Senior Associate / Special Counsel - Insurance Statutory Classes / Work Injury Damages - Sydney

HWLE Lawyers; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meritocracy-based career growth

Friendly, collaborative culture

Extensive professional networking

Job summary

HWLE Lawyers in Sydney is seeking a Senior Associate / Special Counsel to join our Insurance Statutory Classes / Work Injury Damages practice. You will work under Partners Mersina Kikinis and Ron Galea, handling a sophisticated mix of Work Injury Damages and statutory matters with autonomy and direct client engagement.

The role offers ownership of complex files, leadership in client consultations, and opportunities to advance within a meritocratic firm that values performance and results.

Qualifications

• 6+ years PAE with strong WID or statutory workers' compensation experience.
• Ability to run matters with independence/autonomy.
• Strategic and critical thinking capability.
• Consultative approach with clear communication for clients.
• Strong relationship-building within a close-knit team.
• Excellent drafting and analytical capability.

Responsibilities

• Support blue chip clients, insurers, employers and brokers with advice and claims management.
• Manage a portfolio of files with a high degree of autonomy.
• Provide strategic advice on liability and quantum.
• Lead client consultations and conferences.
• Appear in the Personal Injury Commission, District Court and Supreme Court.
• Instruct and work with medical, liability and investigation experts.
• Attend and represent clients at mediations in the Personal Injury Commission.

Skills

Work Injury Damages

Insurance defense

Autonomy

Strategic thinking

Client relationship mgmt

Drafting

Job description

• Broaden your experience with a growing Insurance Statutory Classes / Work Injury Damages practice group
• A true meritocracy model - be promoted by your contribution and not held back by outdated structures
• Generous leave policies including purchased, parental and performance reward leave

About us

HWLE Lawyers is not your typical law firm. Our rapid rise to become the largest legal partnership in Australia shows that in our case, the differences are real. We deliver first class legal advice to our government and commercial clients in every state and territory across Australia. Firm wide, we have over 270 Partners and 1900 people.

The opportunity

We are seeking a Senior Associate / Special Counsel to join our highly regarded Sydney Insurance Statutory Classes / Work Injury Damages practice.

Led by Partners, Mersina Kikinis and Ron Galea, you will join a tight-knit sub-team of 7 lawyers handling a sophisticated mix of Work Injury Damages and statutory matters. This role offers the opportunity to take ownership of complex files, build direct client relationships, and play a key role in delivering strategic outcomes for insurers, self-insurers and government clients.

You'll be busy with

• supporting blue chip clients, insurers, employers and brokers with advice and claims management support
• managing a portfolio of files with a high degree of autonomy
• providing strategic advice on liability and quantum
• leading client consultations and conferences
• appearing in the Personal Injury Commission, District Court and Supreme Court
• instructing and working closely with medical, liability and investigation experts
• attending and representing clients at mediations in the Personal Injury Commission

You will work collaboratively with Partners while being empowered to take ownership of your matters and client relationships.

To succeed in this role, ideally you will have

• 6+ years' PAE with strong experience in WID, statutory workers compensation, or broader defendant insurance work
• demonstrated ability to run matters with independence / autonomy
• strategic and critical thinking capability
• a consultative approach to clients who value clear communication
• strong relationship building abilities and being part of a close-knit team
• excellent drafting and analytical capability

What we offer

• Unrivalled career pathways: Our unique meritocracy model proudly offers our staff career development that is clearly articulated and transparent, promoting talent based solely on merit. Our size, range of experience and competitive pricing model will provide you with everything you need to succeed. Unlike our competitors, our Solicitor to Partner ratio enables greater mentoring and client engagement compared to our competitors. Our 180-day career forecasting sessions provide the platform to fast-track your progression.
• Great culture and a huge networking platform: Be part of a firm renowned for its friendly and down-to-earth culture. We also have sports clubs, social club and monthly firmwide drinks.
• Impact: Join a firm consistently ranked at the forefront of the Australian legal market, where your work is recognised nationally.

HWLE also strongly encourages applications from the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

HWLE strives to create an inclusive environment where our people want and feel comfortable to bring their entire selves to work. Varied perspectives contribute to our collective success so whatever your background, we would love to hear from you.

If you have reasonable accessibility requirements that will enable you to participate equitably in our recruitment process