Senior Legal Counsel - Energy

Sigma Executive; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Sigma-like organisation is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to join its Sydney team on significant energy and infrastructure projects. You will be embedded with business teams, shaping procurement strategy and commercial decisions from early-stage development through delivery.

Ideal candidates will bring 8+ years PQE in front-end construction or major projects, with strong drafting and negotiation skills and a track record in large organisations or leading law firms.

Qualifications

• 8+ years PQE in front-end construction, infrastructure or major projects.
• Strong drafting and negotiation of complex project agreements.
• Experience in either leading law firms or sophisticated in-house teams.
• Proven ability to work with senior executives and cross-functional stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Advise on major energy, infrastructure and capital projects.
• Draft and negotiate complex construction, engineering, procurement, and project agreements.
• Advise on procurement strategy, contracting models and risk allocation.
• Support major tenders, project development and commercial negotiations.
• Work closely with project, commercial, procurement, engineering and technical teams.
• Identify contractual and commercial risks and develop pragmatic solutions.
• Provide strategic advice to senior stakeholders on major project matters.
• Support projects across lifecycle from development to delivery.

Skills

PQE 8+ years

Construction/Infrastructure experience

In-house or top firm

Negotiation skills

Job description

Our client is a major Australian infrastructure organisation operating at the forefront of the country's evolving energy landscape.

With a significant portfolio of existing assets and a strong pipeline of major infrastructure and energy projects, the organisation continues to invest in its legal and commercial capability and is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to join its Sydney team.

This is an opportunity to move beyond a traditional legal advisory role and become genuinely embedded in the commercial and strategic decisions behind complex, high-value infrastructure projects.

The Role

Working closely with senior management and key commercial, project and technical stakeholders, you will provide strategic legal and commercial advice across a portfolio of significant energy and infrastructure projects.

You will be involved from the earliest stages of a project – helping shape procurement and contracting strategy, assessing risk and supporting commercial negotiations – through to execution, delivery and ongoing project management.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Advising on major energy, infrastructure and capital projects;
• Drafting and negotiating complex construction, engineering, procurement, consultancy and project agreements;
• Advising on procurement strategy, contracting models and risk allocation;
• Supporting major tenders, project development and commercial negotiations;
• Working closely with project, commercial, procurement, engineering and technical teams;
• Identifying contractual and commercial risks and developing pragmatic solutions;
• Providing strategic advice to senior stakeholders on major project and commercial matters; and
• Supporting projects across the full lifecycle, from early-stage development and procurement through to construction and delivery.

The Candidate

You will be an experienced front-end construction, infrastructure or major projects lawyer who enjoys being close to the business and involved in commercial decision-making.

You will bring:

• 8+ years' PQE;
• Strong front-end construction, infrastructure and/or major projects experience;
• Experience gained within a leading law firm and/or sophisticated in-house environment;
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills across complex project agreements;
• Experience with major construction, engineering, procurement or infrastructure contracts;
• A strong understanding of project delivery, procurement and contractual risk allocation;
• The confidence to work directly with senior executives, commercial teams and technical stakeholders; and
• A pragmatic, commercially minded and solutions-focused approach.

Experience across energy, utilities, renewables or major infrastructure projects will be highly regarded.

The Opportunity

This is a genuine opportunity to join an organisation with a substantial pipeline of major projects and play a meaningful role in the development and delivery of critical Australian infrastructure.

For lawyers looking to move in-house, or experienced in-house counsel wanting greater exposure to complex projects, the role offers a strong combination of technical complexity, commercial involvement and direct stakeholder engagement.