Principal Lawyer - Commercial Disputes & Claims

u&u Recruitment Partners; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

u&u Recruitment Partners is seeking a Principal Lawyer for a permanent full-time Melbourne role within a Government-owned organisation. You will lead commercial litigation and insurance claims, providing commercially focused advice on disputes, strategy, risk, and resolution options while collaborating with senior stakeholders and external advisers.

With responsibility for backend matters, you will guide matters from early assessment through negotiation, settlement or litigation, helping the

Qualifications

• 5+ years of litigation experience in-house, private practice or government.
• Current unrestricted Australian practicing certificate or eligibility to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial litigation and insurance claims (VMIA) from initial assessment to resolution.
• Advise senior stakeholders on dispute strategy, legal risk and commercial outcomes.
• Manage external counsel, experts and insurers to support timely, proportionate outcomes.
• Review claims, evidence and correspondence and prepare clear legal advice.
• Improve dispute management, claims processes and precedent materials.

Skills

Litigation experience

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Insurance claims

Education

Australian practicing certificate

Job description

Our client, a Government-owned organisation, operates in a complex, regulated environment and works with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders. Its legal team is embarking on a time of change and uplift, and is now seeking a newly created Principal Lawyer position.

The opportunity:

Reporting to a Legal Director, you will take a lead role in managing commercial litigation and insurance claims. You will provide clear, commercially focused advice on disputes, claims strategy (VMIA), risk and resolution options, while working closely with senior stakeholders and external legal advisers.

With a focus on back-end matters, you will manage matters from early assessment through negotiation, settlement or litigation, and help the business respond consistently to legal risk.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead commercial litigation and insurance claims (VMIA) from initial assessment to resolution;
• Advise senior stakeholders on dispute strategy, legal risk and commercial outcomes;
• Manage external counsel, experts and insurers to support timely, proportionate outcomes;
• Review claims, evidence and correspondence and prepare clear legal advice; and
• Improve dispute management, claims processes and precedent materials.

About the company:

Our client, a Government-owned organisation, operates in a complex, regulated environment and works with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders. Its legal team is embarking on a time of change and uplift, and is now seeking a newly created Principal Lawyer position.

The opportunity:

Reporting to a Legal Director, you will take a lead role in managing commercial litigation and insurance claims. You will provide clear, commercially focused advice on disputes, claims strategy (VMIA), risk and resolution options, while working closely with senior stakeholders and external legal advisers.

With a focus on back-end matters, you will manage matters from early assessment through negotiation, settlement or litigation, and help the business respond consistently to legal risk.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead commercial litigation and insurance claims (VMIA) from initial assessment to resolution;
• Advise senior stakeholders on dispute strategy, legal risk and commercial outcomes;
• Manage external counsel, experts and insurers to support timely, proportionate outcomes;
• Review claims, evidence and correspondence and prepare clear legal advice; and
• Improve dispute management, claims processes and precedent materials.

Required experience:

You will ideally bring 5+ years litigation experience gained in-house, in private practice or from a similar government environment. You will be comfortable taking ownership of complex matters and explaining legal risk in practical terms.

• Current unrestricted Australian practicing certificate or eligibility to obtain one;
• Strong commercial litigation and dispute resolution experience;
• Demonstrated experience managing insurance claims and working with insurers;
• Sound judgement in negotiation, settlement strategy and litigation management; and
• Ability to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and external advisers.

Benefits:

This is a permanent full-time Melbourne role with direct access to a Legal Director and responsibility for a meaningful portfolio of commercial disputes and insurance claims.

At u&u Recruitment Partners, we value diversity,equityand inclusion. We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and people with disability.

Should yourequirereasonable adjustmentsthroughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats to apply), or have a preferred method of communication, we encourage you to make a request via***********@uandu.comor contact u&u on 07 3232 9***to discuss. In response to these requests, we will collaborate closely with you to implement theappropriate adjustments.

Additionally, for a barrier-free and inclusive online experience, you can accessu&u’sopportunities using accessibility software Recite Me athttps://www.uandu.com/jobs.