Senior Legal Counsel - Major Projects

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

Job summary

Sigma Executive is assisting a global infrastructure and construction contractor with a Senior Legal Counsel opportunity in Sydney. You will provide strategic, commercially focused legal advice across the construction and delivery phases of a major mixed-use project, collaborating with senior commercial stakeholders to resolve complex contractual and delivery challenges.

The role requires a minimum of 10 years of post-qualification experience in construction and infrastructure law, and the

Qualifications

• Accomplished construction and infrastructure lawyer with 10+ years’ post-qualification experience.
• Experience gained in leading law firms, major contractors, developers or in-house teams.
• Strong drafting, reviewing and negotiating of complex construction and commercial agreements.
• Understanding of major project delivery, contract administration, risk allocation and claims.
• Experience advising on D&C contracts and major infrastructure projects.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate complex construction, infrastructure and commercial contracts.
• Collaborate with the commercial team on contract administration, procurement, variations and claims.
• Advise on risk allocation, commercial exposure and mitigation strategies for projects.
• Support negotiation and management of subcontractor, supplier and consultant agreements.
• Provide strategic legal advice on project delivery challenges and disputes.
• Partner with project directors and senior leadership to achieve commercial outcomes.
• Identify legal and contractual risks to support successful delivery.

Skills

Construction law

Contract drafting

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

Risk management

D&C contracts

Job description

Our client is a highly regarded global infrastructure and construction contractor with an outstanding reputation for delivering complex, landmark projects across Australia and internationally.

With expertise spanning major infrastructure, transport, construction and property development, the business operates across a range of delivery models, including PPP, EPC, D&C, Alliance and O&M contracts.

With a strong pipeline of major projects and an established presence in the Australian market, the business continues to strengthen its capabilities across complex infrastructure and integrated developments.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to support the delivery of a significant, high-profile infrastructure and mixed-use development project in Sydney.

The Company

Our client is a highly regarded global infrastructure and construction contractor with an outstanding reputation for delivering complex, landmark projects across Australia and internationally.

With expertise spanning major infrastructure, transport, construction and property development, the business operates across a range of delivery models, including PPP, EPC, D&C, Alliance and O&M contracts.

With a strong pipeline of major projects and an established presence in the Australian market, the business continues to strengthen its capabilities across complex infrastructure and integrated developments.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to support the delivery of a significant, high-profile infrastructure and mixed-use development project in Sydney.

The Role

Working closely with the commercial and project delivery teams, you will play a pivotal role in providing strategic, commercially focused legal advice throughout the construction and delivery phases of this major project.

This is a highly visible, hands-on position that will see you partnering directly with senior commercial stakeholders, providing practical legal solutions to complex contractual, operational and project delivery challenges.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex construction, infrastructure and commercial contracts.
• Working closely with the commercial team on contract administration, procurement, variations, claims and project delivery matters.
• Advising on contractual risk allocation, commercial exposure and strategies to manage and mitigate project risks.
• Supporting the negotiation and management of subcontractor, supplier and consultancy agreements.
• Providing strategic legal advice on project delivery challenges, contractual disputes and claims management.
• Partnering with project directors, commercial managers and senior leadership to deliver commercially sound outcomes.
• Proactively identifying legal and contractual risks while supporting the successful delivery of the project.

The Candidate

The successful candidate will be an accomplished construction and infrastructure lawyer with a minimum of 10 years' post-qualification experience, gained within a leading law firm, major contractor, developer or comparable in-house legal environment.

You will have strong technical construction law expertise, complemented by the commercial acumen and confidence to work directly with senior operational and commercial stakeholders.

In addition, you will demonstrate:

• Extensive experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex construction and commercial agreements.
• Strong understanding of major project delivery, contract administration, risk allocation and claims management.
• Experience advising on D&C contracts, major infrastructure projects or complex construction and development arrangements.
• The ability to operate autonomously, exercise sound commercial judgement and provide pragmatic, solutions-oriented legal advice.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence and challenge commercial and operational decision-making.
• Excellent negotiation, drafting and communication skills.
• A collaborative, proactive approach and the ability to thrive within a fast-paced project delivery environment.

Previous experience working closely with commercial teams on major construction or infrastructure projects will be highly regarded.