Legal Counsel

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?

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Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.

HDR seeks an experienced and collaborative attorney who is fully versed in the legal areas of engineering, architecture, consulting, design and construct, program and construction management in the public and private sector in Australia to serve as our regional counsel primarily for APAC and the Middle East. Our ideal candidate has legal experience in the Architecture/Engineering industry and has great interpersonal and influencing skills, oral and written communication skills, an ability to anticipate and deliver legal support to satisfy the needs of a dynamic, diverse, and global business team, and the flexibility to manage an evolving variety of assignments.

Primary Objectives
The primary duty of this role is to serve as the main point of contact for the global in-house legal team in Australia with the responsibility to provide legal support for HDR's business in APAC and the Middle East, and serve as a back-up resource to the UK and European markets. This person will report to the Legal Department and focus on building a trusted legal partnership with the senior leadership and staff located in the APAC, the Middle East, and globally.

Responsibilities

• In collaboration with the Legal Department, provide comprehensive legal services during pursuit, negotiation, and delivery of professional and consulting services contracts across various disciplines, including engineering, architecture, program and construction management, technical advisory services, and environmental consulting.

• Review, prepare, and negotiate teaming agreements, term sheets, memoranda of understanding, professional/design services contracts and subcontracts under various project delivery models, including traditional design-bid-build and alternative delivery models such as design and construct and alliance agreements across both public and private markets.

• Review, prepare, and negotiate other agreements ancillary to professional services and business operations.
• Actively participate in periodic project review meetings with operations and business group leadership for larger projects.
• Summarize and explain, both verbally and in writing, legal terms and risks for benefit of senior leadership with respect to higher risk projects.
• Maintain, revise and update HDR's APAC + Middle East-specific commercial agreement forms as needed.
• Monitor legal and contracting trends and developments in the architecture, engineering and construction industry with a particular focus on APAC + Middle East. Stay well informed of industry standard commercial forms and review and revise same consistent with HDR's risk management practices.

• Collaborate with and report to Legal department colleagues and supervisor(s) including business group counsel where appropriate regarding contractual items, project issues or to elevate approvals.

• Serve as the key contact in APAC + Middle East to facilitate and assist with legal guidance on compliance with HDR policies, governance, entity management, ethics & compliance, compliance with laws including intellectual property, competition and procurement laws.

• Collaborate with the Litigation and Risk Management team on providing legal support for potential claims, disputes and assistance on debt recovery (including knowledge of alternative dispute resolution procedures).
• Coordinate the efforts of outside attorneys on a case-by-case basis as approved by General Counsel.
• Support and implement Legal Department initiatives including training programs for operational staff.
• Engage with and represent the HDR Legal Department in a professional and constructive, supportive manner in all communications and interactions.
• Perform other duties as assigned / as needed across all HDR companies.
• Collaborate across the Legal Department for the professional growth and development of the legal team through formal and informal mentoring.

Preferred Requirements

• 12+ years progressive experience practicing law preferred
• Aptitude to thrive in a dynamic environment and manage competing demands.
• Exemplary analytical, oral and written communication skills, particularly in persuasion, diplomacy, leadership, and advocacy.
• Strong results orientation with a dedicated client focus and ability to establish a trusted advisor relationship with business clients.
• Superior collaboration and effective communication skills to interact across the organization
• Experience in architecture, engineering, and/or construction law; experience should include strong drafting and negotiation skills with complex agreements.
• Public contracting/procurement experience, including review and analysis of requests for proposals and similar solicitation documents for the design and construction of public projects.
• Knowledge of industry standard commercial agreement forms for design and construction
• Strong organizational skills.
• Collaborative, pragmatic, and effective communication skills to interact across organization, with clients, contractors, and subcontractors both domestically and internationally.
• Strong teamwork skills, emotional intelligence, and ability to lead through trusted advising.
• Personal aptitude to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and manage competing demands with respect, tact, and diplomacy.
• Demonstrated track record of being proactive and focused on continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an AQF-accredited law school
• A minimum of 8 years progressive experience practicing law
• Active license to practice law
• Law firm experience relevant to job description; in house legal experience highly preferred.
• Proficient analytical and oral and written communication skills
• Business acumen, with the ability to think strategically and advise on creative business-oriented solutions to legal issues, balancing legal risks against business interests in complex and ambiguous situations
• Strong results orientation with a dedicated client focus and ability to establish a trusted advisor relationship with business clients
• Experience with complex agreements (e.g., drafting, negotiating, and interpreting, dispute resolving, litigating)
• Ability to work efficiently and meet demanding deadlines in a fast-paced environment, prioritize workflow, and adjust to frequent workload fluctuations
• Ability to work independently while also being a strong collaborator
• Ability to identify and manage risk inherent to projects in the engineering/architecture consulting industry
• Willingness to travel 25% of the time
• This position is in Brisbane; due to our collaborative team environment, we expect candidates to work in the office 4 days / week. Occasional flexibility for additional work from home is permitted with advance approval from your line manager. Working in the office strengthens alignment of our HDR culture and values; we're able to better connect, share experiences and support each other.

What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.

Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.

Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

Primary Location:
Australia-QLD-Brisbane

Industry:
Legal

Schedule:
Full-time

Employee Status:
Regular

BusinessClass:
Marketing and Admin

Job Posting:
Oct 3, 2025

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer ). We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.