Legal Counsel - Property & Development

ESR Group; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

ESR Australia & New Zealand, part of ESR Group, seeks an experienced Legal Counsel to support property funds across acquisitions, divestments, development, leasing, and asset management.

Reporting to the Head of Property - Legal, you will lead capital transactions, negotiate land contracts, and provide commercial advice while coordinating with internal teams and external counsel to meet timelines and regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• 6+ years' PQE in commercial property law, from a recognised law firm or in-house team.
• Strong experience in commercial property and transactional matters.
• Ability to provide practical legal advice in a fast-paced business.
• Proactive, collaborative and able to manage multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead capital transactions across asset acquisitions and divestments.
• Support land development including agreements for lease and construction contracts.
• Advise on leasing, asset management and related commercial matters.
• Manage external counsel and ensure timely, commercially focused advice.
• Navigate governance, delegation, and regulatory obligations across Funds Management.

Skills

Commercial property law

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

Development land matters

Education

Bachelor of Laws / JD

Job description

ESR Australia & New Zealand is a leading manager and developer of industrial, logistics, business park and office real estate, with more than A$29.2 billion in assets under management and a significant development pipeline. As part of the ESR Group, a leading Asia-Pacific real asset owner and manager, we create and manage the logistics, data centre and infrastructure assets that support the digital economy, delivering long-term value for our investors, customers and communities.

The Legal Counsel role will report to the Head of Property - Legal and will act for ESR managed funds in relation to:

• Acquisitions and divestments of property;
• Development of land including negotiating building contracts and Agreements for Lease;
• Leasing and asset management;
• General commercial and contract advice to the broader business.

As a legal counsel you will make an impact by:

• Leading capital transactions across the acquisition and divestment of assets, working closely with the General Counsel, external legal counsel and key internal stakeholders across Funds Management, Finance, Tax and Treasury.
• Supporting development transactions from early-stage negotiations through to delivery, including Heads of Agreement, Agreements for Lease, leases, construction contracts and broader planning and development matters.
• Partnering with Leasing and Asset Management to provide practical legal advice across leasing matters and the ongoing management of stabilised assets.
• Providing commercial legal advice across the business, including reviewing and negotiating confidentiality agreements, consultancy agreements and other commercial contracts.
• Managing external legal counsel effectively, ensuring advice is commercially focused, timely and aligned with business requirements.
• Managing multiple stakeholders and competing priorities while keeping transactions progressing to required timeframes and deadlines.
• Supporting strong legal governance and compliance, contributing to internal systems and processes and ensuring alignment with delegation requirements and legal and regulatory obligations.

• 6+ years’ PQE in commercial property law, gained within a recognised law firm and/or in-house legal team.

• Strong experience in commercial property and transactional matters, with the confidence to manage complex legal work autonomously.
• A commercial and pragmatic approach, with the ability to provide clear, practical legal advice in a fast-paced business environment.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills, with the ability to partner effectively across multiple business functions.
• A hands‑on and collaborative style, with a genuine interest in working closely with internal deal teams to progress transactions.
• The ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining a high level of attention to detail and responsiveness.
• A proactive mindset, with the curiosity and willingness to take on new challenges and broaden your expertise as the business continues to evolve.

Grow with us - Career growth and learning

We believe our greatest strength lies in the growth and development of our team. From day one, we create an environment that builds confidence and lays the foundation for long‑term success. Whether you're stepping into a more senior role or advancing your career, we provide the tools, learning opportunities, and guidance to help you thrive.

More about career growth at ESR - https://au.esr.com/careers/

Our values and purpose

Our values are the foundation of everything we do - shaping our performance, culture, and ambition. Our purpose is rooted in the pursuit of excellence across all areas of our business, with a focus on maintaining the highest standards of performance, accountability, and integrity.

When you join us, you commit to three core principles:

• We Do the Right Thing: Integrity is non‑negotiable. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of accountability, ensuring that every financial decision and business move is ethical and transparent
• We Win as One Team: Our culture thrives on collective success. We break down silos to achieve shared outcomes
• We Think Beyond the Present: We focus on long‑term value creation and sustainable growth

At ESR Group, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and high‑performing workplace that embraces diversity of thought, background and experience. We actively support equity and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. If you believe you can add value, we would welcome your application.