• Rare senior in-house property & commercial law role
• Work hand in hand with the business
• Broad and high-level work on offer

Port of Melbourne is Australia’s largest container and general cargo port, handling more than one-third of the nation’s container trade. Located in the heart of Melbourne, among growing communities, vital industrial precincts and transport corridors, Port of Melbourne is the cornerstone of Victoria’s port freight transport network, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Port of Melbourne’s assets under management include significant port land, wharves and channels servicing one of the nation’s key trade gateways. Port of Melbourne was privatised in 2016 and its shareholders are experienced and recognised global investors in infrastructure.

About the role

As part of the Port of Melbourne’s stewardship obligations, it is required to ensure that port capacity can meet the future demands of Victoria’s growing economy. The Port of Melbourne is planning the next stage of port capacity development, called the Port Capacity Enhancement Program (PCEP). This program was outlined in the Port of Melbourne’s 2055 Port Development Strategy (PDS) and involves developing a container terminal in the Webb Dock precinct and securing the long-term future for the Tasmanian trades. PCEP represents a multibillion-dollar investment, with an estimated construction duration of 10 years across the entire program.

This presents an outstanding opportunity for an experienced property lawyer to join the established legal team as Senior Legal Counsel. Joining a high-calibre in-house legal team, you will work collaboratively as a senior member of the Legal, Risk and Compliance team in ensuring that Port of Melbourne’s operations as a landlord are conducted within its legal and regulatory framework and achieve Port of Melbourne’s strategic objectives.



You will be joining a business of approximately 160 staff and will work regularly with members of the Executive Leadership Team, including the CEO.

Reporting to the Executive General Manager Legal, Risk and Compliance, you will apply your skills across a range of property related issues affecting the port including development agreements, agreements for lease, leasing including the application of the Port of Melbourne’s Tenancy Customer Charter, transaction documents governing PoM's concession deed and construction/infrastructure projects.

Your role within the legal team will be end to end, starting with close commercial involvement, through to negotiations, preparation and presentation of Board papers and implementation of initiatives. In addition to PCEP and property law matters, the role will also involve general commercial and contractual work.

About you

- Senior Associate property lawyer within a law firm, or equivalent level in-house

- Superior interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to contribute to strategic discussions

- Ability to identify key risks, highlight issues and provide solutions

- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written, with the capacity to influence

- Ability to provide legal advice and assistance to internal clients in a timely and commercially astute manner

- A team player with a continuous improvement approach

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced property lawyer to work in a senior in-house role in their area of expertise while gaining skilled growth and development in the provision of broader general commercial legal work. Property law specialists and those with a blended property/commercial law background are suited to this role.

Location: Melbourne

To apply online, please click on the appropriate link above.

Alternatively, for a confidential discussion regarding this position please contact our exclusively contained consultant, Nicola Phillips:

P: 04•• ••• 519
E: ••••@mahlab.com.au

Ref: MNP21876

📌 Senior Legal Counsel - Property & Commercial (Melbourne)
🏢 Mahlab
📍 Melbourne