Senior Associate, Environment, Planning & Communities

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.

As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world’s largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.

At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we’re focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world.

All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition – which is to help you achieve yours.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your goals. Our ambition

The Opportunity

We have a unique opportunity for a Senior Associate to join our highly regarded Environment, Planning and Communities team in Perth.

In this role you will work closely with Partner Mel Debenham. Mel is a leading practitioner in environment, climate change, planning, native title and heritage law across the mining, oil and gas, energy, infrastructure, and industrial/environmental advisory sectors. Mel has been consistently ranked as a leading lawyer in Native Title and Environment and Planning by Chambers Asia Pacific and is also recognised by the Legal 500, Doyle’s Guide and Best Lawyers.

As a Senior Associate, you'll play a pivotal role in our team, offering comprehensive project development, compliance, transactional, and strategic advice. Working with international, major Australian, and Government clients across diverse sectors and jurisdictions, you'll provide pragmatic and commercially astute solutions to environmental, social, and land access challenges.

What you’ll do

• Full land access and approval services, including in respect to environmental impact assessments and approvals, and the development and delivery of major projects strategy.

• Cradle to grave advisory support on environmental laws, energy, resources and carbon regimes, Aboriginal cultural heritage, contaminated land and other regulation.

• Native title and First Nations engagement advisory support, including in respect to development and delivery of engagement and participation strategy, negotiation of agreements, statutory consultation requirements and compliance with relevant legislation.

• Pollution control and incident response, advice and representation in compliance and enforcement actions as well as third party appeal and challenges.

• Transactional support in various contexts, such as M&A, project finance, and procurement.

• Your role will involve both front-end and contentious work. In addition, you will have direct exposure and support to build your client management and business development skills. You will work within a highly collaborative and growing team, operating across practice groups and with a national focus, that will foster your career development.

• You will benefit from exceptional learning opportunities working on 'first in the market' projects and with clients, who are at the forefront of ESG and energy transition.

What you’ll bring

• An Australian or New Zealand practicing certificate, with demonstrated legal experience in land access and acquisition, environment and planning, regulatory approvals, native title and/or indigenous cultural heritage

• A strong academic record, coupled with excellent legal skills and a practical mindset

• Demonstrated ability to comprehend complex legal matters

• A proactive approach and desire to be an integral member of our leading and supportive team

• Capability to work effectively within tight timeframes, both collaboratively and autonomously

• A hunger to learn and develop and be part of maintaining a market-leading practice

• An innovative mindset, curious about AI and emerging technologies

What you can expect from us

• We’re a world leading international law firm with a global team of over 6,000 professionals across 26 offices. As the market leader in Australia, we are committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity and digital innovation. We are client-centred, commercially driven, and renowned for our solution-focused expertise. We will align your growth with our ambitions.

• We make your personal and professional growth our business. And as part of the team, our ambition is yours too. Wherever you are in your career: grow and help the firm grow with you.

• We will provide opportunities to learn on the job as well as a mix of learning opportunities tailored to you. Daily experiences, supportive challenges, team collaboration, mentors, and structured learning opportunities help you to expand your knowledge and reach your goals.

• We value your wellbeing, both at home and work and we place a strong emphasis on mental health. If you need support, you’ll have it and we’ll empower you to harness your personal strengths, navigate uncertainty, embrace opportunities, and effectively manage things within your control.

• For more benefits on offer such as our holistic wellbeing fund or home office allowance please click here.

• Join us to be part of a human, bold and outstanding team at Australia’s market leading law firm.

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.

For any questions or a confidential discussion, please contact Tamara Salem, Recruitment Manager at tamara.salem@hsfkramer.com.

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Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.