Strategic Legal Counsel

Work Type/s: Permanent: 3-5 days/week. Flexibility availability. Please specify your preference when applying.

Salary: $120,000 – $140,000 + super depending on experience [pro rata if part time]

Sector/s: Not For Profit (NFP)

Location: any Australian location, working from home in Australia, ideally on east coast time; or Sydney or Canberra office.

Applications close: Midday AEDT on Wednesday 29th November.

Role: ACCR is seeking an experienced, Australian qualified lawyer to lead the legal strategy side of ACCR’s advocacy using the rights of shareholders to impel listed companies to decarbonise in line with climate science. This role will provide strategic legal advice, as well as occasional training and coaching of other staff on legal matters. The role will also involve managing ACCR’s relationship with lawyers for strategic purposes and acting as a bridge between those lawyers and ACCR staff, leading the conduct of strategic litigation as a professional client within ACCR, and ensuring any legal advice for strategic purposes is implemented e.g. in filing shareholder resolutions with companies listed in Australia, Europe and Asia. The role would not be expected to cover the wider range of legal matters impacting ACCR more operationally e.g. employment law.

You’ll love this job if:

• You get a buzz thinking about how to use the law for real world change on issues that really matter to you such as climate. 
• You enjoy turning your mind to different legal areas and giving advice that finds a path forward, taking into account the law and strategic goals. You have an extensive track record in doing this.
• You would love to join a dynamic multidisciplinary, multi-jurisdictional team seeking to address the role listed companies play. You have the flexibility to work outside of standard office hours where necessary to do this.

Responsibilities

The role will include the following types of tasks:

• Identify appropriate legal strategies in ACCR’s strategic work, within the context of the strategic goals set by the Company Strategy team
• Take carriage of the legal aspects of ACCR’s advocacy work, including advising, briefing external advisors if necessary, and training ACCR staff on legal and regulatory requirements in various jurisdictions globally
• Lead ACCR’s strategic litigation and other strategic legal processes, including briefing external lawyers, considering legal advice, developing strategy, engaging relevant ACCR staff, briefing the Executive Director and board on progress, managing indemnities, coordinating and overseeing the legal processes impacting ACCR e.g. discovery
• In cooperation with the Chief Operations Officer, play a hands-on role in ensuring the legal and procedural aspects of ACCR’s strategic work (e.g. filing shareholder proposals) are correctly executed in the jurisdictions where we work

Criteria

We’re looking for someone with these types of skills and experience in the following areas:

• Australian legal qualifications, admitted to practice, with ability to hold a current practising certificate an advantage
• Extensive experience using the law for strategic purposes, including in strategic litigation
• Expertise in corporate, defamation and / or consumer law, and an interest and aptitude to pick up new areas and explore new angles 
• Ability to providing practical real-time advice 
• Experience with climate-related litigation and/or with companies in the oil & gas, mining and metals, or utilities sectors would be a strong advantage
• Exposure to corporate law (ideally shareholder rights-related law) in other jurisdictions (preferably the UK, Europe, the USA, Japan and/or South Korea) would be a bonus
• Excellent legal management and interpersonal skills
• Commitment to ACCR’s mission and values

If you don’t meet every point above, please still apply if you can see your skills well used in this role. 

Accountable to: Company Strategy Lead

Key Relationships: Executive Director, Chief Operations Officer, Communications Lead