Associate/Senior Associate – Corporate & Commercial Law (Sydney)

About the role

HWLE is seeking an Associate or Senior Associate to join its Corporate & Commercial team in Sydney. Working closely with Partner Amber Cerny, you will support a diverse portfolio of Australian and international clients across health, transport, technology and government sectors, gaining hands‑on experience in complex transactional and regulatory matters.

Key responsibilities

• Assist with private M&A transactions, including due diligence, drafting and negotiating transaction documents.
• Support government procurement, public‑sector transactions and regulatory compliance projects.
• Prepare FIRB applications and advise on foreign investment and critical infrastructure requirements.
• Draft commercial contracts, privacy notices and contribute to privacy and data‑compliance initiatives.
• Conduct legal research, prepare advice and help manage client relationships.
• Participate in legislative compliance reviews, policy development and corporate governance projects.

Required profile

• Experience or strong interest in corporate/commercial law, M&A, privacy, regulatory or government work.
• Excellent drafting and analytical abilities with high attention to detail.
• Ability to manage competing deadlines in a fast‑paced transactional environment.
• Strong communication skills and a proactive, commercially‑minded approach.
• Willingness to learn and work with evolving technologies and regulatory frameworks.

Required skills

• Legal drafting
• Legal research
• Regulatory compliance analysis

What we offer

• Merit‑based career progression with fast‑track promotion opportunities.
• Flexible 3:2 work arrangements and generous leave policies.
• State‑of‑the‑art office in the heart of Sydney CBD.
• Access to mentorship through a low solicitor‑to‑partner ratio.
• 180‑day career forecasting sessions to accelerate development.