Associate - Construction, Energy and Resources

Location: Adelaide

Contract Type: Permanent

MinterEllison is one of Australia’s largest independent law and consulting firms. With a heritage of almost 200 years, we are known for our excellence, and our authentic and enduring relationships with our clients, our people and our communities. Clients seek out MinterEllison to help them solve complex problems every day. We do this by our full-service legal offering and complementary consulting offering.

We offer opportunities to work on industry-leading mandates for top-tier clients, while being part of a high-performing and collaborative team that values excellence, diversity of thought, curiosity, and inclusion. We value our people and empower them to achieve their ambitions - with the support, trust and autonomy to grow their careers in meaningful ways.

At MinterEllison, we're leading the way with AI and other emerging technologies, powering innovation right across our firm. You will have the opportunity to engage with AI tools we've built, and other external AI tools, to enhance efficiencies and excellence internally and with our clients.

We support sustainable ways of working regarding how, when and where you work and offer a wide range of social, financial and health benefits (see www.minterellison.com/-/media//Minter-Ellison/Files/Careers/MinterEllison-Employee-Benefits-2025.ashx)

Our Team

Our Energy, Resources, and Projects team, led by Andrew Corletto and Lisa Papanicolaou, is part of the national Capital Markets & Corporate line of business. Recognised as a market-leading practice, we focus on major projects, energy, mergers and acquisitions, and equity capital markets. We advise clients across various sectors, including energy and resources, agribusiness, and emerging technology.

Your Role

We’re excited to offer an opportunity for an Associate to join our Energy, Resources & Projects practice group in our Adelaide office. You will work directly with Lisa Papanicolaou and the team both locally and nationally on some of the most significant and transformative projects in the energy and infrastructure industries, such as the SA Government's Northern Water Project and Renewable Energy Zone Projects on the east coast. You’ll gain valuable client exposure and enjoy opportunities for autonomy, growth, and meaningful contribution.

To succeed in this role, you will need solid experience in general construction and commercial contracts, and a genuine interest in the energy sector.

• Support the development and delivery of major infrastructure projects.
• Draft, review, and negotiate various commercial and construction contracts, including EPC, D&C, Construct only, O&M, service and consulting agreements.
• Advise or upskill on regulatory frameworks for electricity networks, developers, and large customers.
• General construction work.
• Opportunity to build and maintain strong relationships with government agencies, energy companies and infrastructure developers.
• Opportunity to collaborate with client engineers, consultants, and project managers.

For the right candidate, this role offers a clear pathway to career progression within a high-performing, future-focused team.

More About You

We welcome applications from candidates with a minimum of 3 years PQE gained at a reputable law firm or in-house, ideally in the Construction/Corporate Energy & Resources space.

You will also have:

• Strong general construction experience.
• Proven experience advising on commercial and construction contracts (including work with Australian Standards).
• Curious and innovative mindset to assist in solving complex challenges for our clients and business.
• Genuine passion for developing your career within a leading national practice.
• Collaborative spirit to thrive in a high-performing, team-oriented environment and build and maintain trusted relationships with clients and industry stakeholders.
• Energy, drive and a commitment to excellence that aligns with the MinterEllison values and culture.
• Exceptional communication, drafting, and solution-focused skills, with a keen eye for detail and commercial outcomes.
• Resilience and dedication to delivering excellent service to a diverse client base, both locally, nationally and internationally.
  
  

How to apply

We encourage applications from people of all ages, abilities, cultural backgrounds, genders (including trans or gender diverse), LGBTQ+ people and those with carer responsibilities. We particularly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply.

We prefer to connect with people directly, so please submit your CV by clicking on the 'Apply' button. We encourage all applications, including if you do not meet all the criteria listed for the role. Your application will also enable us to consider you for other opportunities that may be available at MinterEllison.

If you are currently a MinterEllison employee, please apply through the internal careers page.

If you would like further information, require any adjustments throughout the recruitment process or for a confidential discussion, please contact Danielle.Miller@minterellison.com.