Senior Insolvency Lawyer — Brisbane CBD
Run complex insolvency and commercial litigation files from start to finish, mentor the next generation of lawyers, and build your own name in the Brisbane insolvency market, without waiting years for a big-firm promotion.
About the role
Macmillan Lawyers and Advisors is a commercial and insolvency boutique in Brisbane’s CBD. We are known for combining deep technical expertise with a practical, agile way of working, and we act across insolvency, restructuring, commercial litigation, intellectual property and small business law.
We are looking for a Senior Insolvency Lawyer to join our growing team. This is a leadership position. You will manage complex insolvency and commercial litigation matters from first instruction to resolution, supervise and mentor junior lawyers, and work directly with our principal and our clients on high-stakes matters.
The work is the real thing. Our insolvency practice acts for liquidators, bankruptcy trustees, creditors and directors, which means the matters on your desk will include voidable transaction and unfair preference claims, insolvent trading claims, director penalty notices, creditor’s statutory demands and winding-up applications, public examinations, receivership disputes, bankruptcy proceedings and small business restructuring advice. You will run them, not report on them.
What you’ll do
- Act for liquidators, trustees, creditors and directors in insolvency-related disputes.
- Manage files autonomously, including court appearances, strategy development and client liaison.
- Mentor and supervise junior lawyers and graduates.
- Build and maintain strong client relationships.
- Contribute to the firm’s business development and thought leadership.
Who we’re open to
This role is pitched at experience, not a fixed title. Your title and package will reflect your level.
Associates
Ready to step into bigger files with more responsibility and direct client contact, without waiting years for a promotion? We will give you the work and the mentorship to accelerate your career.
Senior Associates
Feeling like you have plateaued? At Macmillan you will lead complex matters, gain genuine autonomy, and have a platform to build and expand your own brand in the insolvency space.
Special Counsel
Looking for more flexibility, less bureaucracy, and the chance to work on high-calibre matters without the politics of a large firm? We offer an environment where your expertise is valued and your impact is direct.
What you’ll bring
We are looking for someone who can hit the ground running. You should have:
- At least 4 years’ post-admission experience in insolvency law and commercial litigation.
- Demonstrated experience running matters autonomously.
- Strong technical skills in the Corporations Act, the Bankruptcy Act and related legislation.
- Courtroom confidence and excellent advocacy skills.
- Commercial acumen and the ability to deliver pragmatic advice.
- Leadership qualities and an interest in mentoring younger lawyers.
- Admission to practise in Australia, and a Queensland practising certificate or eligibility to obtain one.
Why Macmillan
- High-calibre work. You will act with and against some of the country’s leading insolvency professionals, on matters that turn on strategy rather than volume.
- Direct access from day one. You work with the principal and with clients directly. There is no layer between you and the decision.
- Flexible arrangements. Full-time, part-time or hybrid arrangements are available for the right person, from our Brisbane CBD office.
- Competitive salary, set to your level, with performance-based bonuses.
- A firm that backs your name. We support your professional profile, speaking, writing and industry involvement, because your reputation grows the firm’s.
- A clear path forward. The firm is expanding. Senior lawyers who lead matters and clients here are building toward Special Counsel and principal-level work, not queuing for it.
About Macmillan Lawyers and Advisors
Macmillan Lawyers and Advisors is a Brisbane commercial and insolvency law firm in the heart of the CBD. We advise and act for insolvency practitioners, creditors, company directors and business owners across insolvency and restructuring, commercial litigation, intellectual property and small business law.
We are a boutique by design. That means smaller teams, faster decisions, real conversations, and lawyers who know their clients’ businesses rather than their file numbers. Read more about our insolvency practice and meet the team.
How to apply
Apply in confidence using the form below, or email your CV and a brief cover letter to Kyle Macmillan at kyle@macmillan.law. Every application is read by the principal.
Applications close 14 December 2026. We review applications as they arrive, so early applications are encouraged.
Questions before you apply? Call us on 07 3518 8030.
Frequently asked questions
Is this role office-based or hybrid?
The role is based in our Brisbane CBD office. Flexible arrangements, including hybrid working, are available and are agreed with the successful candidate.
Will I be working from the Brisbane CBD office?
The Brisbane CBD address is where Macmillan is based for clients. It isn’t necessarily where the team works day to day, and we’ll confirm the exact work location with shortlisted candidates before interview.
What level is the role pitched at?
Associate through to Special Counsel. We set the title and the package to your experience, not the other way around.
What does “4+ years post-admission experience” mean in practice?
At least four years since admission, spent running insolvency and commercial litigation matters with a real degree of autonomy, your own files, your own court appearances, your own client relationships.
Do I need to be admitted in Queensland?
You need to be admitted to practise in Australia and hold, or be eligible to obtain, a Queensland practising certificate.
What is the salary?
Competitive and set to your level, with performance-based bonuses. We discuss it in confidence at interview.
Is part-time available?
Yes, for the right candidate. Tell us what you are looking for in your application.