Legal Counsel

Harry Maxwell is partnering with a major organisation within Australia’s construction and resources sector, an environment recognised for delivering complex civil works, large scale infrastructure and supporting development across mining and energy. We are seeking an experienced Legal Counsel who will play a critical role in providing clear, pragmatic and commercially aligned legal support that enables confident decision-making across pre-contracts, construction operations and project delivery.
This role is suited to a Legal Counsel who takes charge, moves decisively and drives commercial outcomes. You will lead the drafting and negotiation of key contracts, set clear positions and deliver direct, actionable guidance to project and operational teams. It requires someone who steps into the detail, shapes decisions and strengthens commercial results through confident judgement and practical commercial insight.
About the role
Draft, review and negotiate commercial, procurement, construction and construction-services agreementsProvide clear, commercially focused legal advice to project, commercial and operational stakeholdersSupport contract strategy, risk identification, risk mitigation and compliance activitiesManage external legal counsel where required, ensuring efficient and cost-effective outcomesAssist with insurance, employment law and dispute-related matters as they ariseContribute to continuous improvement of legal processes, templates and governance frameworksOperate as a trusted advisor across the business, enabling confident and risk-balanced decision-making
Key Requirements
5–10 years’ PQE, with proven in-house experience supporting a commercial, construction, resources or mining organisationPrivate practice experience highly regarded, particularly were complemented by strong in-house exposure or meaningful secondmentsStrong experience within the construction, resources and renewables sectors (essential)Demonstrated capability in drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial, procurement, construction and construction-services agreementsSolid understanding of contract strategy, risk management, compliance and commercial governanceExperience across insurance, employment law or dispute resolution is highly valuedConfident, pragmatic and commercially astute, able to provide clear advice to non-legal stakeholdersComfortable operating autonomously in a fast-paced environment, managing competing priorities and shaping decisionsSomeone who brings sound judgement, commercial clarity and a solutions-focused mindset