Senior Associate

Who we are

Johnson Winter Slattery (JWS) is a leading Australian law firm known for advising corporates and funds on their most complex transactions, disputes and regulatory matters.

At JWS, we build authentic, long-term relationships and have a deep understanding of our clients and their industries. Our clients say we are pragmatic, strategic, commercial and easy to work with.

Our firm is comprised of more than 450 highly talented people, including 80+ partners, across Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth. We are globally connected and have strong relationships with major independent law firms around the world.

JWS was recognised as Technology, Media and Telecom M&A Legal Adviser of the Year (Mergermarket M&A Awards Australia 2023), Energy Law Firm of the Year (Best Lawyers 2023) and Australian Law Firm of the Year (Beaton Client Choice Awards Our lawyers are highly ranked in Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and Lexology Index (formerly Who's Who Legal).

We are strongly committed to social justice, responsible business and our diverse communities. We are proud of our pro bono program which focuses on supporting low income, disadvantaged and marginalised people in the Australian community.

About the Team

Our Corporate lawyers provide specialist legal advice to clients acquiring, managing or divesting Australian investments, and in Canberra with a focus on M&A, foreign investment, trade and projects in defence, critical infrastructure, technology, agribusiness and health. They work closely with the other offices of JWS as well as major foreign law firms to meet the needs of multinational corporations operating in Australia, as well as Australian enterprises with international operations
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The Canberra team are experts at helping industry work with government to protect and advance Australia's national interests. JWS is the only national full-service law firm in Canberra acting for the private sector on foreign investment, government projects and M&A, with 3 Chambers listed partners.

About the Role

An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced Senior Associate to join our Canberra office. As Senior Associate, you will play a key role on high-profile corporate and commercial transactions including drafting, reviewing and negotiating core transaction documents; undertaking due diligence reviews and managing specialist teams' delivery of advice; and performing legal research on complex issues.

You will work closely with partners on complex matters whilst benefiting from training and mentoring from some of Australia's leading specialists in the sector. You will also have the opportunity to support and guide more junior members of the team.

About You

You obviously have plenty of technical aptitude and previous relevant experience, but there is much more to you. You:

• deliver legal advice with a commercial and client focused outlook, always;
• work well under pressure, meet your deadlines and excel working in a team;
• have strong communication and stakeholder management skills and you aren't afraid to use them, internally and externally;
• take a collaborative, positive and energetic approach to everything you do; and
• will have gained at least 5 years' PQE private practice commercial law experience - recent experience acting for the CoA on complex procurements (eg, Department of Defence Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group) or engaging with Commonwealth Government agencies acting as regulators will be viewed favourably.

Working at JWS

We value collaboration and our teams work together to achieve shared outcomes. We care about the wellbeing of our people and will invest time in understanding your objectives so we can support you throughout your career. We believe it's this focus on our people that has seen our firm grow rapidly to become one of Australia's leading independent law firms.

We pride ourselves on being down-to-earth, approachable, and always high-performing. We have worked hard to create a culture where people look out for each other.

We offer:

• A collegiate environment with a collaborative culture across offices and practice groups
• High-quality work with committed mentors supporting your career development
• Comprehensive benefits including competitive remuneration, flexible working, and extensive social and wellbeing initiatives
• Opportunities to work with major foreign law firms
• Opportunities for professional growth through structured learning and development programs, pro bono work, and employee recognition initiatives

If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity to take your career to the next level, then we would love to hear from you.

We are committed to promoting a workplace that is diverse and inclusive. We encourage the best people - regardless of race, religion, or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, or age - to fulfil their professional aspirations with us. In particular we would welcome applications from First Nations candidates.

Johnson Winter Slattery pays respect to Elders past and present of our nation's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We honour the deep spiritual, cultural and customary connections of Traditional Owners to the Australian landscape, including Australia's waterways, land, and sea country.