Senior Associate – Commercial Litigation & International Arbitration

McManus Partners | Legal Search & Consult; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

McManus Partners | Legal Search & Consult in Brisbane seeks a Senior Associate to join a high-end disputes team handling major commercial litigation and international arbitration. You will work directly with a nationally recognised practitioner, manage significant multi-jurisdictional disputes, and contribute to strategic litigation decisions.

The role offers exposure to premier clients including multinational corporates and state-owned entities, opportunities to mentor junior lawyers, and to

Qualifications

• 5+ years' PQE in commercial disputes and dispute resolution.
• Strong academic credentials.
• Exposure to international arbitration, multijurisdictional disputes valued but not essential.
• Sophisticated drafting and advocacy preparation skills.
• Collaborative, commercially minded approach with client relationship skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead substantial commercial disputes as part of a well-resourced team.
• Contribute to litigation strategy and case management.
• Engage with clients and develop junior practitioners.

Skills

Commercial litigation

Dispute resolution

International arbitration exposure

Advocacy drafting

Client relationship building

Job description

• High-stakes commercial litigation and international arbitration involving major corporates, multinational and sovereign entities.
• Work directly with one of Australia's most highly regarded litigation and arbitration practitioners.
• Globally integrated disputes platform offering a compelling strategy in projects in Australia from an international perspective.

The Opportunity

For an accomplished Senior Associate seeking to elevate the scale and sophistication of their disputes practice, this role offers direct access to a nationally recognised litigation leader and a portfolio of commercially significant, often multijurisdictional disputes.

The Brisbane practice operates at the highest end of commercial litigation and international arbitration, representing major listed companies, multinational organisations, foreign and state-owned entities in complex proceedings before superior courts and international arbitral tribunals.

The group is led by one of Australia's most highly regarded disputes practitioners, recognised consistently across leading legal directories for both commercial litigation and international arbitration. With deep expertise in major commercial, resources, energy, infrastructure and technology disputes, the practice is distinguished by its strategic, commercially astute approach to matters of considerable complexity and consequence.

The Firm

A leading international law firm with substantial capability across Australia, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Americas, The Firm provides a genuinely global disputes platform.

Its integrated international network enables Australian practitioners to contribute to significant cross-border litigation and arbitration, working alongside leading specialists across jurisdictions.

The Firm combines the scale, client base back and front end and technical depth of a global practice with a collaborative approach to complex, multi-partner mandates.

The Role

You will play a central role in the conduct of substantial commercial disputes as part of a well-resourced team. The practice spans major contractual and corporate disputes, shareholder litigation, complex regulatory matters and international commercial arbitration, with particular strength across resources, energy, infrastructure and technology.

You can expect meaningful client engagement, involvement in developing litigation strategy, and exposure to disputes extending beyond the Australian jurisdiction. The role also offers the opportunity to mentor junior lawyers and further develop your standing within a nationally and internationally connected disputes practice.

About You

• 5+ years' PQE in commercial litigation and dispute resolution, ideally gained within a leading national or international firm.
• Strong academic credentials and a demonstrated track record in complex commercial disputes.
• Exposure to international arbitration, multijurisdictional litigation or substantial corporate and commercial disputes will be highly regarded but not essential.
• Sophisticated drafting, advocacy preparation and analytical skills, complemented by sound commercial judgement and the confidence to manage significant matters.
• A collaborative, commercially minded approach, with the ability to build trusted client relationships and contribute to the development of junior practitioners.