Associate - Real Estate (New South Wales)

Johnson Winter Slattery (JWS) is a leading Australian law firm known for advising corporates and funds on their most complex transactions, disputes and regulatory matters. At JWS, we build authentic, long-term relationships and have a deep understanding of our clients and their industries. Our clients say we are pragmatic, strategic, commercial and easy to work with. Our firm is comprised of more than 500 highly talented people, including 80+ partners, across Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra. We are globally connected and have strong relationships with major independent law firms around the world. JWS was recognised as Technology, Media and Telecom M&A; Legal Adviser of the Year (Mergermarket M&A; Awards Australia 2023), Energy Law Firm of the Year (Best Lawyers 2023) and Australian Law Firm of the Year (Beaton Client Choice Awards 2025). Our lawyers are highly ranked in Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and Lexology Index (formerly Who's Who Legal). We are strongly committed to social justice, responsible business and our diverse communities. We are proud of our pro bono program which focuses on supporting low income, disadvantaged and marginalised people in the Australian community. About the Team Our national Real Estate group provides legal services to many of Australia's leading institutional and corporate groups, including real estate funds and managers, domestic and foreign private investors, developers and multinational corporations within each distinct state-based legislative environment. We act for the real estate industry's key players, providing our clients with advice on their most innovative and complex transactions and projects. We also have one of the leading natural capital teams in Australia specialising in large scale agricultural and plantation timberland transactions. We offer our clients comprehensive experience in acquisitions and disposals, development, projects, leasing and financing across a range of asset classes including office, industrial and logistics, agribusiness, plantation forestry, data centres and retail properties. About the Role Our Real Estate team is growing, and an opportunity exists for an Associate (2 PQE) to join our Sydney office. This role will work closely with our key clients on large scale and complex cross-jurisdictional real estate transactions. It is a significant career opportunity for the right person, providing the opportunity to stretch yourself with challenging, dynamic and complex legal work. As an Associate, you will be responsible for drafting and reviewing contracts for sale, leases and agreements for lease, undertaking due diligence investigations and preparing due diligence reports, arranging PEXA settlements, assisting with negotiations and providing strategic legal project management advice on complex real estate transactions. Ideally you will have a strong background in capital transactions, including due diligence and broader transactional work, and will be familiar with Revenue NSW, LRS and PEXA systems. About You You bring strong technical expertise and previous relevant experience, but there is much more to you. You:
- deliver legal advice with a commercial and client focused outlook, always;
- work well under pressure, meet your deadlines and excel working in a team;
- have the ability to manage files and clients, including having carriage over the matters from start to close, under senior lawyer and partner supervision;
- have strong communication and stakeholder management skills and you aren't afraid to use them, internally and externally;
- have good attention to detail;
- take a proactive, collaborative, positive and energetic approach to everything you do;
- have 2 years PQE real estate experience gained in a private practice environment. Working at JWS We value collaboration and our teams work together to achieve shared outcomes. We care about the wellbeing of our people and will invest time in understanding your objectives so we can support you throughout your career. We believe it’s this focus on our people that has seen our firm grow rapidly to become one of Australia’s leading independent law firms. We pride ourselves on being down-to-earth, approachable, and always high-performing. We have worked hard to create a culture where people look out for each other. We offer:
- A collegiate environment with a collaborative culture across offices and practice groups
- High-quality work with committed mentors supporting your career development
- Comprehensive perks including competitive remuneration, flexible working, and extensive social and wellbeing initiatives
- Opportunities for professional growth through structured learning and development programs, pro bono work, and employee recognition initiatives If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity to take your career to the next level, then we would love to hear from you. We are committed to promoting a workplace that is diverse and inclusive. We encourage the best people
- regardless of race, religion, or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, or age
- to fulfil their professional aspirations with us. In particular we would welcome applications from First Nations candidates. Johnson Winter Slattery pays respect to Elders past and present of our nation’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We honour the deep spiritual, cultural and customary connections of Traditional Owners to the Australian landscape, including Australia’s waterways, land, and sea country. #J-18808-Ljbffr Apply on Kit Job: kitjobau.com/job/3rgzp0