Special Counsel, Professional Indemnity

JLegal; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

JLegal Australia seeks an experienced Special Counsel to join its established insurance litigation practice in Sydney, focusing on professional indemnity.

You will handle a diverse mix of professional indemnity, public liability and advisory matters, with substantial autonomy and direct client contact, overseeing matters from inception to resolution.

Qualifications

• Experience in professional indemnity matters.
• Ability to manage complex claims with autonomy.
• Strong drafting, advisory and litigation capabilities.
• Commercial and pragmatic dispute resolution approach.
• Confident in managing insurer and insured client relationships.
• Ability to supervise and support junior lawyers.
• Collaborative mindset contributing to team growth.

Responsibilities

• Act for insurers and insured professionals in complex professional indemnity and insurance matters.
• Advising across sectors including construction, property, real estate, technology and professional services.
• Manage matters from instruction to negotiation, mediation, settlement and litigation.
• Advise on liability, quantum, coverage and broader claims strategy.
• Handle a mix of professional indemnity and public liability issues and policy work.
• Prepare pleadings, evidence, submissions and court documents.
• Collaborate with insurer clients, insureds, experts and barristers.

Skills

Professional indemnity

Complex claims management

Drafting & advisory

Litigation skills

Client relationship management

Mentoring juniors

Collaborative approach

Job description

An excellent opportunity is available for an experienced Special Counsel to join an established insurance litigation practice in Sydney, 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, or ready to step into, Special Counsel level, with:

• 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 seeking greater autonomy, sophisticated professional indemnity work and a collaborative environment without the traditional focus on daily billable targets.

JLegal Australia is a Specialist Legal Recruitment & Executive Search Firm. We offer a full suite of career opportunities for Lawyers, Company Secretary & Governance professionals.