Director - Corporate M&A in Brisbane

A leading global advisory firm is seeking a Director to join its established Corporate M&A practice (equivalent to Special Counsel within a traditional law firm). This opportunity is well suited to someone who enjoys sophisticated transactional work but is looking for a different long-term career proposition to traditional private practice.

Bluefin has an established relationship with the firm, having placed a Director in its Property Transactions team and a Senior Associate in M&A. Both are working parents who have spoken highly of the firm's sustainable working hours, flexibility and supportive culture.

The team is predominantly made up of former top-tier lawyers who have transitioned from traditional private practice into a more integrated advisory environment. Unlike a conventional law firm, you'll work closely with other specialists across the business, providing clients with a broader, end-to-end advisory offering. The model offers exposure similar to an in-house legal role while retaining the technical complexity and transactional work of private practice.

Approximately 90% of the practice is focused on private M&A, with a particularly strong reputation advising founders on the sale of their businesses to private equity. The team's work includes:

• Advising founders, high-net-worth individuals, family groups and trusts on business sales, including transactions involving complex ownership and group structures.
• Acting for private equity funds on acquisitions and investments.
• Advising multinational organisations on larger M&A transactions and complex corporate reorganisations.
• Exposure to public M&A, financial services licensing and private equity fund formation.
• Transactions typically range from $20 million to $100 million, with exposure to significantly larger deals.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• A genuinely different work-life balance. From our experience recruiting for this firm, the culture and quality of life are a significant point of difference. The business offers a more sustainable alternative to private practice, with genuine flexibility and strong support for working parents. Part-time arrangements are also considered.
• Sophisticated work without the traditional law firm model. You'll continue working on complex M&A transactions while gaining broader commercial exposure by collaborating with tax, deals and other advisory specialists across the business.
• Autonomy and ownership. At Director level, you'll have the opportunity to run transactions independently, build direct client relationships and take ownership of your practice.
• Clear progression to Partnership. The firm can offer accelerated progression for someone with the ambition and capability to develop their own client relationships and build towards Partnership (if that's what they wanted).
• Global platform and client base. Access to an established international network, multinational clients and a broad range of advisory capabilities creates opportunities beyond those typically available within a standalone legal practice.

About You

We're interested in speaking with experienced Senior Associates, Special Counsel or lawyers already operating at Director-equivalent level who have a strong background in Corporate M&A. We welcome applications from experienced Senior Associates and Special Counsel with strong Corporate M&A experience. The level of autonomy and client responsibility will depend on your experience, with opportunities for those who already manage their own client relationships, as well as those looking to build towards this.