Manager, Transactions & Legal Tech Innovation

Herbert Smith Freehills; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP in Melbourne is seeking a Manager, Transactions to join our Digital Legal Delivery team. You will lead end-to-end transactional matters and bridge law, tech and client delivery.

The role requires 5+ years in transactional law, strong project management, and a passion for legal technology. You will mentor others, shape playbooks and help grow the firm's digital capability.

Qualifications

• Admitted to practice as a Lawyer in Australia or New Zealand.
• 5+ years' experience in transactional legal work, from law firm or in-house.
• Experience managing large, complex transactions.
• Interest in legal technology and process innovation.
• Strong project management and commercial awareness.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end execution of complex transactional matters (M&A, real estate, finance, commercial).
• Oversee due diligence, signing and closing, and post-completion activities.
• Design legal engineering solutions, including automation and AI-enabled reviews.
• Develop standard templates, clause libraries and playbooks.
• Apply project management to scope, plan and budget matters.
• Monitor progress, provide reporting and identify risks.
• Build client relationships and tailor delivery to client objectives.
• Act as ambassador for Digital Legal Delivery across stakeholders.
• Mentor junior team members and promote best practices in technology adoption.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Client liaison

Legal tech awareness

Team supervision

Commercial acumen

Education

Australian/NZ-qualified lawyer

Tools

Document automation

AI-assisted review

Workflow tools

Job description

Are you an SA with transactional experience and a keen interest in legal technology? This is a unique opportunity to join our market leading Digital Legal Delivery as a Manager, Transactions and operate at the intersection of law, technology and innovation.

In this role, you will support the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective transactional legal services. You will combine legal expertise, project management and legal engineering capabilities, and act as a key interface between internal legal teams and our firm's clients.

What you'll do

• Manage and coordinate end-to-end execution of complex transactional matters including M&A, real estate, finance and commercial, ensuring efficient and consistent delivery across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Oversee due diligence, signing and closing processes, and post-completion activities.
• Design and implement legal engineering solutions, including document automation, workflow tools, AI-assisted review and data-driven platforms.
• Develop and maintain standardised templates, clause libraries and transaction playbooks to drive consistency and efficiency.
• Apply legal project management methodologies to scope, plan and deliver matters on time and within budget, including supporting pricing, resourcing and matter budgeting.
• Monitor transaction progress and provide reporting, insights and risk identification to partners and stakeholders.
• Build strong working relationships with clients, understanding their commercial objectives and tailoring delivery accordingly, and contribute to client pitches showcasing innovative delivery approaches.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for the Digital Legal Delivery practice, translating between legal, operational and technical stakeholders to ensure alignment and build confidence in the practice's value proposition.
• Supervise and mentor junior team members and legal analysts, promoting adoption of legal technology and best practices.
• Contribute to the growth and development of the firm's Digital capability and actively contribute to new business development for the Digital Legal Delivery practice.

What you'll bring

• Admitted to practice as a Lawyer in Australia or New Zealand.
• 5+ years' relevant experience in transactional legal work, whether from a law firm or in-house environment.
• Quality experience managing large and complex transactions.
• Demonstrated exposure to or a strong interest in legal technology, legal engineering or process innovation (i.e. automation tools or AI review platforms).
• Proven project management capability and strong commercial awareness.
• Advanced organisational and stakeholder management skills, with a client-facing track record.
• Experience supervising teams and cultivating a high-performance culture.
• Solutions-oriented, highly collaborative and enthusiastic about transforming legal service delivery through technology and new ways of working.

What you can expect from us

• We’re a world leading international law firm with a global team of over 6,000 professionals across 26 offices. As the market leader in Australia, we are committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity and digital innovation. We are client-centred, commercially driven, and renowned for our solution-focused expertise. We will align your growth with our ambitions.
• We make your personal and professional growth our business. And as part of the team, our ambition is yours too. Wherever you are in your career: grow and help the firm grow with you.
• We will provide opportunities to learn on the job as well as a mix of learning opportunities tailored to you. Daily experiences, supportive challenges, team collaboration, mentors, and structured learning opportunities help you to expand your knowledge and reach your goals.
• We value your wellbeing, both at home and work and we place a strong emphasis on mental health. If you need support, you'll have it and we'll empower you to harness your personal strengths, navigate uncertainty, embrace opportunities, and effectively manage things within your control.
• For more benefits on offer such as our holistic wellbeing fund or home office allowance please click here.
• Join us to be part of a human, bold and outstanding team at Australia's market leading law firm.

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values - Human, Bold, and Outstanding.