Location: Brisbane
Discipline: Partner & Special Counsel
Job type: Permanent
Contact name: Craig Ashton-Sward

Contact email: craig@lawstaff.com.au
Job ref: REP101123
Published: over 1 year ago
  • Dynamic National Corporate Team
  • Resourceful CBD firm
  • Lateral Appointment to Partnership 
  • $230K - $280K (SC) | $350K + Bonuses (SP) | $1.2M (EP)
THE FIRM
  
This is a long-standing client where Law Staff has facilitated their growth through key lateral partner appointments as well as the hiring of talented solicitors who have grown with the practice over the years and are now heading up their own specialist teams.
  
With an appetite for strategic growth in key areas, our client is looking to appoint an additional Partner to bolster their Renewable Energy offering, driven by an interest in growing their existing portfolio of active clients in this practice area.

As a sizeable national law firm with more than a decade invested in its Brisbane practice, the firm offers a deep level of technical capability while also being a relatively young and highly collaborative partnership.  
 
THE ROLE
   
With an already strong service offering and reputation in this area of practice, our client is looking to further strengthen the Brisbane team with an additional Partner or dynamic Special Counsel looking to step up to Partnership.
  
In addition to growing and mentoring a team, you will also be responsible for jointly managing client relationships and advising on regulatory, commercial and technical aspects across a range of matters, including:
  • Pumped Hydro
  • Solar
  • Wind
  • Biomass.
Whilst experience in all these areas is not essential, it is expected you will confidently satisfy 60% of these within your skillset. Indicative of the client skills the firm seeks in a Partner, they expect your current business profile will generate additional client activities for the firm in this specific arena. Essentially, you must be able to back yourself if you expect to step into this Partner level role.
    
WHAT YOU NEED

The expectations are genuinely for 10-20 years post-admission experience, a fair portion of which must have been recently obtained in Brisbane within a specialist firm, a mid-tier, or a large practice where your skills have been allowed to develop in that energy and resources stream.
  
In addition, you will have well-developed team management skills and a high level of commercial acumen and a strong client focus.

WHAT YOU GET
   
This is a lateral appointment into Partnership and your earnings will reflect your abilities as well as what you bring to the table. A remuneration package at the upper end of the market is expected for the successful candidate and is likely to exceed your expectations. For Equity Partners their earnings are in excess of industry benchmarks without the need to compromise on prestige or resources.
  
While other firms are cost-shedding to maintain their profit pool, this firm maintains an extensive local and national back-office infrastructure that underpins the very success of each Partner.

OUR EXPERIENCE
 
In challenging times, there has been the need for law firms to re-calibrate in order to maintain a competitive advantage and a sustainable profit pool for its Partners. Those that have managed this have emerged as magnets to other Partners looking to transition their clients to a more innovative and profitable platform. 

With 30 years as specialist consultants to the legal profession, Law Staff has an impressive history of facilitating discreet moves for Partners, and whole teams, to specialist, mid or top tier practices, all while providing critical intelligence on:
  • Individual profitability of the relevant firms;
  • Partnership structures and equity distribution;
  • Strategic growth plans;
  • Intra/Cross practice compatibility;
  • Historical transitions;
  • Performance expectations; as well as
  • Partnership culture and idiosyncrasies (trust us when we say that no one firm is perfect).
In addition, our Senior Client Advisors have assisted hundreds of Partners in writing detailed business plans that identify only relevant information including key practice components as well as transitioning requirements, and less of the white noise. We advise you when the appropriate time is to table this information to ensure your commercial interests are preserved. 

Most importantly, we have an uncompromising commitment to confidentiality, such that everything stays in the proverbial vault until you confirm in writing that you would like to move beyond our one-on-one discussions and meet with the relevant Managing Partner. We strive to provide detailed Information Documents to allow you to make an informed decision and to do research at your own leisure. A list of partner references can be made available at your request. 


THE NEXT STEPS
At Law Staff we offer a meeting over Zoom or FaceTime, as well as offer a contactless meeting in a lounge room setting for a relaxed confidential discussion over coffee/tea, allowing you to comfortably provide us with an understanding of your considerations in that next move. 

For a uncompromisingly confidential discussion, please contact: 
  • Craig Ashton-Sward (Director & Senior Client Advisor) 
  • craig@lawstaff.com.au
  • 0413 743 838 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm 7 days)
Feel free to exchange first name only initially if that gives you an assurance of greater confidentiality.
  
LawStaff | Level 22 HSBC Building | 300 Queen Street | Brisbane