A leading renewable energy developer and asset manager is looking for a Senior Legal Counsel to join their growing team in Newcastle or Canberra. The primary responsibility of the individual will be to provide practical legal advice to assist the Development team in delivering projects focused on property and planning in a successful manner.
Responsibilities:
- Provide practical legal advice based on sound understanding of business goals and commercial drivers;
- Lead the drafting and negotiating of full suite of land agreements required to deliver projects (incl. driving negotiations with landowners and their legal counsel in conjunction with project managers);
- Advise in relation to planning approvals required for projects and associated facilities (transmission line and substation) and any secondary approvals including compliance with existing planning approvals and the conduct of any audits;
- Coordinate FIRB applications in relation to land agreements as required;
- Manage the transfer of property and land agreements by host and other associated landowners during the operational phase of projects;
- Coordinate property and planning due diligence undertaken by external legal advisers for the purposes of financial close of projects;
- Assist in the management of property and planning related disputes;
- Maximise the value of legal services delivered by external law firms in relation to property and planning, ensuring work is delivered on time, within budget and to a high standard;
- Advise organisation in relation to property and planning law and policy reforms which impact on projects;
- Develop and evolve high quality template documents and actively promote a consistent approach to internal document management;
- Balance a high-volume work environment and competing priorities and deliver timely, high-quality strategic legal advice.
Requirements:
- Strong advisory background in property and planning law
- Advisory background on environmental, native title and cultural heritage law (preferred)
- Strong experience in managing negotiations with landholders - freehold and government
- Experience in liaising with local councils, government departments and regulatory authorities in relation to planning approvals to achieve successful outcomes
- Experience in dealing with rural land and/or linear infrastructure
- Strong interest in the renewable energy sector
- Interpersonal skills, including liaison and negotiation
- Organisation skills including priority-setting and the ability to meet deadlines
- Tertiary qualifications in law with a current unrestricted practising certificate in Australia
