Senior Associate / Special Counsel

About the role

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Senior Associate or Special Counsel to join a well established Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution team in Newcastle.

This role is suited to a senior disputes lawyer looking to step into a key position within the team, with access to a strong pipeline of complex matters and the opportunity to take ownership of files while contributing to the continued growth of the practice.

You will work on a broad mix of high quality, often complex disputes, including multi party litigation, across a diverse client base spanning corporate and government clients.

You can expect to be involved in a wide range of commercial disputes, including but not limited to:

• Complex contractual disputes and general commercial litigation
• Building & construction and property related disputes
• Insolvency, restructuring and debt recovery matters
• Urgent interlocutory applications, including injunctive relief
Alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration and expert determination

The role offers genuine variety, with exposure to matters across multiple jurisdictions and courts, primarily in the Supreme Court and appellate level.

About you

You will be a technically strong and commercially minded disputes lawyer with:

• 6+ years’ PQE in commercial litigation / dispute resolution
• Proven experience managing complex matters with a high degree of autonomy
• Strong drafting, advocacy and negotiation skills
• A pragmatic, client focused approach to delivering outcomes
The ability to supervise and mentor junior lawyers

At Special Counsel level, you will ideally demonstrate the ability to support practice growth and build trusted client relationships.

We’re passionate about what we do and want you to be too.

Moray & Agnew is one of Australia’s leading law firms with an unrivalled reputation in our markets. We’re proud that our partners and our legal expertise is consistently recognised by Chambers Asia-Pacific, Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, Best Lawyers and Doyle’s Guide.

With over 110 partners, our teams are organised into three strategic pillars so that we can play to our strengths:

• Insurance – including commercial classes such as financial lines, professional indemnity, public & product liability, life insurance and through to statutory classes such as workers compensation and compulsory third party.
• Commercial & Workplace – spanning corporate and commercial, construction and projects, property and environment, commercial dispute resolution, insolvency, owners’ corporation and workplace law
• Government – spanning local, state and federal government

Our clients include Australian and international insurers and reinsurers, corporates of all sizes, and federal, state and local government.

Nationally, over 750 talented people deliver top-quality legal advice and representation, coupled with exceptional client service and support, across our offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle, Perth and Cairns.

Our partners are committed to fostering flexible, inclusive and diverse environments for our employees. We have the fourth highest percentage of female partners according to the AFR Law Partnership Survey, July 2024.

We value technical excellence and collegiality, offer a great workplace culture and excellent opportunities to further your career, whether you are just starting out, are an experienced lawyer or a business services professional.

Culture & benefits of working with us

We work for great clients and advise them on interesting issues and matters so every day is different. We celebrate diverse thinking and experiences so you can bring your authentic self to the workplace. To support you, we offer a wide range of wellbeing and financial benefits, including:

• Flexible working arrangements to help you balance your work and personal commitments
• Health and wellness initiatives , including an Employee Assistance Program for yourself and your family, corporate discounts at 400+ leading fitness and wellbeing brands and mental health first aiders
• Paid parental leave and accreditations as a Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace and Family Inclusive Workplace
• Continuous learning and development programs so that you are always being challenged, engaged and encouraged to grow
• Mentoring opportunities and on the job learning to support your professional and personal development
• Diversity, inclusion and equality policy and employee reference groups (LGBTQIA+, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Gender, Parents & Caregivers, Mature Workers and Health & Wellbeing) to ensure that we continue to live our values
• Dress for your day because we trust our people to make choices which appropriately represent our firm .

How to apply

If this opportunity is attractive to you, please submit your cover letter and CV. If you are applying for a Paralegal, Law Graduate or Lawyer role, please also provide your academic transcript with your application.

We welcome people of all backgrounds and identities to apply for this position, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, neurodiverse people and people with disability. If you have questions about the recruitment process or require any adjustments to participate, please let us know in your application.

We prefer to connect with people directly and do not require recruitment agency assistance with this vacancy. Any applications submitted by recruitment agencies without having been briefed will not be considered a valid introduction.