Senior Associate

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Associate to join our highly regarded Litigation team based in Melbourne.

• Recognised in the AFR BOSS Magazine's Best Places to Work 2024
• Join a modern, market-leading law firm that puts its people first

The opportunity

Our Disputes & Investigations group is recognised for its expertise in managing complex and high-stakes commercial disputes. With deep experience across litigation, mediation, arbitration, and negotiated settlements, the team operates across a broad spectrum of industries. The group is well-known and respected for its application of sound legal, forensic, investigative and evidentiary skills in complex, multi-party litigation and disputes.

The Disputes & Investigations group covers all aspects of commercial litigation and financial regulatory matters as well as dispute resolution. Working closely with partners in Melbourne and across our national offices, you'll join a dynamic, and highly regarded team, with an existing portfolio of diverse clients and matters. Our clients include ASX listed companies, corporate regulators, private corporates and high net worth individuals, and we advise on a broad array of contentious issues including:

• commercial and contractual disputes;
• misleading or deceptive conduct;
• regulatory matters;
• directors/shareholders disputes; and
• negligence claims.

The team has a particular interest in complex, large scale disputes that involve reputational risk.

About you

We are looking for two experienced Senior Associates (approximately 5-8 years' experience) to join our growing Disputes & Investigations group.

You will thrive in a collaborative environment, working closely with Partners across our Melbourne and national offices, while also demonstrating the confidence and capability to contribute to the development of litigation strategy and manage and progress matters independently with the support and guidance of your supervising Partners. Your ability to delegate, supervise and mentor junior lawyers in an inclusive and supportive way will be highly valued.

We are seeking individuals with sound working knowledge of commercial litigation and case management procedures, gained in private practice. Experience conducting litigation in the Commercial Court of the Supreme Court of Victoria will be highly regarded. You will also demonstrate strong interpersonal and business development skills, commercial acumen and a proactive, solutions-focused mindset. This role presents a unique opportunity to take the next step in your career with a high-performing team.

The successful candidate for one of the two roles will work closely with two of our Partners, Jane Kupsch and Natalie McCabe, as well as supporting the group more generally.

For the second role, native or business-level fluency in Mandarin (spoken and written) is essential. You will work closely with Jing Wang, Partner and Head of China practice, contributing to a diverse range of large-scale and high-stake proceedings, negotiations, and settlements across courts, and mediations. This role also supports the broader Melbourne Disputes & Investigations group as a shared resource.

About Gadens

Gadens is the only law firm to be recognised in AFR BOSS Magazine's Best Places to Work 2024, which ranks Australia and New Zealand's best workplaces across nine industries. We are a leading, independent Australian law firm, with a clear vision and strategy for the future. We help people achieve their purpose in a complex world, by leading by example, inspiring others, innovating and building something we are all proud of. We have a growth strategy and as part of our evolution and journey, we are creating a modern law firm that will rival Australia's top tier firms.

At Gadens, we:

• develop and inspire our people;
• do the right thing and make an impact;
• work with quality clients in our chosen markets;
• solve problems with people and technology working seamlessly together; and
• are a widely recognised and respected brand.

We are always on the lookout for strong performers to join our growing firm. To find out more please visit

What we offer

• a friendly, down-to-earth, and supportive team environment;
• truly flexible work practices;
• progressive and market-leading Parental Leave support including:
• 30 weeks' Paid Parental Leave;
• superannuation contributions while on Parental Leave, for up to 52 weeks (based on 5 days/week, regardless of your working days);
• an external coach to support our people through the various stages of the parental leave journey (Launch, Leave and Landing);
• a supported and staggered return;
• budget relief for fee earners upon landing/return;
• support and paid leave for Surrogacy and IVF treatment;
• ongoing professional development opportunities;
• health and wellbeing initiatives;
• and much more

At Gadens, we engage with all of our people to create a work environment that encourages and promotes inclusion and diversity, while instilling pride in the firm and our values of being collaborative, authentic, responsible and excellent. Our values and culture assist us in creating a cohesive environment in which we are committed equally to professionalism and personal fulfilment. We strive to create a culture where the principles of sustainability and corporate social responsibility are embraced and lived by our people every day. This includes respecting and connecting with First Nations people and providing access to justice to those in need through our pro bono practice. This is what makes Gadens a great place to work.