Senior Associate -Litigation

Bell Gully; Auckland; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

Parental leave

Relocation/requalification support

Community programmes

Flexible work practices

Health insurance subsidy

Team events

Job summary

Bell Gully in Auckland is seeking a Senior Associate to lead major commercial and civil litigation matters from advisory through to trial and appeal, working closely with Partners to shape strategy and outcomes.

You will build strong client relationships, contribute to business development, and mentor junior lawyers while managing large-scale disputes across departments in a collaborative, high-performance culture.

Qualifications

• 7+ years PQE in private practice and/or in-house.
• Lead major commercial and civil litigation matters, from advisory through to trial and appeal.
• Build strong, trusted relationships with clients and contribute to business development initiatives.
• Manage large scale disputes across departments.
• Work closely with Partners on strategy, complex legal analysis, and team leadership.
• Deep understanding of court procedure and evidence, with strong advocacy and drafting skills.
• Mentor and supervise junior team members.
• Ability to work collaboratively and commitment to delivering excellence.
• Strategic thinking and sound commercial judgement.

Responsibilities

• Lead major commercial and civil litigation matters from advisory through to trial and appeal.
• Develop relationships with clients and contribute to business development initiatives.
• Manage large-scale disputes across departments.
• Work with Partners on strategy, complex legal analysis, and team leadership.
• Mentor and supervise junior team members.

Skills

Litigation expertise

Client relationships

Strategic thinking

Mentor junior team

Team leadership

Collaboration

Commercial judgement

Job description

Senior Associate -Litigation

15 October 2026

• Leading Litigation Partners
• Be part of a nationally recognised, supportive, and high performing team
• Commercial Bay location

Our practice encompasses a range of fields, including commercial and contract disputes, class actions, financial regulation, insurance, competition law, and construction law.

We act on some of the most complex, high profile and strategically significant disputes in the country. Our litigation practice has won Benchmark Litigation's New Zealand Litigation Firm of the Year award several years, and both Chambers Asia Pacific and The Legal 500 Asia Pacific rank us in the top tier, Band 1, for litigation. This is a unique opportunity to operate at the top end of the market.

We are committed to developing our people to achieve their best and are looking for like-minded aspirational people.

Experience and qualifications.

• 7+ years PQE, including private practice and/or in-house.
• Lead major commercial and civil litigation matters, from advisory through to trial and appeal.
• Build strong, trusted relationships with clients and contribute to business development initiatives.
• Manage large scale disputes across departments.
• Work closely with Partners on strategy, complex legal analysis, and team leadership.
• Deep understanding of court procedure and evidence, with strong advocacy and drafting skills.
• Mentor and supervise junior team members.
• Ability to work collaboratively and commitment to delivering excellence.
• Strategic thinking and sound commercial judgement.

Culture and benefits

In addition to a strong team culture, we offer a range of benefits and initiatives to support our people. These include:

• Professional development opportunities, including through a market leading development programme.
• Comprehensive parental leave package.
• Support to relocate /requalify to be admitted to the New Zealand bar.
• Community support programmes.
• Flexible work practices.
• An annual subsidy for health insurance and a range of wellbeing activities; and
• Sports teams, an annual ball, regular team events and department weekends away.