Principal Legal Counsel

Sharp and Carter; Sydney; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 130,000; Part time

Job summary

Sharp and Carter is seeking a commercially minded Legal Counsel to join their in-house legal team in Sydney or Newcastle. The role reports to the General Counsel & Company Secretary and offers exposure across commercial contracting, regulatory compliance, governance, risk management and strategic advisory work.

You will work with operational and executive stakeholders to balance legal risk with commercial objectives, delivering practical advice and contributing to strong governance outcomes.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in a Legal Counsel or comparable commercial legal role
• Law Degree and unrestricted practising credentials
• Strong drafting, negotiation and contract management
• Excellent analytical and communication skills

Responsibilities

• Advise on commercial, contractual and regulatory matters
• Draft, review and negotiate customer, supplier and operational agreements
• Support major contract execution and commercial transactions
• Manage legal risk and ensure compliance with relevant legislation and regulations
• Provide practical legal advice to operational and executive leadership teams
• Assist with Board governance matters, including agendas, papers and minutes
• Manage external counsel where required
• Maintain and review corporate policies and procedures
• Support disputes, investigations and legal proceedings as required

Skills

Drafting & negotiation

Contract management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Autonomy

Confidentiality

Education

Law Degree

Unrestricted practising credentials

Job description

Sydney or Newcastle | 5+ Years PQE| 3 days per week

Our client is seeking a commercially minded Legal Counsel to join their legal team, reporting directly to the General Counsel & Company Secretary. This is a broad in-house role offering exposure across commercial contracting, regulatory compliance, governance, risk management and strategic business advisory work.

Partnering closely with operational and executive stakeholders, you will play a critical role in helping the business navigate complex legal and commercial matters while supporting growth and delivering practical, outcomes-focused advice.

About the role

You will have the chance to work across a diverse range of legal matters, supporting key commercial and operational activities. You will be a trusted advisor to the business, balancing legal risk with commercial objectives while contributing to strong governance and compliance outcomes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Advising on a broad range of commercial, contractual and regulatory matters


• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating customer, supplier and operational agreements


• Supporting major contract execution and commercial transactions


• Managing legal risk and ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and regulations


• Providing practical legal advice to operational and executive leadership teams


• Assisting with Board and governance matters, including agendas, papers and minutes


• Managing external legal counsel where required


• Maintaining and reviewing corporate policies and procedures


• Supporting dispute resolution, investigations and legal proceedings as required

About You

You are a pragmatic and commercially astute lawyer who enjoys partnering with stakeholders and finding practical solutions to complex challenges.

You will bring:

• A Law Degree and unrestricted practising credentials


• Minimum 5 years' experience in a Legal Counsel or comparable commercial legal role


• Strong drafting, negotiation and contract management experience


• Excellent analytical, research and problem-solving capabilities


• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills


• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills


• The ability to work autonomously while managing multiple priorities


• High levels of accuracy, judgement and confidentiality

Experience within transport, infrastructure, rail, logistics, mining or other highly regulated industries will be viewed favourably.

Why apply?

• Broad and varied in-house legal remit


• Direct exposure to senior executives and Board-level matters


• Opportunity to influence commercial and operational decision-making


• Collaborative and supportive leadership team


• Sydney or Newcastle location options


• High-profile organisation operating in a complex and dynamic environment