Senior Legal Counsel

Stellar Recruitment Pty; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Strategic influence

Broad remit

Flexible location

Professional development

Global organisation

Job summary

Stellar Recruitment Pty is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel in New Zealand to partner with the business on commercial decisions and risk management. You will oversee complex contract negotiations, advise on consumer and privacy matters, and shape strategic initiatives while maintaining strong relationships with senior leaders.

The role offers flexible location within New Zealand offices or remote work with some travel, and a broad commercial remit with autonomy and professional development

Qualifications

• NZ admitted lawyer with 7+ years PQE and substantial commercial experience.
• Strong commercial contracting experience; exposure to consumer and privacy law preferred.
• Experience in-house or in sophisticated private practice advantageous.
• Commercially astute with clear, pragmatic advice to senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Advise senior stakeholders on commercial and legal risk.
• Lead complex commercial contract negotiations.
• Provide advice on consumer and privacy matters.
• Support strategic business initiatives and projects.
• Identify practical solutions to complex legal issues.
• Manage external legal advisers when required.
• Build strong relationships across the organisation.

Skills

Commercial contracting

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

In-house experience

Privacy law

Consumer law

Education

NZ law qualification

Job description

About the role

Ready to move beyond traditional legal advice and become a true commercial partner to the business? My client is a highly recognised New Zealand organisation that is looking to appoint an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to join its Legal & Compliance function.

This is a broad in-house role where you’ll have a genuine seat at the table. Working closely with senior leaders across the organisation, you’ll help shape commercial decisions, manage legal risk and find practical solutions to complex business challenges.

Commercial contracting will form a significant part of the role, alongside a diverse range of legal issues including consumer, privacy, advertising and general commercial matters. You’ll have the autonomy to take ownership of significant workstreams and the opportunity to influence outcomes rather than simply provide legal advice.

The role offers flexibility around location, with the successful candidate able to be based in one of several key New Zealand offices or work remotely, with some travel required.

Benefits

• Genuine strategic influence at senior leadership level
• Broad commercial remit with significant autonomy
• Flexible location and working arrangements
• Strong benefits and professional development
• Join a highly recognised and stable organisation

Duties

• Advise senior stakeholders on commercial and legal risk
• Lead complex commercial contract negotiations
• Provide advice on consumer and privacy matters
• Support strategic business initiatives and projects
• Identify practical solutions to complex legal issues
• Manage external legal advisers where required
• Build strong relationships across the organisation

Skills & experience

To be considered for this role, you will be a NZ admitted lawyer with at least 7 years' PQE and substantial commercial legal experience. You’ll have strong commercial contracting experience and ideally exposure to consumer and privacy law. Experience gained in-house or within a sophisticated commercial private practice environment would be advantageous.

You’ll be commercially astute and confident providing clear, pragmatic advice to senior stakeholders. The ability to assess risk, understand the wider business context and make sound recommendations will be essential.

You’ll also be comfortable working autonomously, managing competing priorities and dealing with unfamiliar legal issues. Strong negotiation, stakeholder management and communication skills will be highly valued.

A current NZ Practising Certificate and full NZ driver's licence will be required.

Culture

People enjoy working here because the legal team is collaborative, commercially focused and closely connected to the wider business. Lawyers are trusted to take ownership of their work and are encouraged to build relationships across the organisation, while benefiting from a team that values development and knowledge sharing.

About the company

A highly recognised New Zealand organisation with a strong national presence and an established reputation in its market. The business forms part of a large international group and offers the stability, resources and career opportunities of a global organisation alongside a strong local identity.

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