General Counsel - Property Management

A leading property developer is seeking a General Counsel to head their legal function, with a primary focus on property and construction. This pivotal role offers you the opportunity to shape the legal landscape of a diverse and growing organisation, supporting commercial developments, asset portfolios, and project delivery functions. You will be at the heart of strategic decision-making while also providing hands-on legal guidance across investment, infrastructure, and governance matters.

The position promises a blend of leadership and practical involvement, including managing an internal legal team and engaging with external providers. If you are looking for a role that values your expertise, encourages professional growth, and offers flexibility in a supportive environment, this is your chance to make a significant impact.

What you'll do:

As General Counsel, you will play an instrumental part in guiding the organisation through complex property transactions while ensuring robust compliance across all business activities.

• Provide expert legal support for all commercial property acquisitions, disposals, due diligence processes, and leasing activities across the group’s portfolio.
• Oversee risk management throughout project delivery phases by addressing issues related to delays, defects, variations, consents, planning compliance, and settlements.
• Deliver comprehensive legal advice across multiple business units including franchising operations, renewable energy initiatives, infrastructure projects, private equity ventures, and more.
• Develop and maintain standardised contract templates while ensuring all documentation aligns with current regulations and best practices.
• Support corporate governance by advising on director duties, shareholder agreements, group structures, and other key organisational frameworks.
• Manage disputes efficiently by overseeing settlements, litigation processes, compliance investigations, and maintaining accurate internal records in partnership with support functions
• Supervise the Commercial Property Lawyer directly while playing an active role in future legal hiring as the organisation expands its capabilities
• Engage with external counsel across various jurisdictions when specialist advice is required; deliver informal training sessions to internal teams to enhance overall legal awareness.

What you bring:

To excel as General Counsel for this respected property developer, you will bring substantial experience gained from both private practice and/or in-house roles focused on commercial property law.

• New Zealand-qualified Solicitor or Barrister with 8–15 years’ post-admission experience who brings deep knowledge of commercial property law within the local context however all candidates will be considered on merit.
• Extensive background in drafting and negotiating construction contracts—including land sales/purchases—and managing associated risks throughout project lifecycles.
• Demonstrated ability to provide clear communication that translates complex legal concepts into practical business-oriented advice for non-legal colleagues.
• Experience supporting corporate governance frameworks by advising on director duties or shareholder agreements within mid-sized organisations or developers.
• Familiarity with developing standardised templates/contracts that streamline operations without compromising compliance or quality standards.
• Leadership skills evidenced by previous supervision of junior lawyers or paralegals—and enthusiasm for mentoring new hires as the team grows.

Robert Walters are exclusively looking after this position. If this sounds like it might be of interest, apply today or get in touch for a confidential chat: rosamund.more@robertwalters.co.nz

Robert Walters endeavours to review all applications in a maximum of five working days. If you have not received correspondence within this timeframe please do not hesitate to contact Rosamund More on 09 374 7327.