Guests at the Christmas party of a leading labour law firm will be the target of its employees

It attracts politicians, law luminaries and union powerbrokers but this year, guests who turn up to one of the legal world’s biggest Christmas shindigs are set for an unpleasant surprise.

Guests at the Christmas party of a leading labour law firm will be the target of its employees as they campaign for better wages.

Staff at Maurice Blackburn are at odds with management over a new pay deal and will walk out early on Thursday to greet those converging on the company’s end-of-year shindig.

Politicians, luminaries of the legal world and union powerbrokers are traditionally among the guests at what is one of the legal world’s biggest annual get-togethers.

Workers, represented by the Australian Services Union, have for months been pushing for a better pay deal.

But Maurice Blackburn has resisted, a spokesman for the company saying on Wednesday it was hoped a resolution could be reached soon.

The spokesman said those paid under $100,000 had been offered 5.5 per cent for the first year of the deal and 3.25 per cent for each of the next two.

Those on more than $100,000 had been offered 3.5 per cent in year one, and 3.25 for the next two years.

The ASU was contacted for comment.