Senior Legal Counsel - Construction Law

About the role

BMD, an integrated engineering, construction and urban development business, is looking for a Senior Legal Counsel with strong front-end construction law experience to join its in-house legal team. The role supports project, commercial and operational teams across a range of sectors, with a strong focus on construction and infrastructure contracting, from tender and contract review and negotiation through to project delivery, claims and dispute resolution. It suits lawyers who have worked in-house for a civil contractor, builder or major infrastructure business, or who have built strong front-end construction expertise in private practice.

Key responsibilities

• Provide practical, commercially focused legal advice to project, commercial, tender and operational teams
• Review and negotiate construction contracts, including head contracts, Australian Standard forms, subcontracts, consultancy agreements and related project documentation
• Advise on contractual risk, departures, tender positions and contract strategy from pre-contracts through to delivery
• Review subcontractor, supplier and consultant departures and support the flow-down of head contract obligations
• Advise on claims, variations, payment matters and emerging contractual disputes
• Advise on Security of Payment legislation, including payment claims, payment schedules and adjudication
• Support dispute resolution through negotiation, adjudication, mediation and litigation
• Prepare advice on contractual positions, risk, exposure and dispute strategy, and work with external counsel when needed
• Train project and commercial teams on contractual risk allocations and contract administration
• Provide legal support across the wider group, including corporate and commercial matters, governance, compliance, WHS, insurance, employment and other operational matters

Required profile

• Bachelor of Laws or equivalent, admitted as an Australian lawyer with a current practising certificate, or eligibility to practise
• At least six years of post-admission experience in construction
• In-house experience with a civil infrastructure contractor, construction company or builder, or highly regarded private practice experience advising contractors or infrastructure clients
• Strong experience reviewing, drafting and negotiating construction contracts
• Working knowledge of Security of Payment legislation across Australian jurisdictions, construction disputes and dispute resolution
• Ability to work with limited supervision in a fast-paced environment