Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.

As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world’s largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.

At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we’re focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world.

All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition – which is to help you achieve yours.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your goals. Our ambition

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Solicitor or Senior Associate to join our premier, award-winning Band 1 Corporate M&A team in Melbourne.

In this role, you will have exposure to some of the best and highest profile deals in Australia, working closely with leading Partners Rodd Levy, Baden Furphy, Raji Azzam, Jason Jordan, Claire Thompson and Simon Walker, as well as others across our national Corporate practice.

What you’ll do

• Advise on all aspects of corporate transactions, including public and private M&A deals, takeovers for listed companies, disposals, private equity transactions, venture capital investments, joint ventures and shareholder arrangements.

• Draft and negotiate key transaction documents, provide advice on areas of legal risk and manage external client relationships.

• Ensure key deadlines are met, including by working closely with other legal teams across the firm to deliver an integrated service to our clients, as well as collaborating with other advisers on transactions.

• Develop relationships with key internal stakeholders and your counterparts within our existing and prospective clients, showing an interest in supporting business development activities for them.

• Mentor more junior team members and assist with providing training both in the team and across the firm.

What you’ll bring

• Admission to practice as a lawyer in Australia or New Zealand.

• 3-7 years’ experience in a leading corporate M&A practice.

• An excellent academic record and a high level of attention to detail.

• A proactive approach and a desire to be an integral member of, and contributor to, our leading and supportive team.

• An ability to work collaboratively, at times autonomously, and to tight timeframes.

• A curiosity about our clients and an eagerness to create an exceptional experience for them.

• A genuine passion for M&A and corporate transactions, with a natural desire for continuous learning.

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

About our Corporate M&A team

Our mergers and acquisitions team is Australia’s leading M&A team, consistently recognised as market leaders in the Australian market both by number and value of deals. We believe that we’ve achieved these results by following a simple goal –that of doing the best work for the best clients.

We are focused on ensuring strong commercial outcomes at each stage of a transaction and foreach transaction type, from implementing corporate restructures in preparation for potential acquisitions, negotiating acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures and advising on friendly mergers and hostile takeovers.

Consistently recognised as the market leader, 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 99announced 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)

In H1 2026, our team advised on over 50 announced and completed deals with a total value overA$16 billion. We received the following rankings:

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

• 1st by deal value and deal count in AU/NZ completed deals (LSEG)

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

• 1st by deal value and deal count in Australasia completed 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 Legal 500 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.

For any questions or a confidential discussion, please contact Carissa Bartels, Recruitment Manager ([email protected]).

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Diversity & Inclusion

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.