Senior Associate / Special Counsel, Insurance Litigation

JLegal Australia; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

JLegal Australia in Brisbane is seeking an experienced Senior Associate or Special Counsel to join our established insurance litigation practice with a strong focus on professional indemnity matters.

You will act for major insurers and insured professionals across complex claims, with autonomy and direct client interaction, managing matters from instruction to resolution.

The team emphasizes quality, collaboration, client service and outcomes, operating without daily billable targets.

Qualifications

• Experience as a senior insurance lawyer in a high-value environment.
• Strong proficiency in professional indemnity matters.
• Proven ability to manage matters from instruction through to resolution.
• Excellent drafting, advisory and litigation techniques.
• Commercial and pragmatic approach to disputes.
• Capacity to supervise and mentor junior lawyers.
• Ability to build relationships with insurer clients.

Responsibilities

• Act for insurers and insured professionals in complex professional indemnity claims.
• Advise clients across construction, infrastructure, property, real estate, technology and professional services.
• Manage matters from instruction through negotiation, mediation, settlement and litigation.
• Advise on liability, quantum, coverage and claims strategy.
• Handle a mix of professional indemnity and public liability claims, plus policy work.
• Prepare pleadings, evidence, submissions and other court documents.
• Work directly with insurer clients, insureds, experts and barristers.
• Manage your own portfolio of matters with team support.
• Supervise and mentor junior lawyers and contribute to team development.
• Build and maintain relationships with key insurer clients.

Skills

Defendant insurance litigation

Professional indemnity

Autonomy in complex claims

Drafting and litigation skills

Client relationship management

Mentoring junior lawyers

Collaborative team player

Job description

The Opportunity

An excellent opportunity is available for an experienced Senior Associate or Special Counsel to join an established insurance litigation practice in Brisbane, with a strong focus on professional indemnity matters.

Working within a highly regarded team, you will act for major insurers and insured professionals across complex and high-value claims. The role offers significant autonomy, direct client interaction and the opportunity to manage matters from initial instruction through to resolution.

Importantly, the practice operates without daily billable targets, with a greater emphasis on quality of work, collaboration, client service and outcomes.

The Role

You will work across a varied mix of professional indemnity, public liability and insurance advisory matters, including:

• Acting for insurers and insured professionals in complex professional indemnity claims.


• Advising clients across sectors including construction, infrastructure, property, real estate, technology and professional services.


• Managing matters from initial instruction through to negotiation, mediation, settlement and litigation.


• Advising on liability, quantum, coverage and broader claims strategy.


• Handling a mix of professional indemnity and public liability claims, together with policy and coverage advisory work.


• Preparing pleadings, evidence, submissions and other court documentation.


• Working directly with insurer clients, insureds, experts, barristers and other stakeholders.


• Managing your own portfolio of matters with support from a capable team of lawyers.


• Supervising and mentoring junior lawyers and contributing to the broader development of the team.


• Building and maintaining strong relationships with key insurer clients.

About You

You will be an experienced insurance lawyer operating at Senior Associate or Special Counsel level, with:

• Strong defendant insurance litigation experience.


• Particular expertise in professional indemnity matters.


• Experience managing complex claims with a high degree of autonomy.


• Strong technical drafting, advisory and litigation skills.


• A commercial and pragmatic approach to resolving disputes.


• Confidence managing insurer and insured client relationships.


• The ability to supervise, mentor and support more junior lawyers.


• A collaborative approach and an interest in contributing to the continued growth of the practice.

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior insurance lawyer in Brisbane seeking greater autonomy, sophisticated professional indemnity work and a collaborative environment without the traditional focus on daily billable targets.