Senior Legal Counsel

Redpath Partners; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Redpath Partners is assisting a Melbourne luxury property developer with a Senior Legal Counsel – Real Estate role. Based in Melbourne, you will own the real estate legal matters across the development lifecycle, from site acquisition to settlement, working closely with the GC and senior leadership to enable capital partnerships and complex transactions.

Ideal candidates have 7+ years of post-qualification experience in real estate, Australian qualification, strong negotiation skills and

Qualifications

• Australian-qualified lawyer with current practising certificate.
• 7+ years' post-qualification experience in real estate and property development law.
• Strong transactional capability including land acquisitions and development agreements.
• Experience using legal technology and AI tools to improve contract management.

Responsibilities

• Lead site acquisition, structuring and due diligence for land deals.
• Manage off-the-plan sales contracts, disclosures and settlements.
• Negotiate design and construct contracts, consultant agreements and novations.
• Support joint ventures, co-investment structures and project-level financing/ security docs.
• Advise on asset sales, portfolio transactions and lease-related arrangements.
• Mentor junior team members and coordinate with external counsel.

Skills

Real estate law

Contract negotiation

Due diligence

AI tools

Education

Australian-qualifying law degree

Tools

Contract management software

Legal tech tools

Job description

Melbourne | Property Development | In-House Legal

Senior Legal Counsel – Real Estate

Melbourne | Property Development | In-House Legal

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a commercially minded Senior Legal Counsel – Real Estate to join a leading Australian luxury property development group with a diverse portfolio spanning premium residential, build-to-rent, hospitality, wellness and funds management.

With a strong national development pipeline and continued expansion into new sectors and markets, the business is seeking an experienced property lawyer to take ownership of legal matters across the full development lifecycle, from site acquisition and transaction structuring through to construction delivery, off-the-plan sales and settlement.

Working directly with the Group General Counsel and senior real estate leadership team, you will play a pivotal role in facilitating transactions, managing legal risk and providing commercially focused advice in a fast-paced, founder-led environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Site Acquisition & Structuring: Lead negotiations and documentation for land acquisitions, put and call options, development agreements, staged acquisitions and landowner joint ventures, including legal due diligence and acquisition structuring.

• Off-the-Plan Sales: Manage contracts of sale and disclosure documentation, advise on purchaser enquiries and contract variations, and oversee exchange and settlement processes across multiple projects.

• Development & Construction: Negotiate and administer design and construct contracts, consultant agreements, novation arrangements and early works contracts, advising on variations, extensions of time, defects, completion and disputes.

• Joint Ventures & Capital Partnerships: Support joint venture, co-investment, shareholder and unitholder arrangements, development management agreements and project-level financing and security documentation.

• Transactions & Divestments: Advise on asset sales, portfolio transactions, sale and leaseback arrangements and other property-related transactions.

• Leasing & Operations: Negotiate hotel management agreements, retail and commercial leases, agreements for lease and property-related operational contracts across mixed-use developments.

• Risk & Governance: Identify and manage material legal risks, contribute to investment committee and board papers, and develop practical legal precedents, processes and playbooks.

• Stakeholder & External Counsel Management: Partner closely with development, sales, construction and finance teams while managing external legal advisers, mentoring junior team members and delivering practical legal guidance.

About You

• Australian-qualified lawyer with a current practising certificate, or eligibility to hold one.

• Minimum 7 years' post-qualification experience in real estate and property development law, gained in private practice, in-house or a combination of both.

• Strong transactional capability, including property acquisitions, development agreements and off-the-plan sales.

• Working knowledge of construction contracts and contract administration from a developer or principal-side perspective.

• Commercially astute, with the ability to balance legal risk against business objectives and provide clear, actionable advice.

• Highly organised and comfortable managing multiple concurrent transactions and projects with competing deadlines and minimal supervision.

• Confident in negotiating with senior stakeholders, counterparties and external counsel while maintaining strong working relationships.

• Demonstrated experience using legal technology and AI tools to improve contract management, streamline workflows and enhance operational efficiency.

Highly Regarded

• Extensive off-the-plan residential development experience.

• Experience with joint ventures, co-investment structures and institutional or private capital partnerships.

• Exposure to construction finance, borrower-side financing documentation and security arrangements.

• Previous in-house experience within a founder-led, entrepreneurial or high-growth property business.

What's on Offer?

• Direct exposure to the Group General Counsel and senior real estate leadership team.

• End-to-end involvement across major property developments, from site acquisition through to settlement.

• A broad and varied in-house role with genuine ownership, autonomy and commercial influence.

• Exposure to complex transactions, capital partnerships, construction and development finance.

• The opportunity to help shape legal processes and contribute to the growth of a diversified property platform.

• A clear pathway to broader legal and group-level responsibilities as the business continues to expand.