Legal Counsel (Perth relocation)

Mars Recruitment; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

First legal hire

International exposure

High visibility role

Governance influence

Job summary

Mars Recruitment is partnering with a leading global investment bank to appoint its first in-house Legal Counsel in Perth. You will help establish and scale the Australian capital markets platform, supporting investment banking, ECM, research and sales & trading while shaping the governance framework of a new Australian entity.

Reporting to the Associate General Counsel in London, you will provide broad legal and corporate governance support across capital markets, balancing risk with business

Qualifications

• 4+ years PQE in private practice or in-house in financial services.
• Admitted to practice law in Australia.
• Strong knowledge of Australian financial services regulation.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal and governance support across capital markets activities.
• Draft, review and negotiate engagement letters and commercial contracts.
• Act as Company Secretary and support governance for the Australian entity.
• Advise on Corporations Act, ASIC requirements and ASX Listing Rules.
• Collaborate with front-office teams and global legal counterparts.

Skills

PQE 4+ years

Education

Admitted to Australian bar

Job description

Mars Recruitment is exclusively partnering with a leading global investment bank to hire it's first in-house Legal Counsel based in Perth. As the organisation establishes and expands its Australian-based capital markets platform, this role will play a critical part in supporting investment banking, equity capital markets, research, and sales & trading activities, while shaping the legal and governance framework of a newly established Australian entity.

Reporting to the Associate General Counsel based in London, you will be responsible for providing legal and corporate governance support across a broad range of capital markets activities. This is a rare opportunity to build and influence the legal function from the ground up while partnering directly with front-office teams and senior management.

Mars Recruitment is exclusively partnering with a leading global investment bank to hire it's first in-house Legal Counsel based in Perth. As the organisation establishes and expands its Australian-based capital markets platform, this role will play a critical part in supporting investment banking, equity capital markets, research, and sales & trading activities, while shaping the legal and governance framework of a newly established Australian entity.

Reporting to the Associate General Counsel based in London, you will be responsible for providing legal and corporate governance support across a broad range of capital markets activities. This is a rare opportunity to build and influence the legal function from the ground up while partnering directly with front-office teams and senior management.

Key responsibilities:

• Providing legal advice on equity capital markets (ECM) transactions and investment banking mandates, particularly within the metals and mining sector.
• Reviewing, drafting and negotiating engagement letters, terms of business, supplier agreements and other commercial contracts.
• Acting as Company Secretary and supporting the corporate governance requirements of the Australian business.
• Advising on applicable laws, regulations and market rules, including the Corporations Act, ASIC regulatory requirements and ASX Listing Rules.
• Partnering with Investment Banking, Research, Sales & Trading, Compliance and Operational teams on strategic business initiatives.
• Supporting the development and implementation of legal policies, frameworks and governance processes.
• Managing relationships with external counsel and other professional advisors.
• Assisting with regulatory matters, disputes, investigations and escalation of legal risks where required.
• Collaborating with global legal teams across multiple jurisdictions to deliver practical and commercially focused legal solutions.

Key Requirements:

• 4+ years' post-qualification experience gained within private practice and/or an in-house legal role in financial services, investment banking or capital markets.
• Admission to practice law in Australia.
• Strong knowledge of Australian financial services regulation and capital markets frameworks.
• Experience supporting ECM, investment banking, corporate advisory or broader financial markets activities.
• Familiarity with ASIC regulations, ASX Listing Rules and the Corporations Act.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commercial judgment and the ability to balance legal risk with business objectives.
• A collaborative approach and the confidence to engage with senior internal and external stakeholders.

What's on Offer:

• Opportunity to become the first legal hire for a newly established Australian business.
• Broad exposure across investment banking, ECM, research, sales & trading and corporate governance.
• Significant interaction with international legal and business teams across North America, Europe and Asia.
• High-profile capital markets work with a strong focus on the resources and mining sector.
• A genuine chance to influence strategy, governance and business growth from an early stage.

This is a unique opportunity in Perth for an ambitious legal professional seeking a highly visible role with international exposure and the opportunity to help build and shape a growing capital markets franchise in Australia.

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