Careers

• Accelerated progression with real partner access
• Learn directly from recognised market leaders with genuine career acceleration
• Fast-tracked, transparent career progression and generous leave policies

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. Nationally the firm features over 270 Partners and more than 1900 people.

The opportunity

We have an opportunity for Senior Associate or Special Counsel to join our highly regarded Melbourne Corporate and Commercial practice working primarily with Peter Dreher and Brendan Earle and their teams. You'll be involved in an interesting mix of M&A, major projects work in renewable energy and other sectors, contracting, general corporate, business and strategic advice, and corporate governance work. Peter leads our national renewable energy practice, where the firm has advised on over 75 wind, solar and battery energy projects combined in Australia, New Zealand and Thailand. Peter has also advised on some of Australia's biggest wind and solar projects, undertaking corporate, M&A development and associated regulatory and other commercial legal work.

Brendan is recognised as one of Victoria's leading commercial lawyers (Doyles/Best Lawyers) and his team works on a diverse range of commercial advice and contracts including private M&A, joint ventures, restructures and strategic supply and distribution agreements for FMCG businesses. The role is an opportunity to work on top tier matters with our prominent client base. The work is in multiple sectors, including the renewable energy and FMCG/consumer products sectors, and you will be trained and be part of the process to deliver value for clients beyond mere legal services.

To succeed in the role, ideally, you will have

• 5+ years PAE
• corporate, commercial, M&A lawyers who have the skill set and passion to draft and negotiate a range of deal contracts and commercial contracts
• good working knowledge of contract law and strong drafting skills
• appetite to mentor our junior cohort

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 Melbourne 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. Sign up for our 'Latte Link-Up' program to connect with members of the firm outside of your practice group, across all levels from shared business services through to C-Suite! 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 celebrated and recognised nationally.

How 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 Gabrielle Saunders for a confidential discussion.