Special Counsel / Senior Associate - Property & Commercial

Ready to step into a role where you’re genuinely relied upon as the senior go-to person within a growing Property & Commercial team?

An established Melbourne firm is looking for an experienced Senior Associate or Special Counsel to work alongside the Director of its Property team, taking ownership of complex matters, supporting junior lawyers and becoming a trusted second point of contact for the team.

The team includes experienced junior lawyers and conveyancers who are handling a significant volume of work, but complex matters currently need to come back to the Director for discussion. Your role will be to provide that missing layer of senior expertise — taking matters from start to finish, providing guidance to the team and allowing the practice to continue growing.

Your work will include:

• Commercial and retail leasing
• Sale and purchase of businesses
• Property development and subdivisions
• Property-related litigation
• Commercial and residential conveyancing
• Commercial agreements and contracts
• Loan agreements, shareholder and unit-holder agreements
• Trust deeds, guarantees and franchising agreements

The exact mix will be tailored around your strengths, with plenty of variety across both Property and Commercial work.

You’ll work with a diverse client base ranging from SMEs through to ASX-listed and national companies, with the opportunity to develop strong, direct client relationships.

You’ll ideally have a strong Property background, together with enough Commercial experience to comfortably work across broader transactions and agreements.

Most importantly, you’ll have the knowledge base and confidence to get in and run with complex work. This is not a role for someone who needs every matter checked before it leaves their desk; you’ll be trusted to make decisions, manage your files and provide sound guidance to the lawyers around you.

The firm is particularly interested in lawyers who have developed their experience in a high-quality CBD or similarly sophisticated practice, where they have been exposed to complex transactions and demanding clients.

If you have your own client relationships or referral network, that would be a definite advantage, although there is already a strong pipeline of work!

The firm is small enough that your contribution will be noticed, with a team of around 17 people who genuinely enjoy working together. The culture is hardworking but relaxed, with plenty of banter, regular team events and a strong sense of loyalty.

There’s also genuine flexibility for the right person. While the majority of the team work from the office, the firm is open to WFH, flexible hours and individual arrangements where needed.

You’ll also enjoy:

• Approximately 6 billable hours per day
• Annual salary and performance reviews
• Regular team bonding events and corporate retreats
• Friday night drinks and EOFY events
• Strong mentoring and collaboration
• A flexible approach to family and personal commitments
• The opportunity to build a long-term career as a senior lawyer

If you’re looking for a role where you can take ownership, be the person the team turns to and work closely with a supportive Director, this is a fantastic opportunity to step into that missing senior layer.

Apply now or reach out to Lauren Benstead on (03) 9077 7491 or via email lauren.benstead@engagepersonnel.com.au for a confidential chat.

Not quite what you're looking for? I recruit across a range of legal opportunities and may have the perfect role for you. I'd love to have a confidential chat.