Associate 1-4 PQE (Commodities)

Salary:
Competitive
Office Region:
Asia Pacific
Office Location:
Brisbane
Division/Department:
Insurance
Working Pattern:
Full Time - Perm
Role Type:
Hybrid

We are seeking a talented Associate (1–4 PQE) to join our growing Commodities practice in Brisbane, working closely with Stephanie Cook and a highly regarded team operating across the global Kennedys platform.

This is an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to matters at the intersection of commodities, energy and insurance, including significant business interruption and major loss claims across sectors such as construction, energy and agriculture, as well as trade credit claims.

You'll also have the advantage of access to Kennedys' broader cross-border disputes capability, enabling you to build a genuinely marketable skillset in cross-jurisdictional commodities and trade disputes while remaining Brisbane-based.

The Role:

You will work across a broad mix of high-quality matters, including:

Commodities disputes
Energy and natural resources-related matters
International arbitration and cross-border disputes
Insurance coverage issues arising in the commodities sector
Advisory work for market participants including traders, insurers and logistics providers

The role offers hands-on experience, early responsibility and strong mentorship, making it ideal for someone looking to accelerate their development in a globally connected team.

The Team:

Our Commodities team is part of Kennedys' global insurance and dispute resolution practice, with deep expertise across energy, marine, trade and associated insurance lines.

In Brisbane, you will work alongside Stephanie Cook, who is recognised for her work across complex, high-value disputes involving upstream and downstream commodities markets.

Key Responsibilities:

Assisting on complex commodities and trade disputes from inception to resolution
Drafting advice, pleadings and correspondence
Supporting on international arbitration matters
Managing smaller matters with appropriate supervision
Building relationships with clients and contributing to business development initiatives
Working collaboratively across offices and practice groups

About You:

1–4 years' PQE with experience in litigation, arbitration or commercial disputes
Exposure to commodities, energy, shipping, insurance or international trade (preferred but not essential)
Strong drafting, analytical and communication skills
A proactive, team-oriented approach
Interest in developing a long-term career in a specialist practice area

Why Kennedys?

At Kennedys, we are proud to offer more than just high-quality work. We offer a genuinely supportive, flexible and inclusive environment where people can thrive.

Global platform with opportunities to collaborate across jurisdictions
A culture that is approachable, supportive and high-performing
Clear development pathways with access to structured learning and mentoring
A firm that values wellbeing, flexibility and family commitments
Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

Please Note: If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply directly to Kennedys. We are not currently accepting applications from recruitment agencies for this position.

Please let us know if you require any additional support or adjustments to be made in order to submit your application to Kennedy

About Kennedys

Kennedys is a global law firm with expertise in dispute resolution and advisory services. With over 2,750 people worldwide across 48 offices in the UK, Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific and America we have some of the most respected legal minds in their field.

Our lawyers handle both contentious and non-contentious matters, and provide a range of specialist legal services, for many industry sectors but we have particular expertise in litigation and dispute resolution, especially in defending insurance and liability claims.

We're a fresh-thinking firm, and we're not afraid to bring challenging new perspectives to the table way beyond the traditional realm of legal services. We empower our clients with a diverse range of ideas, tools and technology to make their lives easier, as well as delivering exceptional results, every time.

What do we have to offer?

We welcome high-performing lawyers, business services professionals, secretaries, graduates and apprentices to join our rapidly expanding global firm. Whatever your role at Kennedys, you'll be involved in exciting and stimulating work, where your input will make a difference.

Our culture and values form a big part of who we are and we take them seriously. We make a difference by being approachable, straightforward, supportive and distinctive. Our values are at the core of who we are and what make us a great firm to work with and for.

The Firm recognises the value of investing in our people's development and believes our culture and values contribute to the quality of our work and of our client relationships. With a culture of on-the-job and experiential learning, peer to peer learning, mentoring, resources and tools that enable you to drive your career, we can support your development in your current and future roles. A variety of other opportunities are available including secondments to clients and our global offices.

We strive to celebrate diversity, empower our people and ensure everyone can bring their authentic selves to work. We've created a culture based on client service, professional excellence, hard work and trust, where diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) is a key priority. We recognise that many of our people want to work for an employer that is aligned to their values, which is why we are building an inclusive culture, decarbonising our operations and supporting our people to thrive at work. Our people are the key to driving this change and helping us to make a difference to our clients, our people and the communities in which we live and work.

Kennedys is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. We expect all employees to be aware of and comply with all relevant policies and procedures within their jurisdiction, including those relating to Information Security, Data Protection and Quality Management, refer any breach promptly to Risk & Compliance and to complete all mandatory training when requested.