Senior Legal Counsel

About Us:

Award Global, established in 2005, began as a mortgage business and has since evolved into a
one-stop service provider
. Our group and associated companies deliver a wide range of services, including:

• Fund Management
• Property Development, Sales & Management
• Mortgage Broking & Wholesale Lending
• Currency Exchange
• Legal & Immigration Services

At Award Global, we are also seeking a professional to lead our Melbourne Legal Services for AMS Lawyers. Currently, our legal team is based in Sydney and provides a comprehensive range of services across multiple practice areas, including commercial law and corporate advisory, property and real estate, corporate and investment migration, and intellectual property law.

As part of our strategic growth plan, we are expanding these services to Melbourne and are looking for a capable leader/Partner to establish and oversee the legal function for our Melbourne office. The ideal candidate will play a key role in driving the firm's legal operations, building the local team, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality legal services consistent with the firm's standards and reputation.

The Senior Legal Counsel/Partner is responsible for providing legal advice and support to the Award Global business and will utilise their expertise in supporting commercial decision making in respect to all of its business operations (including but not limited to the Award Mortgage, Global Realty, Metro Award, Wholesale Funding Group and Award Capital) and will help ensure that all operations of the business are compliant with relevant legislation.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for major legal aspects of all business and corporate activities. This Includes contract reviews and the negotiation of contracts with all parties.
• Provide legal advice in all engagement with external parties.
• Responsible for implementation and maintenance of legal systems
• Negotiate and draft changes to standard form contracts used by the business.
• Draft new forms of contracts for the business.
• Negotiate major commercial transactions.
• Responsible for managing any contract dispute resolution, claims against the business, and litigation, with access to external legal resources as required.
• Monitor changes and developments in the legal and regulatory environment applicable to the business and accommodate them as required.
• Provide advice, and manage advice provided by external lawyers, on legal and regulatory issues to the business as required.
• Develop policies, procedures and training programs for staff on relevant legal issues as required.
• Identify and manage legal risks in contracts, operations, and claims.
• Ensure that all legislation affecting the business is researched, and that advice and recommendations concerning same are passed on to management for consideration and attention
• Ensure senior managers are informed about new legislation which may affect the business's activities.
• Ensure that the business is effectively represented in any legal action in which it is involved.
• Support the Finance team and business on all major financing transactions.
• Support the Human Resources team with all employment relations matters as require

Essentials

• Fluent in English; Mandarin proficiency highly desirable.
• Significant previous experience in a similar role as an in-house Legal/General Counsel for a business within the financial service, real estate or property industries
• Admission to legal practice in NSW or VIC and/or Federal courts.
• Current practicing certificate.
• Tertiary qualification in Law or a related discipline.
• Highly developed strategic and analytical skills, creative thinking and problem solving to support the delivery of complex projects.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills; including an exceptional capacity to manage relationships with tact and diplomacy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• A high degree of flexibility, adaptability and willingness to learn and grow.
• Outstanding organisational skills; including the ability to work accurately, with a high attention to detail.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.