Senior Associate - Planning, Environment & Governance

About Us

Madison Marcus is a leading boutique law firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and Parramatta. We have been consistently recognised by the legal and business communities for excellence in our legal work, innovation, corporate citizenship, and our employee health and well-being initiatives, along with individual team members for their success and leadership. We are a young, diverse firm offering great working conditions, diverse and enjoyable social events and ample development opportunities.

The Position

An exciting opportunity has developed working with our fantastic partner and team, for an experienced Senior Associate with developed Planning Environment & Governance experience to join our successful and growing team.

We offer work as a ‘whole project’ approach, providing expert legal advice from inception to delivery and completion amongst other great offerings.

The position is based in our stunning Sydney CBD office which boasts glass walls allowing ample natural light, impressive board, and meetings rooms, lots of break out spaces, open plan seating and hybrid working arrangements.

Skills & Experience

To be successful in this role you will have technical skills of:

1. At minimum of 5-8 years’ experience in relation to the following:
2. NSW planning and environment laws and procedures;
3. NSW building and development certification laws;
4. Compensation and land valuation disputes;
5. Local and State Government disputes;
6. The development assessment and determination process including rights of review and appeal;
7. Compliance and enforcement of planning and environment laws;
8. Appearance in the Land and Environment Court for directions hearings, motions and conciliation conferences; and
9. Ability to:

• Identify and apply relevant legal principles to facts and independently formulate a reasoned conclusion about a client’s rights, liabilities and obligations;
• Draft written advice to a client outlining the client’s rights, liabilities and obligations based on identified legal principles and facts;
• Draft written submissions to a Government Agency representing the client’s interests;
• Advise on the process and procedure for class 1 and 4 applications in the Land and Environment Court;
• Review experts reports, identify key merit and legal issues;
• Represent clients at meetings with other parties;
• Appear at directions hearings, motions and conciliation conferences in the Land and Environment Court;
• Advise on any other public law issues that may arise in the development assessment, approval or appeal process.

Advise generally on:

• development consents, certificates and other types of development permits;
• environmental offences and licencing requirements;
• nature resource management;
• strategic land use planning;
• land contamination
• compensation and land valuation
• access to public information.

In addition, you will possess:

1. A current practising certificate with 5 years’ post qualified experience in Planning Environment and Governance.
2. Exhibit strong problem solving and time management skills.
3. Be motivated, dynamic, career-orientated and a team player.
4. Be professionally presented with initiative and superior communication skills.

The position offers:

• The opportunity to become a valued member of a busy practice dedicated to providing clients with the best possible advice and service;
• A challenging and rewarding position with the ability to make your mark;
• A competitive salary commensurate with experience; and
• A supportive friendly team and the opportunity to enjoy the wealth of experience and support that will surround you.

Benefits and Culture

Our mission is to protect and empower both clients and employees.

We do not isolate or pigeonhole like big firms by management processes and layers of red tape and politics. Here at Madison Marcus Law Firm, we are entrepreneurial and forward thinking by nature. We thrive on new ideas and innovation. We proactively invest in new technologies to be a firm where law and business meet with technology. We are new age.

We offer work anniversary loyalty bonuses, fortnightly drinks and team bonding, volunteer days credited to your budget, paid parental leave, business and staff referral incentives, wellness initiatives, fantastic social club activities and 1:1 Marketing Coaching and assistance.

How to apply?

Please send your resume and covering letter demonstrating how you meet the key selection criteria. For a confidential conversation, please contact Verdiana Riolo on 02 8022 1222 or email verdiana.riolo@madisonmarcus.com.au. All discussions and emails will be treated as highly confidential to protect your privacy.

At this stage, no applications will be required from recruiters.

All applicants must have legal rights to work in Australia.