Senior Associate, Class Actions

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP; Sydney; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holistic wellbeing fund

Home office allowance

Job summary

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is seeking a Senior Associate to join its leading Tier 1 Class Actions team based in Sydney. You will work with award-winning partners and senior lawyers on national and international class actions and complex regulatory investigations.

You will manage files, contribute to client service, and actively develop business opportunities while collaborating with colleagues across offices worldwide.

Qualifications

• Must hold Australian or New Zealand practising certificate.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to demonstrate collegiality within a team.
• Hunger to learn and develop and be part of maintaining a market-leading practice.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with partners and leading lawyers on national and international class action matters and complex regulatory investigations.
• Handle files, identify issues and proactively provide solutions.
• Develop business opportunities with existing and new clients and collaborate with interstate and international offices.

Skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Innovative mindset

Learning mindset

Time management

Education

Australian/New Zealand practising certificate

Job description

We are seeking a Senior Associate to join our leading Tier 1 and award-winning Class Actions team based in Sydney.

In this role you will work closely with multi-award winning partners Jason Betts, Melissa Gladstone and Nataly Adams, as well as other leading lawyers across the local, national and global group. You will undertake a range of work that supports national and international clients, with class action matters and complex, strategically critical regulatory investigations and enforcement matters.

You will have responsibility for contributing to an excellent client service, handling files, identifying issues and proactively providing solutions. You will be a key member of a highly motivated and innovative team where you will play an important role in projects to further develop business opportunities with existing and new clients. You will also work with colleagues in our interstate and international offices.

We will provide you with extensive opportunities to develop a network of relationships. You will benefit from exceptional learning opportunities working in a team of highly ambitious and collaborative fee-earners.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• an Australian or New Zealand practising certificate;
• 5+ years of post-admission experience
• demonstrable experience across a range of commercial litigation matters preferably class actions from a leading top tier, national or international private practice; or an in-house environment;
• a strong academic record coupled with strong legal skills and a practical mindset;
• a proactive approach and desire to be an integral member of our leading and supportive team;
• an ability to work to tight timeframes, collaboratively and at times autonomously;
• excellent communication skills and ability to demonstrate collegiality within a team;
• have a hunger to learn and develop and be part of maintaining a market-leading practice.
• an innovative mindset, curious about AI and emerging technologies.

We are seeking a Senior Associate to join our leading Tier 1 and award-winning Class Actions team based in Sydney.

In this role you will work closely with multi-award winning partners Jason Betts, Melissa Gladstone and Nataly Adams, as well as other leading lawyers across the local, national and global group. You will undertake a range of work that supports national and international clients, with class action matters and complex, strategically critical regulatory investigations and enforcement matters.

You will have responsibility for contributing to an excellent client service, handling files, identifying issues and proactively providing solutions. You will be a key member of a highly motivated and innovative team where you will play an important role in projects to further develop business opportunities with existing and new clients. You will also work with colleagues in our interstate and international offices.

We will provide you with extensive opportunities to develop a network of relationships. You will benefit from exceptional learning opportunities working in a team of highly ambitious and collaborative fee-earners.

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• an Australian or New Zealand practising certificate;
• 5+ years of post-admission experience
• demonstrable experience across a range of commercial litigation matters preferably class actions from a leading top tier, national or international private practice; or an in-house environment;
• a strong academic record coupled with strong legal skills and a practical mindset;
• a proactive approach and desire to be an integral member of our leading and supportive team;
• an ability to work to tight timeframes, collaboratively and at times autonomously;
• excellent communication skills and ability to demonstrate collegiality within a team;have a hunger to learn and develop and be part of maintaining a market-leading practice.
• an innovative mindset, curious about AI and emerging technologies.

The Disputes Team

With a multi-disciplinary global disputes team of world-leading sector specialists and regional experts, the Disputes team provides commercial insight and legal advice which is described by Chambers and Partners as a 'Dispute Resolution powerhouse that consistently tops the rankings across the world'.

Bringing together litigators, arbitrators, mediators, advocacy experts, regulatory specialists, and investigators, whatever the challenge or opportunity, we partner with our clients every step in the process.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's Disputes group is ranked as a Tier 1 Dispute Resolution: Class Actions Firm (Legal 500 2026) and ranked a Band 1 Dispute Resolution Firm (Chambers Asia Pacific 2026).

What you can expect from us

• We make your personal and professional growth our business. And as part of the team, our ambition is yours too. Wherever you are in your career: grow and help the firm grow with you.
• We will provide opportunities to learn on the job as well as a mix of learning opportunities tailored to you. Daily experiences, supportive challenges, team collaboration, mentors, and structured learning opportunities help you to expand your knowledge and reach your goals.
• We value your wellbeing, both at home and work and we place a strong emphasis on mental health. If you need support, you'll have it and we'll empower you to harness your personal strengths, navigate uncertainty, embrace opportunities, and effectively manage things within your control.
• For more benefits on offer such as our holistic wellbeing fund or home office allowance please click here.
• Join us to be part of a human, bold and outstanding team at Australia's market leading law firm.

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values - Human, Bold, and Outstanding.