Legal Counsel - Property

Sydney Water is seeking a dedicated and experienced Legal Counsel - Property to join our Legal and Compliance team. This role will support the Head of Legal and Compliance in delivering high-quality legal advice and services across the organisation, with a particular emphasis on property law.

About the Role

As Legal Counsel - Property, you will play a key role in advising on legal matters relevant to Sydney Water’s operations and business activities. You will work closely with internal stakeholders, providing timely and practical legal guidance, particularly in relation to property transactions, compulsory acquisitions, land access issues, planning, and infrastructure development.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide timely and high-quality legal advice across all areas of law relevant to Sydney Water, with a strong focus on property law.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial and property-related transactions, including leases, licences, compulsory acquisitions, disposals, easements, agreements, and service contracts.
• Advise on legislative compliance, particularly under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 and the Sydney Water Act 1994.
• Support operational teams with day-to-day property-related legal enquiries.
• Manage and oversee litigation matters in collaboration with external legal advisers.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure effective legal service delivery.
• Contribute to knowledge management by capturing and sharing legal insights and corporate knowledge across the Legal unit.

Skills and Experience

• 4–6 years of post-admission experience as a property lawyer, ideally gained in both private practice and in-house, with training at a mid or top-tier law firm.
• Strong commercial drafting, reviewing, and negotiation skills across a range of property transactions.
• Experience working on matters involving government authorities and regulatory frameworks.
• Proven ability to identify and assess commercial and legal risks effectively.
• Strong research, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with sound commercial judgment in complex legal matters.
• Desirable: Experience in land/easement acquisition (by agreement and compulsory process), planning litigation, Aboriginal land rights, and/or Native Title.

We encourage Indigenous property lawyers with experience in Aboriginal Land Claims and Native Title to apply.

Apply now to be part of a purpose-driven organisation committed to sustainability, innovation, and excellence.

Essential Requirements:

You must be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident at the time of submitting your application to be considered for this role.

Closing Date: Saturday 21^st June 2025 at 11:59 PM AEST

Please advise if you require any adjustments to actively participate in the application and recruitment process. Please contact hayley.williams@sydneywater.com.au for any further information.

Dive into Our Great Benefits! 

Competitive Compensation: We’ll ensure that your skills and contributions are valued and rewarded appropriately. 

Hybrid Work Environment: We offer a hybrid work model that balances remote work and office collaboration, supporting our team's productivity and well-being. 

Continuous Professional Growth: We will invest in your career with leadership and development programs to propel your success. 

24/7 Wellbeing Support: Access for you and your family to free and confidential mental health and general health support through our EAP portal. 

Discounted Private Health Insurance: Unlock affordable access to top-tier health coverage with our discounted insurance plans. 

Family First: Prioritise your family with up to 18 weeks of fully paid parental leave and a generous childcare allowance. 

Fitness Passport: Achieve your physical fitness goals using our Fitness Passport, granting you access to a multitude of gyms and pools across NSW.  

Novated Leasing: Get in the driver's seat of your financial future with our novated lease options. 

Working at Sydney Water  

We welcome and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, including First Nations people, LGBTQIA+, people with disability, people with caring responsibilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and veterans.  

As part of the application process, Sydney Water will be collecting your personal information to assess your suitability for the role. We will also use your personal information to establish a Live Hire talent profile in our Talent Community.  

We look at our Talent Community first when new opportunities come up when you apply for a role. Your personal information will be collected in accordance with Live Hire’s Terms, Privacy Policy and Sydney Water’s Privacy Collection Statement – Job Application. Please note as part of the application process, you will be asked to undergo background checks which includes a criminal history check.   

Please see Job Profile for the role’s full accountabilities.