Senior Associate or Special Counsel - Wills and Estates in Sydney

Good people. Good work. Great opportunities. McCullough Robertson is a commercially focused firm with a proud 100 year history, working with high-calibre national and international clients. We work on big matters in small teams, approaching each day with dedication and professionalism. We provide exceptional opportunities for our employees to perform, grow and succeed through extensive training and career development.

Our teams work together and support one another to achieve individual, team and firm-wide goals. Backed by a national team of over 450 staff located in Brisbane and Sydney, McCullough Robertson combines a century of experience with a modern, collaborative approach, making us a big firm, without the attitude.

The Team

Our Wills and Estates practice brings together a leading team across Brisbane and Sydney, including several Accredited Specialists. As one of Australia’s most experienced Estates practices, we have the expertise to handle complex, large-scale matters while maintaining a personal and hands-on approach. The team works collaboratively across the firm, drawing on expertise from a range of practice groups to deliver integrated, comprehensive advice.

The role is based in Sydney, working directly with the Sydney team, but also offers the opportunity to work closely with our two highly regarded Brisbane based partners and broader team. We pride ourselves on our collegiate culture, high standards and strong commitment to professional development.

The Role

This is an opportunity to join McCullough Robertson’s Wills and Estates team and work on sophisticated matters for a broad range of clients, including a number of high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals, families and family offices, often with complex structuring and affairs. The role will suit a lawyer with an estate litigation focus, while also offering the ability to work across the full range of estate planning and estate administration matters.

You will manage your own files with minimal direct supervision and draw on the support of junior lawyers and other team members as needed. Our practice attracts high-quality work and offers meaningful opportunities to collaborate across McR Private, making this role well suited to someone who values strong client relationships and a collaborative environment, and who enjoys working through nuanced issues to find practical, commercially focused solutions.

Experience

We are seeking a motivated and capable lawyer with a minimum of five years’ post-admission experience. The successful candidate can work autonomously and as a part of a close-knit team. Wide-ranging experience across all aspects of wills, estates, trusts and succession law will be highly regarded, particularly:

• Estate litigation (including family provision claims, contested probate proceedings, trusts and associated litigation);
• Estate planning (including testamentary trust drafting, review of related trust, company and superannuation documents, formulation and implementation of bespoke succession plans);
• Estate administration (including applications for grants of representation, administration of deceased estates for executors and administrators from start to finish, and advice to beneficiaries).

An Accredited Specialist in Wills & Estates Law would be highly valued, although not essential. Alongside your technical capability, you will be commercially minded, solutions focused and confident in leading matters and working with colleagues and clients at all levels. You will demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to manage competing priorities while meeting deadlines. You will be proactive and driven, with a clear desire to further develop your leadership capability and contribute positively at a senior level within the team.

Benefits

At McCullough Robertson, we encourage a balanced work environment. Our teams enjoy having the opportunity to work in a supportive environment while having fun and achieving results. We offer the following benefits for our employees:

• Dedicated Diversity committee with an innovative program focusing on all areas of diversity and inclusion;
• Attractive further education program and supportive learning and development opportunities throughout your whole career;
• Mentoring and sponsorship opportunities as well as coaching and leadership support;
• Holistic Health and Wellbeing program including subsidised gym membership and active social and sporting committees;
• Inhouse barista and end-of-trip facilities.

Inclusion and Diversity

We are a leader in diversity and inclusion and are committed to creating an environment where our employees want to come to work. An award-winning law firm, we have received the prestigious Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation for 15 consecutive years and been recognised as a Gold Tier Small Employer at the 2026 Australian LGBTQ+ Inclusion Awards. We're an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.