Senior Associate - Commercial Litigation | 5+ Years PAE

Our client is a well-established Melbourne commercial law firm with a strong reputation across litigation, property, commercial and related practice areas.

The firm has been operating for more than 50 years and has developed a reputation for providing high-quality, commercially focused advice to businesses, private clients, property owners and investors.

Its litigation practice is particularly well regarded and handles complex commercial disputes across a broad range of industries. The team offers the quality of work and sophistication you would expect from a larger practice, while maintaining a collaborative environment where senior lawyers have genuine access to partners, clients and decision-making.

Due to continued growth, the firm is looking to appoint a Commercial Litigation Senior Associate with 5+ years’ PAE to join its Melbourne disputes team.

This is a genuine senior role with significant autonomy and direct client responsibility.

You will take carriage of your own matters while working closely with experienced partners on larger and more complex disputes. Your work will include:

• Complex commercial and contractual disputes;
  
• Shareholder and partnership disputes;
  
• Corporations Act and directors' duties matters;
  
• Insolvency and restructuring disputes;
  
• Property and commercial disputes;
  
• Debt recovery and enforcement matters;
  
• Urgent interlocutory applications and injunctions;
  
• Preparing matters for mediation, arbitration and trial;
  
• Briefing and working closely with counsel and experts; and
  
• Advising clients on dispute strategy, risk and commercial resolution.
  

You will be involved from the outset of a dispute through to resolution, including developing strategy, conducting negotiations, managing evidence and discovery, appearing in mediations and working on matters proceeding through the Victorian and Federal courts.

Importantly, this is not a role where senior lawyers simply support partners from the background. You will have meaningful client contact, responsibility for your files and the opportunity to develop your own relationships and practice.

You will ideally have:

• At least 5 years’ post-admission experience in commercial litigation;
  
• Strong experience managing complex commercial disputes;
  
• Excellent written advocacy, drafting and negotiation skills;
  
• Experience running matters with a high degree of autonomy;
  
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to provide practical strategic advice;
  
• Confidence dealing directly with clients, counsel and other stakeholders; and
  
• The ambition to continue developing towards a senior leadership position within a litigation practice.
  

Experience across insolvency, shareholder disputes or broader corporate litigation would be particularly well regarded.

The firm offers:

• Genuine carriage of sophisticated and high-value commercial disputes;
  
• Direct access to experienced litigation partners;
  
• Significant client contact and responsibility;
  
• A strong and respected litigation practice;
  
• High-quality work without the bureaucracy of a large national firm;
  
• Clear opportunities for further career progression;
  
• A collaborative team that genuinely supports each other;
  
• An active social culture, including sporting teams and firm events; and
  
• A workplace where senior lawyers are encouraged to build their own profile and client relationships.
  

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded litigator who wants challenging work, genuine autonomy and a clear pathway to continue progressing within a respected Melbourne practice.