Insurance Senior Associate/Special Counsel

Colin Biggers & Paisley; Sydney; On-site; AUD 170,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Gym discounts

Complimentary massages

Mentoring program

Professional memberships

Job summary

Colin Biggers & Paisley is seeking a Insurance Senior Associate/Special Counsel in Sydney to join its established PI practice. The role focuses on providing high‑level legal advice, strategic case analysis, and client service in professional indemnity and construction matters.

The successful candidate will manage a heavy workload, mentor junior staff, and contribute to business development while upholding the firm’s values and client‑centric approach.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of PQE in professional indemnity/coverage or construction matters.
• ,
• A strong client focus with the ability to manage expectations and deliver autonomous matters.

Responsibilities

• Provide clients with legal advice on PI and coverage issues.
• Regularly review case law and legislation changes.
• Conduct legal research and analysis to deliver timely, commercial advice.
• Manage a robust workload and mentor junior staff.
• Develop client relationships and participate in business development.

Skills

PQE 5+ years

Professional indemnity

Client relationship

Research & analysis

Commercial acumen

Education

Bachelor of Laws

Job description

Insurance Senior Associate/Special Counsel

About us:

At Colin Biggers & Paisley, we’re here to make a difference. We are a unique legal practice and we believe in what we do. This applies to the solutions we create for our clients, the contribution we make to our communities and the careers we build for our people.

We are lawyers of choice in the construction, property and insurance industries and maintain a strong presence in the areas of employment and safety, banking and finance, corporate and commercial and litigation and dispute resolution.

Our values of balance, respect, loyalty and integrity underpin everything we do. Our culture focuses on excellence without losing sight of work-life balance. We are committed to supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of our people.

We continually invest in our people, including learning and development opportunities and offer a formal mentoring program. We also offer other benefits such as health and fitness perks, rewards and recognition, complimentary massages and professional memberships.

We don’t just recognise our role as a corporate citizen, we put words into actions. The Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation brings together our entire community offering and is comprised of three streams - pro bono legal services, volunteering and charitable contributions. To ensure maximum impact, the core strategy of our Foundation is to promote and protect the rights of women and children and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

About the team:

Jonathan Newby is a partner in the insurance team. He has a substantial professional indemnity practice acting for a wide range of professionals, with a particular focus on the construction and financial services industries.

Jonathan's practice extends to coverage and defence of shareholder class actions and he has been deeply involved in some of the most substantial litigation in that space in recent years. He has extensive experience in project specific policy coverage disputes as well as high profile warranty and indemnity claims and directors' and officers' disputes. A significant portion of Jonathan's work originates from the London market.

About the role:

This is an exciting opportunity for a Senior Associate or Special Counsel to work in an established PI practice.

• Providing clients with legal advice
• Regularly reviewing applicable case law and legislative changes
• Conducting effective legal research and analysis to produce timely, commercial and legally accurate advice
• Managing a robust workload, including prioritising work and delivering services effectively
• Developing an understanding of client operations and strategy
• Managing prospective client relationships
• Mentoring and developing junior staff
• Continual professional development and managing MCLE requirements

About you:

• 5+ years' PQEwith experience in professional indemnity/coverage/financial lines/construction dispute matters
• A desire to be an integral member of a strong and cohesive team who work together
• Ability to manage large volumes of documents
• Strong attention to detail
• Practical and client focused problem solving and research skills
• Previous exposure to Business Development and a natural ability to build strong client relationships
• Ability to manage client expectations and run matters autonomously
• Interested in establishing a long-term successful career with Colin Biggers & Paisley
• Ability to relate to people at all levels and effectively work in a team
• A strong focus on turnaround time
• Commercial acumen
• Practical and client focused problem solving skills
• A strong, plain language communication style

Join the team:

Our culture focuses on excellence without losing sight of work-life balance. We work hard for our clients but we also make sure we put our people first. Whether it's taking advantage of our discounted gym memberships across Australia, joining one of our all-star sports teams or enjoying a complimentary massage, Colin Biggers & Paisley offers a suite of unique employee benefits.

Our people are given every opportunity for both career progression and personal growth. We continually invest in our people and support and encourage them as they grow within the practice.

Inclusion and Diversity is a priority for us. “Diversity” to us means diversity in gender, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and ability, and “inclusion” for us means inclusion for all. We are committed to fostering a truly diverse workforce that is inclusive of everyone. Our aim is to be recognised as a leading provider of inclusion and diversity in the legal profession.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of gender identity, age, sexual orientation, disability or ethnicity.