Senior Associate - Environment, Planning and Aboriginal Heritage

About the role

We are excited to offer an exceptional Senior Associate the opportunity to join our Perth Environment & Sustainable Development (ESD) team. Our team works across a broad range of WA and Federal regulatory frameworks, focussing in particular on environmental, planning and Aboriginal heritage laws but also capturing many other frameworks when the need arises, including native title. We provide invaluable assistance to private and public sector clients looking to develop projects, from large mining, renewables, agribusiness, industrial and infrastructure projects to smaller landmark tourist and property developments, providing upfront strategic advice to help them navigate complex approval pathways. We identify risks and opportunities, engage with consultants and assessment bodies and partner with our clients to solve problems, to help them attain the approvals they need and then beyond to effective implementation. We also identify risk and risk management strategies in the context of some of Australia's most significant transactions, and we provide litigious support, representing clients in the State Administrative Tribunal in planning appeals, before the Appeals Convenor in relation to environmental approvals, and in Court in the event of judicial review or prosecution for environmental offences. Clients don't come to us with easy questions. The work is challenging and diverse. It requires an understanding of the regulatory frameworks, strong analytical skills, attention to detail and a problem-solving mentality. We work as a team to provide clear advice on the law and to identify solutions. As a senior member of our team, you will work directly with partner Lucy Shea and also have the opportunity to lead. Collegiality is a very important aspect of our team and we are looking for an enthusiastic, highly motivated Senior Associate to provide strong and reliable senior support to the Partner and to help mentor and grow our highly capable and energetic lawyers. You will also work extensively with other practice areas within Clayton Utz as part of the Projects team, and with our national ESD team, delivering exceptional legal services to our clients. It is an exciting time to be working in ESD. The depth of expertise across our national ESD team and the nature of our clients, means we are working at the forefront of reform and innovation in this space. Our team's participation in industry peak bodies and our work drafting legislation for the Government also gives us the opportunity to play an important role in policy development and legislative reform across our practice areas. Most recently this included appearing before the Senate Committee in Federal Parliament in relation to the recent reform of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth). With Clayton Utz's strong emphasis on continuous learning and development, and Lucy's dedicated guidance and mentorship, the role offers a Senior Associate looking to take on a leadership role a great opportunity for personal development and growth of expertise into areas of interest.