Location: Melbourne
Discipline: Partner & Special Counsel
Job type: Permanent
Salary: 400K to $1M+ Negotiable
Contact name: Craig Ashton-Sward

Contact email: craig@lawstaff.com.au
Job ref: TP190326
Published: about 3 hours ago
  • Tax Partner/Tax Team | Melbourne Based 
  • National law firm with strong Tax practice
  • Salaried or Equity appointment 
  • Rem Negotiable $400,000 to $1m based on Your Client Profile
A national law firm is looking to welcome a Partner or Team into its National Tax Practice. This newly created role is critical in servicing clients front-end and or back-end tax needs on a national scale, providing tax-effective structuring, implementation, and specialist advisory solutions. While experience in back-end tax controversy matters is not essential, you may occasionally assist a Tax Litigation Partner from time-to-time.

You will work on complex, high-value transactions and disputes, directly with the firm’s key clients as well as your own. This is an opportunity to expand your expertise while working other specialists who speak your language, just in a on a better and more profitable platform.

About the Role

Front-End Tax Advisory:
  • Preparation and implementation of tax structuring and advisory solutions around corporate entities, trusts, and charities.
  • Tax advisory on mergers and acquisitions, asset transfers, asset sales, partnerships and other business entities. 
  • Provide technical and strategic advice on front-end tax matters including corporate tax, goods and services tax, fringe benefits, pay as you go, payroll tax, sales tax and stamp duty. 
  • Advising on tax legislation across a range of jurisdictions including Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania.
Tax Controversy:
  • Navigating clients through tax audits and related controversy;
  • Carriage of or assisting others on Tax Litigation and Appeals if it's a sizeable matter requiring strategic input.
About You
  • 10+ years PAE in front-end tax matters; equivalent experience at a reputable accounting firm also considered should the person be a qualified and current Victorian legal practitioner able to hold an Unrestricted Principal's Practising Certificate within Australia.
  • Special Counsel who have a similar skillset and client profile, and who are ready to step up to a Partner level role will also be considered.
  • Strong technical skills and ability to originate practical tax solutions
  • Excellent academic background in law and other relevant areas (tax, accounting, MBA)
  • Seeking national exposure and an opportunity to develop broad tax expertise. 
  • Client-focused, reliable, and highly capable professional
  • Collaborative and enjoys mentoring junior team members.
Should you wish to bring your Team with you then this firm has the capacity to accommodate as well as experience in transitioning whole teams. 

Additional Benefits & Employee Support Programs:
  • Corporate rates for gyms, team sports, participation in sporting events, corporate blood donations, flu vaccinations, fresh fruit, and healthy options at firm events.
  • Support with balancing work and personal life, including parental, disability, elder care, flexibility, career transitions, and health & wellbeing assistance.
  • Short-term professional counselling and support, face-to-face, phone, or online. Confidential and free of charge, with additional online resources.
  • Paid leave (2 days per subject) and financial support for work-related tertiary education
  • 8–18 weeks paid parental leave for primary carers, 2 weeks for secondary carers, plus government entitlements; includes family care policies.
  • Opportunities to contribute to legal clinics, youth services, and not-for-profit organisations.
  • Regular staff events, including Friday drinks, team lunches, social club events, and senior lawyer participation in partner-hosted events.
  • Discounts for shopping, entertainment, and online services.
  • Optional mentoring outside your immediate team for career support and guidance.
  • Monthly leadership meetings, quarterly staff updates, national newsletter, networking platforms, and HR hub resources.
  • Policies promoting a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment covering anti-discrimination, gender equality, diversity, and harassment prevention.
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 expertly have emerged as magnets to other partners looking to transition their clients to a more profitable platform. 
  
With over 35 years as specialist consultants to the legal profession, Law Staff has an extensive history of facilitating discreet moves for partners and whole teams across to mid, top-tier, and global practices, all while providing you with 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. We advise you when the appropriate time is to table this information to ensure your commercial interests are preserved. Most importantly, we will only ever confer with the relevant Board or Managing Partner after you have done your research and at a time when you have expressed in writing to us that you are ready to take that cautious next step. Absolutely everything stays in the vault until that time. A list of partner references on Law Staff's performance at this level can be made available at your request.
  
THE NEXT STEPS
  
At Law Staff we offer a lounge room setting for a relaxed confidential discussion, however we are also available over Teams, allowing you to comfortably provide us with an understanding of your considerations in that next move. 
  
To express your preliminary interest, and for an uncompromisingly confidential discussion, please contact Craig Ashton-Sward (Director & Senior Client Advisor) by email craig@lawstaff.com.au or by mobile 0413 743 838 (8:00 am to 8:00 pm, 7 days) and quote REF: TP190326. Feel free to maintain your anonymity in the first instance if you choose.
  
LawStaff | Level 4 Westpac Building | 260 Queen Street | Brisbane