About the role
This is an opportunity to join Atmos as one of our founding members and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the firm. [AB1.1]At Atmos, we’re building a team of bold thinkers who want to do things differently. You’ll have the unique chance to influence how we operate, contribute to a culture of innovation, and be part of something truly transformative from day one. If you’re looking for more than just another job – if you want to help build a modern, agile, and forward-thinking legal practice, then we want to hear from you.
Senior Associates within the Atmos First Response team play a crucial role supporting our clients as they navigate all types of cyber, privacy and digital law events. As first responders, our team makes a meaningful impact, providing our clients with market leading crisis, reputation and legal risk management support.
This role would suit a senior lawyer with cyber incident response, data protection and/or privacy law experience. Prior work experience in technology and regulatory disputes and/or corporate in-house experience in data breach response management is also considered.
If you are frustrated with traditional law firm thinking, rigid models, and outdated ways of working; if you’re tired of unnecessary bureaucracy, constrained career paths, or spending more time on admin than high-value legal work, then Atmos is the place for you. We believe in empowering our people, providing cutting-edge tools and resources, and fostering an environment where talent and ambition are recognised and rewarded.
Our work is fast paced, so you will develop core skills and experience at a much faster rate compared to traditional practice areas. Our Senior Associates have a high degree of autonomy and are heavily involved in all aspects of client work. This gives our people the opportunity to make a significant contribution to successful outcomes.
The Partners encourage all members of the team to foster client relationships and regular opportunities are provided for the team to engage in business development. There is also an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by contributing to the Atmos First Response Pro-Bono Program which provides support and stolen funds recovery for personal scam victims.
You will work with clients large and small across all sectors, as well as partners, lawyers, consultants, crisis communications professionals and threat intelligence consultants across our network of offices in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland.
You will also regularly work with:
• our correspondent law firms in 180+ jurisdictions around the world – an opportunity to become well versed in the global regulatory landscape; and
• leading cyber, privacy and digital law event response experts in digital forensics and IT restoration, threat actor engagement and extortion negotiation and data risk assessment and data breach notification support.
Joining Atmos™ means being part of something new – an agile, dynamic firm where you can shape your career, work alongside the best in the industry, and help build a legacy. If you’re ready to be part of a team that’s challenging the status quo and leading the future of cyber and digital risk law, we’d love to hear from you.
Responsibilities
- In conjunction with the responsible Partner, be a key point of contact for clients experiencing cyber, privacy and digital law events and provide prompt and efficient support helping them navigate the legal, operational and reputational issues they face.
- Ensure client files are maintained from the time of engagement to completion.
- Manage a high-performing team[AB2.1], providing full mentorship and guidance to help them achieve their career goals.
- Coordinate the initial response to the event, including the client, the internal team locally (or globally in collaboration with our correspondent law firm partners) and third-party vendors in accordance with the client’s incident response plan.
- In conjunction with the responsible Partner, and within a supportive environment, manage your own caseload.
- Assist with advising clients on potential regulatory obligations, investigations and corresponding notification requirements.
- Complete event reports outlining the status of the incident, remediation activities recommended and conduct post event reviews (where needed).
- Ensure the event is fully communicated, recorded and tracked in accordance with Atmos best practice frameworks.
Key skills and experience
- Law Degree, such as a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or a Juris Doctor (JD), or other equivalent qualification. At least 4+ years of post-admission experience with a passion for cyber, data protection and privacy and an intimate understanding of corresponding client regulatory obligations.
- Strong academic credentials and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Proven experience dealing with escalated, client-facing issues, as well as experience handling a high caseload.
- An ability to thrive in a fast-paced rapidly changing environment with a critical mind and fine-tuned problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent time management skills and an ability to effectively manage competing priorities.
- Demonstrated teamwork, collaboration and leadership skills, as well as the ability to be a self-starter that effectively manages work independently.
- A developing ability to win new client business and foster broader client relationships, including an ability to create cross-referral opportunities for other practice groups.
- A proven track record of mentoring and developing junior talent. Leadership experience managing a team to get the best results for clients and helping junior talent achieve their career development goals.
- Commercial acumen and confidence building rapport with clients, to gain an intimate understanding of their needs.
About Atmos
Atmos is a fresh, forward-thinking legal and advisory firm built from the ground up to redefine how legal services are delivered in the cyber, privacy, and digital risk space. Founded by a team of Australia and New Zealand’s leading cyber, privacy, and digital risk practitioners, we bring more than 12 years of experience in high-stakes incident response, regulatory advisory, readiness, and digital risk management.
About our brand
In a world of looming risks and crises, we are the protective sphere around our clients.
We empower all businesses great and small to move through uncertainty with clarity and confidence, using insight to transform challenges into opportunities.
As a team, we are united by a culture of deep collaboration, working closely together to do what is needed. We act as trusted partners and advisors, offering a full-service approach that enables our clients to build resilience.
A collective force of intelligence and legal expertise, we’re reshaping the very fabric of guidance and protection in a digital age.
Together, we are not only stronger, but also better prepared.
Atmos Benefits
- A remuneration package that meets the market – benchmarked against Australia and New Zealand’s most comprehensive legal salary survey.
- A generous bonus scheme rewarding our people for periods of hard work, including an automatic bonus for achieving budget, early bonus access for team members with over 2 years of continuous service and an innovation bonus to reward hard work on initiatives that improve the Atmos™ client and/or employee experience.
- Career progression and promotion based on merit not just PQE. Where possible, we promote from within, rather than bringing in senior laterals. Access leading performance coaching and one-on-one career development support.
- Competitive parental leave benefits among the best on offer in Australia.
- Flexibility to work around personal commitments, that only requires you to work from the office 3 days per week.
- No compulsory shutdown period over Christmas and the New Year, giving our people the opportunity to take annual leave when it suits them.
- AI enabled best in class IT software and hardware taking the friction out of doing your day job. Comprehensive operational support, reducing the administrative burden on our legal professionals, allowing them to focus on their day job.
- Access 1,000+ exclusive discounts and automatic cashback offers and a range of financial wellbeing resources through the Atmos™ employee benefits partner.
How to apply
Atmos is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. Our core values support fairness, celebrate diversity and prohibit all forms of discrimination in the workplace. At Atmos™ we encourage everyone to bring their whole selves to work. We encourage all applications from appropriately qualified individuals, regardless of background or identity.
