Careers

• A true meritocracy model - be promoted by your contribution and not held back by outdated structures
• Flexible 3:2 work arrangements
• Generous leave policies including purchased, parental and performance reward leave

About us

HWLE is not your typical law firm. Our rapid rise to become the largest legal partnership in Australia shows that in our case, the differences are real. We deliver first class legal advice to our government and commercial clients in every state and territory across Australia. Firm wide, we have over 270 Partners and 1700 people

The opportunity

We have an opportunity for a Senior Associate to join our Sydney Intellectual Property team, working closely with Partner Helen Kavadias on a diverse portfolio of IP matters.

This role will involve advisory work, as well as opportunities to contribute to enforcement, strategy and commercialisation. You will work with a broad range of clients, including consumer goods companies, health organisations, government bodies, manufacturers, and businesses seeking guidance on brand strategy and regulatory compliance.

This position is suited to a lawyer who is looking to take on greater responsibility, supervise junior lawyers, and continue developing depth in a specialist IP practice.

You'll be busy with

• managing trade mark, patent and design prosecution matters, including oppositions, removals, re‑examinations and revocation proceedings
• preparing clearance and freedom-to-operate advice
• advising on brand protection, domain name issues and online enforcement
• assisting clients with IP commercialisation, licensing and portfolio management
• advising on copyright, confidential information and related rights
• supporting clients in regulated sectors (food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, medical devices) with compliance requirements under relevant legislation
• providing input into dispute matters and assisting with enforcement strategy
• supervising junior lawyers and contributing to capability building within the team

To succeed in this role, ideally you'll have

• 5–8 years PAE
• strong knowledge of trademark, patent and/or design prosecution
• excellent written communication and advisory skills
• strong analytical capability and attention to detail
• experience managing client relationships and running files with autonomy
• prior exposure to regulatory issues or commercialisation (desirable)
• interest in working within a technically complex and evolving area of law

What we offer

• Unrivalled career pathways: Our unique meritocracy model proudly offers our staff career development, promoting talent based solely on merit. Our size, range of experience and competitive pricing model will provide you with everything you need to succeed. Unlike our competitors, our Solicitor to Partner ratio enables greater mentoring and client engagement compared to our competitors. Our 180 day career forecasting sessions provide the platform to fast-track your progression.
• Location: Our cutting-edge office is conveniently located in the heart of the Sydney CBD amidst a fast-pace, high-networking legal community. Enjoy working in a state-of-the-art office environment with access to modern end of trip facilities.
• Great culture and a huge networking platform: Be part of a firm renowned for its friendly and down-to-earth culture. We also have sports clubs, social club and monthly firmwide drinks.
• Impact: Join a firm consistently ranked at the forefront of the Australian legal market, where your work is recognised nationally.

How to apply

To apply, please submit your CV via the 'Apply' function. Applicants must have full working rights in Australia and a valid practising certificate to apply. HWLE also strongly encourages applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

HWLE strives to create an inclusive environment where our people want and feel comfortable to bring their entire selves to work. Varied perspectives contribute to our collective success so whatever your background, we'd love to hear from you and encourage you to apply. If you have reasonable accessibility requirements that will enable you to participate equitably in our recruitment process, please reach out to Laura Harrison for a confidential discussion.