Senior Associate - Environment & Sustainable Development

Clayton Utz; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Clayton Utz in Sydney is seeking a senior environment and sustainable development lawyer to join our Band-1 team. You will work closely with leading partners on matters spanning strategy, policy, major projects, and litigation for a mix of public and private sector clients.

The role offers mentorship, leadership development, and the chance to build your own practice while delivering outstanding service and commercial solutions.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years PQE gained within a reputable commercial law firm, with demonstrated time spent in a senior associate capacity.
• Excellent academic results.
• Experience in environment and planning law across transactional, advisory and litigious matters.
• Refined drafting skills and strong communication.
• A collaborative mindset and ability to mentor junior team members.
• Commitment to professional development and client service.

Responsibilities

• Work on a diverse range of matters spanning strategic and policy advice, major projects and transactions, litigation and dispute resolution.
• Act for public and private sector clients including government agencies and multinational corporations.
• Lead and contribute to client secondments and cross-disciplinary work as opportunities arise.

Job description

The Opportunity

Our Band-1 Environment & Sustainable Development (ESD) practice has a rewarding opportunity for a talented senior lawyer to join the team based in Sydney.

Working closely with industry leading partners Nick Thomas, Brendan Bateman and Mark Brady and other senior practitioners, you will join a high-performing and well respected team with a shared passion for environment, planning and sustainability. This role will see you working on a diverse range of matters spanning strategic and policy advice, major projects and transactions, litigation and dispute resolution. You will act for both public and private sector clients including Federal, State and local government agencies, ASX100 listed and multinational corporations.

You will benefit from playing a lead role in challenging and rewarding work that keeps your skills sharp. You will be empowered and supported to build your own brand and practice through dedicated mentorship, leadership development programs and career opportunities.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake client secondments as they arise from time to time, refining your valuable commercial skills.

Skills & Experience

To be successful in this role, you will have a positive attitude and commitment to learning, growing and delivering outstanding service to clients.

You will also have:

• Minimum 6 years PQE gained within a reputable commercial law firm, with demonstrated time spent in a senior associate capacity;
• Excellent academic results;
• Well-rounded experience in a reputable environment and planning practice, with demonstrated exposure across transactional, advisory and litigious P&E matters;
• Refined drafting skills with demonstrated attention to detail;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills;
• A collaborative mindset and the ability to work effectively with clients, consultants, counsel, and peers both internal and external;
• A proactive commitment to continuous professional development to expand skills and meet evolving client and industry needs;
• Capability and willingness to mentor and guide junior team members.

The Environment & Sustainable Development Team

Our ESD team is rated as one of only two Band-1 teams in Australia, and has been recognised as the leading team in Australia. We specialise in all areas of environment and planning law, as well as ESG, climate change, sustainability, water, energy, resources and regulated industry laws, as well as project-based land acquisition and access. We're also very active in emerging areas of law and policy, such as the delivery of nature positive outcomes.

Our diverse work covers large scale development and infrastructure projects, major transactions, operational compliance, strategic and policy advice, incident management, litigation and inquiries .

Clayton Utz's full service and truly national offering means we work closely with others throughout our firm, so our clients have access to the best legal advice wherever they are.

Our clients are domestic and internationally based, and they operate in a wide range of sectors, including government, resources, energy, water, infrastructure, urban development, construction, manufacturing, transport and logistics, waste management, health services, education and agribusiness.

For further information, please visit our Environment & Sustainable Development showcase page on LinkedIn.

Accessibility and Inclusion

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment process. Do you require any support or reasonable adjustments to complete your application? If so, please contact the recruiter via the above telephone number or via email to [e-mail].

For more information on Clayton Utz, please visit www.claytonutz.com or follow us on LinkedIn here.