Legal Counsel

Company Description

This is an opportunity to join the Octopus Australia team in our Melbourne office. The successful applicant will be able to join the Octopus Australia team on their mission to accelerate Australia's transition to a future powered by renewable energy.

We're looking for a commercially minded solicitor with 2+ years' PQE to support our growing legal team across renewable energy projects, commercial transactions, and day-to-day legal operations.

Octopus Investments Australia

Established in 2018, Octopus Australia is a dynamic multi-disciplinary team of over 55 highly skilled people which spans the expertise required to realise and operate a renewable energy and storage portfolio.

With an existing multi-GW portfolio of operating and development assets, including solar, wind and storage across the country. We are continuing to grow to create a long-term business that can deliver a firmed energy product to meet the evolving needs of Australia's energy future.

Job Description

We are looking for a 2+ year PQE solicitor to support the business through a period of exciting growth.

You will be joining a growing legal team responsible for providing legal advice to all aspects of the business. This will, in conjunction with support from external counsel, include providing legal, commercial, transactional and regulatory advice across the full life cycle of renewable energy projects - from development, construction, operations, project finance and M&A - to ensure the successful delivery of our renewable energy projects.

In addition, you will assist with a range of legal matters such as drafting and reviewing NDAs, consultancy agreements, and other day-to-day legal documentation required to support a fast-moving business environment.

This role will report into our Legal Director and work closely with our Senior Legal Counsels.

Qualifications

Ideally, you will have some or all of the following qualifications, skills and experiences:

• 2+ years' post-qualification experience, gained at a reputable law firm or in-house, with a focus on energy or infrastructure projects (regardless of specific practice group – e.g., commercial, projects, property, construction, M&A or banking & finance).
• A genuine interest in the renewable energy sector and a willingness to grow your expertise across new areas.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• A commercial mindset and the ability to balance legal risk with business objectives.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative approach to working with diverse stakeholders.

Highly Regarded Experience

• Experience with large-scale infrastructure or renewable energy projects (development, construction, operations, or finance).
• Knowledge of Australian energy market regulations (e.g. NER, AEMO, AEMC) or willingness to learn.
• Familiarity with land access, planning approvals, or environmental regulations relevant to energy or infrastructure projects.
• Understanding of key commercial agreements such as EPC, O&M, PPA, or joint venture agreements.

Additional Information

What we offer

• A competitive salary package including bonus and medical insurance benefits
• Extra Annual Leave entitlement
• Flexible working
• Ongoing learning and career development opportunities

Octopus has built an exciting and inclusive high-performance culture where employees feel empowered. We also understand the value of diversity, and we are dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace environment. We would welcome people of all backgrounds to apply.

Our Values

At Octopus we don't just focus on what we do but also how we do it. Everyone shares our values of being straightforward, helpful, and bold. Our culture is critical to our success and is built around three principles that underpin how we pursue our goals:

• Be Bold – We like people who make decisions quickly and are OK changing their mind if it turns out there's a better way of doing things.
• Be Helpful – We like people who behave like it is always day one and who remember that without our customers, there is no business.
• Be Straightforward – We like people who have opinions and express them in a way that's respectful and easy to understand.