Senior Associate, Corporate M&A

Our Band 1 Corporate M&A team is seeking a dynamic Senior Associate to join in Brisbane. 
 

In this role you will work closely with leading M&A Partner Melissa Swain-Tonkin, as well as other Partners and senior lawyers across the Corporate Group. 
 

You will undertake a range of career enhancing work, advising on multibillion-dollar M&A deals in Australia and around the world. Though based in Brisbane, this is a truly global role and you will work regularly with our other offices in Australia and in key overseas markets. 

What you’ll do 

• deliver highly successful outcomes in M&A for leading listed and private companies and financial sponsors across diverse sectors including financial services, energy & resources and infrastructure; and 

• play a crucial role supporting a range of private capital clients, including offshore private equity funds and trading houses on their Australian investments. This will involve advising on acquisition and divestment structures, corporate restructures and joint ventures, as well as strategic alliances. 

Joining our M&A team means becoming an integral part of a highly collaborative and supportive environment. Your contributions will not only enhance the exceptional culture of our Brisbane office but also contribute to the broader success of our market-leading M&A practice. 

What you’ll bring 

To be successful in this role, you will have: 

• demonstrable experience in M&A, with a focus on private M&A, from a leading top tier, national or international firm; 

• an excellent academic record, with an ability to apply that technical legal knowledge in a commercial environment; 

• first-class attention to detail and a demonstrated ability to comprehend intricate legal matters and manage large-scale transactions; 

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

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

• An innovative mindset, curious about AI and emerging technologies.  

The M&A and Takeovers Team 

Our market-leading M&A practice has a long-standing reputation for advising corporate and private equity clients across multiple jurisdictions on their most-significant, complex and innovative M&A, joint venture, takeover, demerger, venture capital and corporate restructuring transactions. We are consistently ranked as a leading firm in this area when measured against international benchmarks. 

We take pride in consistently achieving top rankings in the realm of Corporate M&A work, as recognised by the leading industry intelligence platforms. In 2025, our team advised on more deals than any other firm in Australia, advising on over 100 announced and completed deals with a total value of over A$49 billion. We received the following number 1 rankings: 

• 1st by deal value in AU/NZ announced deals (LSEG) 

• 1st by deal value in Australasia announced deals (Mergermarket) 

Our extensive involvement in transactions guarantees our clients unparalleled access to profound insights into market trends and the latest developments. This is recognised by continuously securing top rankings from industry bodies such as the Chambers Global Guide and Asia Pacific Legal500 and highlights our commitment to excellence. 

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.