assisting businesses to prevent incidents where possible and respond effectively when issues arise.

Before establishing Watchdog Compliance, David worked as a lawyer with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) before becoming a Senior Lawyer with the Australian Government Solicitor, where he acted for the ACCC in Federal Court litigation, settlements and regulatory matters. David has advised hundreds of organisations on Australian Consumer Law, pricing and advertising, product safety, recalls, complaints handling, compliance governance, risk management and regulator engagement. He has developed compliance programs for businesses across a broad range of industries and regularly delivers executive briefings, board workshops and practical staff training designed to build lasting compliance capability.

His expertise has also been recognised by the legal profession, with law firms engaging him as an independent expert witness in litigation and coronial inquiries involving product safety, recall effectiveness and regulatory expectations. He has prepared expert reports on major recall matters, and has provided opinions on supplier responsibilities, recall strategy, consumer communications and product safety governance. David was appointed to the ACCC's inaugural Product Safety Consultative Committee, where he worked alongside industry leaders, consumer representatives and regulators to help shape Australia's product safety landscape. 

David holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University, together with a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, and has been admitted as a barrister and solicitor since 1997.


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Michelle Johnson


Solicitor | Co-Founder and Director
Compliance & Risk Specialist


Michelle Johnson is a solicitor and compliance specialist with more than 25 years' experience helping retailers, brands, importers, manufacturers, marketplaces and service businesses manage complex regulatory obligations across Australia and New Zealand.


As Co-Founder and Director of Watchdog Compliance, Michelle works closely with organisations to design practical compliance frameworks that support business growth while managing legal, operational and reputational risk. She is recognised for translating complex legislation into commercially focused solutions that can be readily implemented across all levels of an organisation.


Michelle advises on a broad range of regulatory matters, including Australian Consumer Law, product safety, privacy and data protection, marketing and advertising, ESG and sustainability, modern slavery, ethical sourcing, green claims, illegal logging, product stewardship and supplier due diligence.

She develops governance frameworks, board reporting systems, supplier compliance programs and practical risk management processes that help businesses embed compliance into their day-to-day operations.


Michelle also leads the development of tailored compliance programs, policies, digital compliance systems and staff training for executives, boards, marketing teams, buyers, product developers and customer service teams. Her focus is on creating practical, sustainable compliance solutions that improve decision-making, strengthen governance and reduce regulatory risk.


Before establishing Watchdog Compliance, Michelle held senior legal, policy and consultancy roles, providing extensive experience in regulatory compliance, governance, policy development, organisational improvement and strategic risk management.


Michelle has been admitted as a Solicitor since 2002 and holds multiple degrees from the Australian National University, including a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Graduate Diploma in Public Law.


Our Compliance Support Team

Our experienced support team plays an essential role in delivering the practical, responsive service our clients value.

Working alongside our lawyers and compliance professionals, they assist with legal and regulatory research, compliance monitoring, supplier due diligence, product and document reviews, evidence management, compliance registers, policy preparation, audit support, training coordination, project management and client communications.

The team also helps monitor legislative and regulatory developments, maintain our compliance systems and knowledge resources, coordinate client projects and ensure work is delivered efficiently, accurately and to the highest professional standard. Their support enables our lawyers and compliance professionals to focus on providing practical advice while ensuring every client receives timely, commercially focused compliance solutions.
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Flagship Services

Our flagship services give businesses practical, high-impact support in the areas where compliance risk most often affects products, customers, suppliers and growth.

Watchdog Compliance Membership

Access regular specialist legal and compliance support across consumer law, product safety, product recalls, privacy, spam, marketing and advertising claims, website and ecommerce reviews, supplier due diligence, responsible sourcing, training, risk assessments and regulator response issues.

Benefit: Practical guidance when questions arise, with a more predictable support model for busy teams.

Product Safety Compliance Hub

The Product Safety Compliance Hub is a managed product compliance system that helps businesses track product approvals, supplier evidence, test reports, safety data sheets, labelling checks, warning requirements, mandatory standards, product images, escalation notes and safety records in one practical workflow.

Benefit: Clearer product decisions, better evidence records and fewer last-minute compliance surprises.

Regulator Response & Compliance Programs

Support for businesses responding to regulator enquiries, s87B undertakings, court ordered compliance programs, investigations, corrective actions and evidence requirements.

Benefit: Helps your team respond appropriately, keep better records and turn regulator obligations into practical actions.

Training, Workshops & WC Academy

In-person workshop, online learning screen or team training sessions. Build practical compliance capability through tailored face-to-face, online and LMS-integrated training programs.

Benefit: Helps staff recognise risks earlier, make better decisions and apply compliance rules day to day.

How to work with Watchdog

We can provide the practical solutions that you need.

1. Tell us what you need.

Send us a short summary of your issue, project, product, campaign, supplier question or compliance concern.

3. We Review & Advise 

We provide clear recommendations, wording changes, risk notes, templates, registers, training or practical action plans your team can use.

2. We Recommend.

We review what you need and suggest the most practical next step.

4. Your Team Moves Forward 

You receive clear next steps, better records and support that helps your business make faster, informed compliance decisions.

Frequently asked questions

What is Watchdog Compliance Membership and how is it different from a traditional law firm or consultant?

Watchdog Compliance Membership gives your business ongoing access to specialist compliance support across consumer law, product safety, privacy, marketing, supplier due diligence and regulatory obligations. Unlike a traditional hourly legal model, membership is designed to help you identify and resolve compliance issues early, before products launch, campaigns go live or problems escalate. We focus on practical, commercially focused advice that helps your team make better day-to-day decisions rather than simply producing legal documents.

