Legal Counsel

About SUBCO

Founded by industry leader Bevan Slattery, SUBCO is a globally leading submarine cable company renowned for developing some of the world's most groundbreaking and engineering-first submarine cables. With a strong track record in the Australasia region, SUBCO specialises in the development, ownership, and operation of large-scale submarine infrastructure, playing a pivotal role in providing essential digital gateways to Asia, North America, and EMEA.

Over the past five years, SUBCO has built a formidable portfolio of submarine infrastructure, with its latest transcontinental cable project, which will link Sydney, Melbourne (Torquay), Adelaide, and Perth.

Our Values

At SUBCO, our values are the foundation of everything we do. They shape our culture, guide our decisions, and define how we interact with our customers, partners, and each other. From being
Customer Obsessed
to always
Raising the Bar
, we are committed to innovation and excellence. Together, we are a team of
Trailblazers
who
Grow Together
and hold ourselves accountable, ensuring that
We Each Set the Standard
for success. These values aren't just words – they drive us forward every day.

About the Role

As Legal Counsel, you will provide expert legal support on a wide range of commercial contracts, including high-value and complex projects, advising on regulatory matters and supporting M&A activity as needed. Reporting to the General Counsel, you will play a key role in enabling the business to deliver on its strategic and operational priorities.

Role Responsibilities

Operational Legal and Contractual Support

• Review, draft, and negotiate BAU contracts including sales agreements, supplier agreements and NDAs.
• Work with the broader Legal and Risk team on ad hoc projects as required, including support of large scale build infrastructure projects and M&A type transactions.
• Support the legal review of procurement contracts and internal templates.
• Assist in the protection and management of intellectual property, including trademark registrations and renewals.
• Maintain and manage contract registers, ensuring timely updates and accurate records.
• Support the legal team in reviewing insurance-related documentation and maintaining insurance registers.
• Provide practical legal guidance and advice to internal business units on contractual obligations, and liaise with internal stakeholders to manage and monitor key contractual risks.
• Assist in developing legal team resources including checklists, templates, and internal guides.

Regulatory & Compliance

• Support the legal team in monitoring regulatory changes relevant to the business.
• Provide regulatory advice as required under supervision.
• Support compliance activities including telecommunications and critical infrastructure filings, confidentiality obligations, and risk mitigation practices.

Legal Advisory

• Act as the first point of contact along with the existing team for legal matters in SUBCO, and also in support of affiliates including SODA, Biopixel and Biopixel Oceans Foundation.
• Provide clear, practical legal advice on a range of commercial and operational matters.
• Escalate complex or higher-risk issues to Senior Legal Counsel for further review.
• Help ensure business decisions are legally informed and compliant with relevant laws and regulation.
• Support risk and compliance function to ensure the SUBCO group complies with all applicable regulatory requirements.

Process Improvement

• Support and implement process improvements across legal workflows and contract management.
• Support initiatives to introduce and embed legal technology tools, AI-assisted review, and more efficient legal operations.

About You

• 3-4 PQE, ideally with top-tier law firm exposure.
• Experience managing and reviewing procurement and customer contracts.
• Proactive, organised, and able to manage competing priorities with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrates effective communication skills and the ability to explain legal concepts clearly to non-legal colleagues.
• Strong attention to detail in all aspects of legal work and documentation.
• A strong sense of balance between working autonomously while also escalating and seeking guidance where necessary. Comfort with ambiguity and change in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Commitment to innovation in legal services, including adoption of technology and continuous process improvement.
• The role would be well suited to a candidate who has experience with large scale M&A, energy, infrastructure or financing type transactions and projects.
• A keen interest in technology, telecommunications, and infrastructure sectors is essential. An interest in legal technology or AI would be advantageous.
• Previous experience in-house or in a secondment role is not essential, but would be viewed favourably.