Description
Description & Requirements
About the Role:
This role involves working as an Associate within the Environment and Planning team which sits within the Commercial Real Estate practice group, contributing to high-impact legal matters that support Australia's renewable energy transition. You will be part of a nationally and globally integrated team, engaging in a dynamic mix of advisory, transactional and strategic litigation work.
About you:
- 1-4 years’ PQE in environment, climate change, and major projects for the energy and tech transitions such as wind farms, solar farms, pumped hydro, data centres, and automated warehousing.
- Preferably have worked in other top-tier or leading global teams (ideally with tipstaff experience in the Land and Environment Court or equivalent).
- Qualifications from a leading university, with an impressive academic record (i.e. distinction average and above) and electives focussed on environment, sustainability, administrative and private international law considered favourably.
- Exceptional written and verbal advocacy skills, demonstrated by the ability to communicate clearly, persuasively and with emotional intelligence.
- Fondness for a mixed advisory, transactional and strategic litigation practice, noting the team has previously run and is currently running some of the most important cases in Australia to support the renewable energy transition.
- Relative fluency in and commitment to learning the full scope of environment legislation and case law, including on planning and environmental approvals, contaminated land, environmental prosecutions, climate change risks (sustainability reporting, directors’ duties, and greenwashing), environmental markets (carbon credits and nature repair), and compulsory acquisition.
- Familiarity with policy and political positions on environmental matters, required for leading negotiations with regulators and key decision-makers.
- Love of law and curiosity for work in jurisdictions outside NSW.
- Appetite for working in an elite team (integrated across Australian offices and globally) and a commitment to building the leading environment law practice in Sydney.
- Enthusiastic networking and relationship-building capabilities.
- Courage to think independently and determination to be part of revolutionising how environment law is practised in the Australian legal market.
About us
Think Opportunity, Think Baker McKenzie!
We have an exciting opportunity for an Associate to join our Commercial Real Estate practice group (Environment & Planning) in Sydney. This full-time role is based in Sydney, Australia, and is suited for candidates with 1 - 4 years' post-qualification experience (PQE)About Baker McKenzie:
At Baker McKenzie, we are different in the way we think, work and behave. The first local, truly global law firm in Australia, we commenced operations in Sydney in 1964, in Melbourne in 1982 and in Brisbane in 2014. Our lawyers work seamlessly with our global colleagues, collectively providing a capacity of more than 13,000 people, including over 6,500 lawyers who work alongside our clients to drive growth that is both sustainable-and inclusive. Baker McKenzie Australia can offer you access to complex, market leading matters working with some of the world's best legal minds-people who know the law and who understand business. We have an unrivalled ability to provide training and secondment opportunities across our global network. Locally, we have an inclusive culture of learning, coaching and opportunity where you will work in small teams on matters that often cross borders. We value people who think ahead and get noticed.
Additional Information
Our Benefits:
- Financial benefits: competitive remuneration package, generous bonus scheme, salary continuance insurance, life insurance, salary sacrifice options, employee discounts, referral rewards, and travel insurance for you and your family
- Learning & development opportunities: client and international office secondments and regional and global development programs
- Flexibility: Hybrid and flexible working arrangements to balance your work and lifestyle
- Leave: 26 weeks paid parental leave for all parents with no minimum service, ability to purchase additional annual leave and flexible public holidays
- Health & wellbeing programs: Employee Assistance Program including confidential counselling and wellbeing and financial coaching for you and your immediate family, flu vaccinations and discounted health insurance
Inclusion, Diversity & Equity:
Baker McKenzie is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive culture for all its employees, with equal opportunity for all to progress and have a meaningful career with our Firm. Our mission is to foster an environment where individuals of every ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, age, disability, carer status and working style may succeed professionally and fully contribute to the goals of the Firm. Our bAgile program encourages a range of flexible work opportunities for all. We invite you to let us know of any reasonable adjustments you require to equitably participate in the recruitment process or in performing the requirements of this role.Apply today!
If you are interested, we would love to hear from you! Please click "apply now".
As part of our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive we encourage applications from all genders, abilities and cultural backgrounds including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.