What types of businesses is Watchdog Compliance Membership best suited to?

Our services and memberships are designed for businesses that sell, supply, source, market or compare consumer products and services. We work with retailers, ecommerce businesses, wholesalers, importers, distributors, online marketplaces, comparison websites, product brands, subscription businesses, franchisors, in-house legal and compliance teams and law firms requiring specialist support.  We are also very flexible and encourage you to get in touch to discuss how we may be able to assist your business.

What is included in Watchdog Compliance Membership?

Depending on your membership tier, support can include compliance advice, website and campaign reviews, Australian Consumer Law guidance, product safety reviews, supplier evidence assessments, privacy and spam compliance, advertising and environmental claims reviews, recall and incident support, policies, customer communications, AI governance, training, templates, checklists and ongoing compliance updates. The scope is tailored to your business and agreed when your membership begins.

What is not included in membership?

Membership covers ongoing compliance support within an agreed scope. It does not generally include litigation, court proceedings, major investigations, laboratory testing, engineering certification, international legal advice, full recall execution or large compliance transformation projects. These matters can still be undertaken under a separate scope where appropriate.

Is membership right for my business, or should I start with a one-off project?

If you have a single issue, such as a website review, product safety assessment or privacy review, a fixed-scope project may be the best starting point - we are here to help with whatever you need!

What happens during the initial consultation?

We'll get to know your business, products, suppliers, sales channels, current challenges, priorities and timeframes. We'll then recommend the most practical next step, whether that's the appropriate membership tier, a Product Safety Compliance Hub implementation or a fixed-scope review.

Can Watchdog review our website, marketing campaigns and customer journey before launch?

Yes. We regularly review websites, product pages, checkout journeys, pricing, promotions, subscriptions, warranties, returns, reviews, influencer campaigns, privacy notices, consent processes and customer communications before they go live. Reviews can be conducted using live websites, staging sites, draft pages, screenshots or campaign materials.

Can Watchdog help with product safety and mandatory standards?

Yes. We help identify applicable mandatory standards, product bans, labelling and warning requirements, supplier evidence gaps and product safety risks. We review test reports, supplier documentation, artwork, SDS/MSDS, instructions and product information to help businesses determine whether products are ready for sale or require further evidence.

What is the Product Safety Compliance Hub?

The Product Safety Compliance Hub is Watchdog's managed product compliance workflow for businesses managing large product ranges. It tracks supplier evidence, test reports, artwork, approvals, risk ratings, outstanding actions, regulatory updates and recall records, helping buying, quality, legal and compliance teams manage product approvals more effectively.

Can Watchdog help with product incidents, recalls and regulator enquiries?

Yes. We assist with product incidents, customer complaints, injury reports, recalls, regulator enquiries and compliance investigations. This can include risk assessments, regulator communications, customer notices, action plans, recall documentation and practical advice on managing the issue appropriately.

Can Watchdog help with privacy, spam, customer data and AI compliance?

Yes. We advise on privacy policies, collection notices, consent processes, email and SMS marketing, cookies, tracking technologies, loyalty programs, data retention, AI governance, vendor management and data breach preparedness. We help businesses manage customer data responsibly while supporting effective marketing and digital operations.

Can Watchdog review environmental, sustainability and other marketing claims?

Yes. We review advertising claims relating to environmental sustainability, recycled content, ethical sourcing, country of origin, product performance, certifications, animal welfare and other product claims. We assess what consumers are likely to understand from the claim and whether appropriate evidence supports it.

Can Watchdog help with supplier compliance, modern slavery and responsible sourcing?

Yes. We assist businesses with supplier due diligence, supplier questionnaires, contractual clauses, evidence requests, modern slavery compliance, illegal logging obligations, responsible sourcing programs and ongoing supplier compliance frameworks.

Does Watchdog provide training, templates and practical compliance tools?

Yes. Membership may include live training, online learning, practical workshops, compliance templates, supplier questionnaires, website review checklists, recall readiness tools, privacy and spam guidance, environmental claims checklists and other resources designed to help your team apply compliance requirements consistently.

Can Watchdog work with our existing lawyers or advisers?

Absolutely. We frequently work alongside in-house legal teams, external law firms, consultants, agencies and quality teams, providing specialist expertise in consumer law, product safety, privacy, regulatory compliance and related areas without replacing your existing advisers.

Can Watchdog help with board or executive reporting?

Yes. We prepare practical compliance dashboards, executive summaries, action plans, risk registers and board-ready reports that clearly communicate compliance risks, regulatory developments, product safety issues and the progress of compliance initiatives.

Can membership cover multiple brands, websites or business units?

Yes. Membership can be tailored to support multiple brands, websites, product ranges or business units. The agreed scope will reflect the size and complexity of your business to ensure support remains practical and responsive.

Will our information be kept confidential?

Yes. Confidentiality is covered by our engagement terms. We regularly work with sensitive commercial information, supplier records, product evidence, regulatory correspondence and internal risk assessments, and handle that information appropriately and confidentially.

Does Watchdog support businesses outside Australia?

Our primary focus is Australian and New Zealand compliance, with extensive experience supporting businesses operating across those regions but we assist clients with meeting requirements all over the world.

How do we get started?

Simply contact us and tell us a little about your business, your products or services and the issue you'd like assistance with. Whether you need ongoing membership, a Product Safety Compliance Hub implementation or a one-off review, we'll recommend the most practical solution for your business.

Get in touch!

  • contact@watchdogcompliance.com
  • 1300 009 282

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