Senior Associate - Projects, Infrastructure and Construction

Location: Melbourne 

Contract Type: Permanent 

MinterEllison is one of Australia’s largest law firms, with nearly 200 years of business history.  We're known for our legal and consulting expertise - and for our inclusive and authentic character.

Our purpose is to create sustainable value with our clients, people and communities.  That means we have a proud history of providing excellence to clients, nurturing our people and giving back to the communities in which we live and work.

We value excellence, curiosity and collaboration.  Clients rely on us for our responsive, commercial approach.  Our clients include government departments and agencies, private and publicly listed companies, and small and large businesses in Australia and overseas.  

As a highly valued employee we will also provide you with a wide range of benefits. To view our benefits, please copy this link into your browser www.minterellison.com/-/media//Minter-Ellison/Files/Careers/MinterEllison-Employee-Benefits-2024.ashx

Your Role

Opportunities exist for experienced major projects, infrastructure and construction lawyers at Senior Associate level to join us. These roles are front end with a focus on Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and major project work.

To succeed in this role you will need to demonstrate solid front end / transactional infrastructure and procurement experience. This work involves early stage advisory work in structuring major projects and drafting and negotiating the documents for major  infrastructure projects and general construction matters.

Our Team

MinterEllison is one of very few firms in the Australian market with a comprehensive integrated Construction, Infrastructure and Project Finance capability capable of handling the complete range of work across the full lifecycle of a major project from finance arrangements and business case development to project documentation, contract administration and dispute resolution.

The team's Partners are recognised as leaders in the major projects and PPP industry for their commerciality and their depth of knowledge and expertise. A position within the team therefore offers the opportunity to learn from the best. While this role is based in Melbourne, you will work on a range of projects in Victoria and nationally. There will also be close contact with other leading lawyers working in the broader national team on large scale projects within other jurisdictions.

Our client base is diverse and they come to us for innovative solutions to their individual project needs, delivered by some of the most prominent lawyers in the sector. MinterEllison is an undoubtedly Tier 1 construction firm, with a proven and ongoing track-record of providing top-tier advice to the largest contractors and developers on their highest value new contracting negotiations and on litigation and arbitration. The team advises on major infrastructure projects crossing education, healthcare, energy, aerospace and transportation sectors. The client base spans both public and private sectors - unquestionably among the largest project owners in Australia. The Minters team is consistently engaged for the most demanding matters in the market.

Examples of projects include Melbourne Metro, Westgate Tunnel, Melbourne Airport Rail Link, Sydney Metro, Footscray Hospital, Suburban Rail Loop, MR5 Train Franchise Project and many other complex infrastructure projects in the transport, health, education and correctional sectors.

What You Need

We welcome applications from lawyers with a minimum 5-8 years PQE. Ideally, you will have specialist major projects and infrastructure industry experience and are looking to cement your career in Tier 1 practice. Besides your legal knowledge, you will have an ability to manage strong client relationships and complex transactions with minimal supervision and can provide guidance and mentoring to the junior lawyers in the team.

You will also have: 

• a commercial approach to all matters;
• superior drafting ability and a strong attention to detail;
• strong project management skills;
• the ability to work in a highly collaborative fast-paced environment;
• excellent communication skills, both written and verbal; and
• resilience and a commitment to excellence that matches our own.

Why MinterEllison

We offer flexible working options to encourage balance, wellbeing and support for sustainable ways of working and a range of social, financial and health benefits, including free gym membership - all with no minimum tenure.

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.

How 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 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 lisa.fleming@minterellison.com.