Lawyer, Corporate & Commercial 2-4 Years PAE

SWS Lawyers; Newcastle; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SWS Lawyers in Newcastle, NSW, is seeking a Lawyer/Associate level commercial lawyer with 2–4 years’ post-admission experience. You will handle a broad range of corporate, commercial and contract matters in a collaborative team environment with junior and graduate lawyers.

Join a renowned Hunter Valley practice with principals and a strong graduate cohort, where coaching and mentorship are emphasized and opportunities to work on high-profile deals across Australia are available.

Qualifications

• 2-4 years’ PAE, preferably in general corporate and commercial law.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Willingness to be trained.
• Team-oriented with client access and collaboration.
• Relocating home to Newcastle or seeking training in a regional centre.

Skills

Analytical

Negotiation

Drafting

Job description

SWS Lawyers has a position available for a Lawyer / Associate level commercial lawyer with 2 – 4 years’ post admission experience who possesses excellent analytical, negotiation and drafting skills. You will enjoy working on a wide range of corporate, commercial and contract matters in a genuine team environment with other junior and graduate lawyers.

About the SWS Corporate and Commercial Law Team

At SWS you’ll be part of a corporate and commercial law team that is one of the most recognised specialist teams in the Hunter Valley. We’ll help you develop your skills in commercial law and expose you to top shelf clients, deals and projects without a hierarchy, with easy access to exceptional lawyers.

This role is pivotal to supporting two principals while also being able to work, train and develop alongside our 2026 and 2027 graduate cohort of exceptional young lawyers. Our Corporate & Commercial Team is led by two principals with more than 30years’ experience each and supported by two exceptional consultants. All of the senior team members have in-house and private practice experience and have worked in national and international firms and companies.

The SWS Corporate & Commercial team does three things really well:

• advises listed and privately controlled organisations on a wide range of contract and procurement matters.
• delivers M&A, capital raising and corporate advisory projects for clients.
• advises family office and private clients on commercial law, shareholder, director, IP and general business matters.

Much of our work requires knowledge of contracts; corporate law and Corporations Act issues; share and asset transaction process and procedure; and business structures and trusts. It also requires the ability to work with and understand regulatory matters (ACCC, ASIC, FIRB) and to solve problems.

We get involved in the type of projects and the M&A and transactional work typically found in a capital city law firm. Our lawyers consistently complete 5-10 transactions a year for clients throughout Australia and for in-bound foreign investors, with transaction values ranging from $10m to $200m. The firm has worked on deals that have won national and international transaction awards.

Other recent work has included significant property projects; mining joint venture and whole of mine service contracts; pre-IPO and seed capital fundraising; roll up and exit transactions; private treaty M&A and restructure transactions; and substantial restructure and dispute-driven disposal transactions, alongside reviewing, drafting and negotiating a wide range of operational contracts for different clients.

We have worked on major projects and major deals for businesses in the mining, transport and logistics, manufacturing, construction and engineering, technology and FMCG sectors, professional and financial services and health sectors.

About You

The right candidate will:

• have 2-4 years’ PAE, preferably in general corporate and commercial law;
• have exceptional attention to detail;
• demonstrate a willingness to be trained;
• want to work in a team of people with direct client access; and
• be motivated to progress within the firm.
• relocating “home” to Newcastle; or
• wanting expert training in a regional centre; or
• looking for a sea change where you can maintain and build your existing corporate law skills while enjoying the Newcastle lifestyle.

Or you may be an existing Newcastle lawyer looking for new and exciting opportunities to advance your career.

Our lawyers work directly with principals and other team members and receive excellent coaching and mentoring from these highly experienced and respected specialist lawyers. We look for team players who love coming to work, are flexible, honest and real in everything they do. We would value candidates who can articulate what their next 5 years of practice will look like.

About SWS

SWS is a boutique independent commercial law firm. We offer corporate, commercial, property and commercial litigation services, together with estate planning to our HNW and family group clients.

Almost all SWS senior lawyers began their careers at large global or national law firms. The firm acts for private and listed clients and family groups and is active in a diverse range of sectors including manufacturing, mining services, construction, technology, energy, engineering, transport, property development, FMCG and bio-tech.

Our lawyers work in a modern office, with outstanding technology and back office support. The firm has an enviable culture and a stable work environment and support team. We employ graduates each year and our alumni network will tell you that their foundation training was second to none.

Further details can be found at www.swslawyers.com.au