Senior Associate, Environment, Planning & Communities

Herbert Smith Freehills; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Home office allowance

Job summary

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm seeking a Senior Associate for the Environment, Planning and Communities team in Melbourne. You will work closely with Partner Heidi Asten on climate change, ESG advisory, and major project approvals across energy, mining, transport and urban development sectors.

The role involves providing comprehensive project development, compliance, transactional and strategic advice, collaborating with government and private clients to

Qualifications

• Australian or New Zealand practising certificate with demonstrated experience in land access and environment and planning
• Strong academic record with excellent legal skills and practical mindset
• Ability to comprehend complex legal matters and provide pragmatic solutions
• Proactive, collaborative team player with ability to work within tight timeframes
• Interest in AI and emerging technologies shaping legal practice

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive project development, compliance, transactional and strategic advice
• Advise on environmental, planning and land access issues for government and private clients
• Collaborate with international and major Australian clients across diverse sectors

Skills

Land access

Environment law

Regulatory approvals

Aboriginal cultural heritage

Legal drafting

Education

Australian or New Zealand practising certificate

Job description

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.

As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world’s largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.

At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we’re focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world.

All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition – which is to help you achieve yours.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your goals. Our ambition

The Opportunity

We have a unique opportunity for a Senior Associate to join our highly regarded Environment, Planning and Communities team.

In this role you will work closely with Partner Heidi Asten. Heidi is a leading practitioner in environmental and planning law, with a particular focus on climate change, ESG advisory, and major project approvals across the energy, renewable energy, mining, transport, water and urban development sectors.

The practice covers the full spectrum of environmental and planning law, including heritage, Aboriginal cultural heritage, land access, contaminated land, and regulatory compliance and enforcement, advising both government and private clients on their most complex and high‑profile projects.

As a Senior Associate, you’ll play a pivotal role in our team, offering comprehensive project development, compliance, transactional, and strategic advice. Working with international, major Australian, and Government clients across diverse sectors and jurisdictions, you’ll provide pragmatic and commercially astute solutions to environmental, social, and land access challenges.

What you’ll bring

• An Australian or New Zealand practising certificate, with demonstrated legal experience in land access and acquisition, environment and planning, regulatory approvals, native title and/or indigenous cultural heritage
• A strong academic record, coupled with excellent legal skills and a practical mindset
• Demonstrated ability to comprehend complex legal matters
• A proactive approach and desire to be an integral member of our leading and supportive team
• Capability to work effectively within tight timeframes, both collaboratively and autonomously
• A hunger to learn and develop and be part of maintaining a market‑leading practice
• An innovative mindset, curious about AI and emerging technologies

What you can expect from us

• We’re a world leading international law firm with a global team of over 6,000 professionals across 26 offices. As the market leader in Australia, we are committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity and digital innovation. We are client‑centred, commercially driven, and renowned for our solution‑focused expertise. We will align your growth with our ambitions.
• 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.

For any questions or a confidential discussion, please contact Tamara Salem, Recruitment Manager at [e-mail].

Team

Projects, Energy & Infra

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

Melbourne

Contract type

Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

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.