Senior Legal Counsel

Deloitte NZ; Auckland; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Wellbeing initiatives

Additional leave

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Join Deloitte New Zealand as a Senior Legal Counsel in the Office of the General Counsel, providing pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice across commercial, technology and regulatory matters. You’ll draft, review and negotiate client services agreements, supplier contracts and other relations, while guiding governance and data privacy issues.

This role demands 7+ years’ PQE with private practice experience, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to translate complex legal concepts for

Qualifications

• Specialist IT contracting skill set and broad knowledge of related commercial law such as IP, security, data and privacy.
• End-to-end experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts including master services agreements, advisory agreements, statements of work, subcontracts and tenders.
• Strong negotiation, analytical and problem-solving skills with commercial acumen to balance risk and business objectives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to explain complex legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders.
• Organised, prioritised, resilient, and able to manage high volumes of matters with limited supervision.
• Collaborative and knowledge-sharing mindset; interest in continuous improvement.
• Ideally 7+ PQE, including private practice experience.

Responsibilities

• Advising partners and internal stakeholders on complex contracts, legal risk and practical options balancing business objectives with regulatory requirements.
• Drafting, reviewing and supporting negotiation of client services agreements, supplier contracts and other relationship arrangements, including sponsorships and alliances.
• Supporting privacy, corporate governance, disputes and ad hoc legal projects as required.
• Monitoring relevant legislative and regulatory developments and translating them into clear guidance for the business.
• Developing legal templates, guidance, training and knowledge-sharing materials to improve consistency and efficiency.
• Managing multiple complex or sensitive matters from instruction to resolution with limited supervision.

Skills

IT contracting

Contract negotiation

Commercial contracts

Regulatory compliance

Data privacy

Cloud/AI contracts

Legal risk management

Stakeholder communication

Legal drafting

Job description

• Department: Enabling Areas | Legal & Regulatory

Company Description

You’ll join the Office of the General Counsel as a Senior Legal Counsel, where you’ll provide pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice across Deloitte New Zealand. You’ll work with partners, business leaders and internal stakeholders to support contracting, manage legal risk and enable sound business decisions.

In this role you’ll do meaningful work with talented people. As New Zealand's leading professional services firm, we combine local expertise with global capability to create impact that matters for our clients, communities and country.
We look after our people by offering flexibility and wellbeing support to help you thrive both professionally and personally. At Deloitte, you'll be part of a values-led organisation committed to inclusion, innovation and making an impact that matters.

Our people benefit from:

• Flexible ways of working
• Wellbeing initiatives and employee support programmes
• Additional leave and community impact opportunities
• An inclusive and collaborative culture where you can be yourself

Job Description

The impact you’ll make:

As a Senior Legal Counsel, you’ll provide trusted legal support across a broad range of commercial, technology and regulatory matters. Your typical day will include:

• Advising partners and internal stakeholders on complex contracts, legal risk and practical options that balance business objectives with regulatory requirements.
• Drafting, reviewing and supporting the negotiation of client services agreements, supplier contracts and other relationship arrangements, including sponsorship and alliances.
• Supporting privacy, corporate governance, disputes and ad hoc legal projects as required.
• Monitoring relevant legislative, regulatory and legal developments, and translating these into clear guidance for the business.
• Developing legal templates, guidance, training and knowledge-sharing materials to improve consistency and efficiency.
• Managing multiple complex or sensitive matters with limited supervision, from initial instruction through to resolution.

Qualifications

Your expertise:

Bring your strong commercial and technology contracting experience, sound judgement and ability to turn complex legal issues into clear, practical advice. You’ll be confident working at pace with a wide range of stakeholders and risk profiles.

Demonstrated end-to-end experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts relevant to professional services, including master services agreements, advisory agreements, statements of work, subcontracts and tender responses.

• A specialist IT contracting skill set, with broad knowledge of related commercial law matters including intellectual property, security, data and privacy, and emerging technology arrangements such as cloud and AI-related contracts.
• Strong negotiation, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the commercial acumen to balance legal risk and business objectives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal concepts clearly to non-legal stakeholders.
• Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills, with resilience and sound judgement when managing a high volume of varied matters.
• A collaborative and collegial approach, with an interest in knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
• Ideally 7+ PQE, including a period of private practice experience.

Additional Information

Making an impact that matters, together:

Our shared values are at the heart of everything we do. Living these values is essential to ensuring everyone feels included at work and able to reach their full potential. For us to succeed and thrive as an organisation, we understand the importance of creating a culture where diverse perspectives matter and where everyone is given an equal opportunity to thrive, grow and make an impact that matters.

To be considered for this role, you must be legally entitled to work in New Zealand. You must hold, or be able to obtain before beginning the role, a practising certificate in New Zealand. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Does this sound like the sort of role and organisation for you?

This advert will close on 05/10/2026. We will respond to all applications within one week of the closing date.

Join us. But be you. At Deloitte,you’lldo more than just join something,you’lladd something.You’ve found a place that values your curiosity, passion, and desire to work alongside brilliant people on the things that really matter. There really is only one question: What impact do YOU want to make?

We believe the strongest teams are made up of diverse individuals and we are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We recognise that women and individuals from under-represented backgrounds may hesitate to apply if they don't meet all criteria.