Job Description

About the team and the role

The Government Relations, Sustainability and Legal (GSL) business unit supports Sydney Airport across a broad range of corporate and operational matters. The Legal Team, which sits within GSL, provides end-to-end legal support to the business, including contracting, dispute resolution and compliance advice.

We are currently seeking a highly skilled and experienced Legal Counsel/Senior Legal Counsel (Commercial) to join our dynamic, high performing in-house legal team at Sydney Airport.

In this role you will provide commercially focused legal services to Sydney Airport spanning various commercial issues. These services will be delivered in a timely, proactive and productive manner either by directly providing the relevant advice and assistance, or by managing external legal resources to ensure that SYD is appropriately advised to ensure the most beneficial outcome for SYD is achieved.

This is a broad and varied role offering exposure to commercial contracts, strategic transactions, marketing and promotions, technology and data-sharing arrangements, regulatory matters and commercial initiatives that help shape the future of Sydney Airport.

Reporting to the Managing Counsel, Commercial, the successful applicant will work relatively autonomously to advise all levels of the business to ensure the most beneficial outcome for Sydney Airport.

In this role, you'll have the opportunity to

- Provide high quality, proactive and efficiently delivered legal services in respect of various commercial legal matters including commercial contracts, privacy, IP, technology, marketing and promotions, commercial and consumer law matters and retail and commercial property transactions
- Proactively anticipate legal risks related to Sydney Airport's activities and inform key internal stakeholders
- Prepare submissions
- Negotiate with third parties and their lawyers
- Stay updated on legislative and regulatory changes and provide training to staff




- Review Board and Board committee papers
- Maintain and update legal precedents
- Monitor and contribute to the development of corporate policies and initiatives
- Brief external legal advisors as needed, managing their services efficiently and cost-effectively to ensure the delivery of high-quality legal services
- Monitor and manage external legal costs
- Perform other duties as assigned by your manager

About you

- Minimum four years post-admission legal experience, with broad experience advising on various commercial issues and matters, including commercial contract drafting and negotiation.
- Experience in privacy law, IP, marketing and promotions, consumer law matters, technology and/or property transactions is desirable but not required.
- Law degree and current practicing certificate.
- Commercial acumen with the ability to appropriately balance commercial and operations imperatives with legal risk.
- Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to clearly and succinctly communicate practical legal advice through a commercial lens.
- Demonstrated ability to act in high value and complex transactions.
- Exceptional written, drafting and negotiation skills.
- Ability to communicate and build relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
- Ability to manage tight timeframes, competing priorities and pressure.
- Proactive, able to drive commercial projects.
- Preference for in-house experience (as employee or secondee).

What we offer

To find out more about the amazing work environment here at SYD, be sure to check out the Join us section of Sydney Airport’s website, where you can also see more about our flexible culture and work practices, alongside our other Employee benefits, or take a look at our LinkedIn Sydney Airport: Life page.

Make it Amazing

SYD is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages all suitably qualified applicants to apply, including First Nations Australians, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.

📌 Legal Counsel/Senior Legal Counsel, Commercial (Mascot)
🏢 Sydney Airport
📍 Mascot