Senior Solicitor / Associate / Senior Associate - Dispute Resolution

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey. Senior Solicitor / Associate / Senior Associate – Dispute Resolution Senior Solicitor / Associate / Senior Associate – Dispute Resolution Hawke’s Bay | Hastings, Havelock North, Napier or Waipawa An opportunity to make your mark Gifford Devine is looking for an experienced litigator to join our growing team and help shape the next phase of our dispute resolution practice. This is a senior opportunity for someone who enjoys high-quality legal work, values strong client relationships and wants the scope to have a genuine influence on the direction and growth of their practice. We are open to candidates at Senior Solicitor, Associate or Senior Associate level , with the position and package shaped around the experience and capability of the successful candidate. The opportunity You will work across a broad range of contentious and advisory matters, with the opportunity to develop a practice spanning areas such as: Commercial and contractual disputes Employment law and workplace matters Property and construction-related disputes Civil litigation and dispute resolution Mediation, negotiation and other alternative dispute resolution Other areas aligned with your existing expertise and client base We are particularly interested in someone who brings strong technical capability but also enjoys building relationships, developing work and contributing to the growth of a practice. For the right person, there is real scope to help shape how we develop this area of the firm , working alongside our partners and wider legal team while building on Gifford Devine's established client base and presence throughout Hawke's Bay. About you You will be an experienced New Zealand lawyer with a strong grounding in litigation and dispute resolution. You may already be operating at Associate or Senior Associate level, or you may be a Senior Solicitor ready for the next stage of your career. You'll ideally bring: Strong litigation and dispute resolution experience Excellent written, advocacy and client relationship skills Sound commercial judgement and a practical approach to resolving disputes The confidence to manage matters with a high degree of autonomy An interest in developing client relationships and growing a practice A collaborative approach and willingness to contribute across the wider firm Experience across employment, insurance and/or commercial disputes would be particularly valuable, although we are open to hearing from strong litigators with complementary experience. Why Gifford Devine? Gifford Devine is one of Hawke's Bay's leading law firms, with a long history in the region and offices in Hastings, Havelock North, Napier and Waipawa . We offer the opportunity to undertake challenging and interesting work while enjoying the lifestyle and professional opportunities that come with living and working in Hawke's Bay. Importantly, this isn't a role where you simply step into a predetermined box. We want the successful candidate to bring their own experience, ideas and ambitions and play a meaningful role in where we take our dispute resolution offering next. The position can be based from any of our four Hawke's Bay offices , depending on what works best for you and the practice you want to build. If you're an experienced litigator looking for greater autonomy, influence and the opportunity to help shape something, we'd like to hear from you. #J-18808-Ljbffr