4088579 May 2021
Chief Legal Counsel - Competition, Credit, Fair Trading, Market Regulation, Infrastructure Regulation, Legal Services Reports to General Counsel (General Manager, Legal Services) Commerce Commission Vision Our vision is that New Zealanders are better off because markets work well and consumers and businesses are confident market participants. He Kawa Tauhokohoko/Our Values Framework Our values inform what is at the heart of the Commerce Commission | Te Komihana Tauhokohoko and shape how we approach our work, each other, and those we work for. They have been designed by us, for us:
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Purpose of Role To manage and lead a legal team in the provision of high-quality legal services to the Commission, supporting the General Counsel as a member of the Legal Services Branch Leadership Team, and to be an active member of the leadership team for the Partner branch.
Key Result Areas 1: Provide leadership and management of your team, in a manner that promotes engagement
and high performance, develops talent and ensures effective delivery of the team’s work programme
• Provide leadership, coaching and mentoring to develop individual and collective capability and clarity of direction
• Provide effective day to day management of team members
• Recruit and maintain a high level of expertise within the team
• Foster a “learning” environment, celebrate success and create a sense of pride and belonging in the team
• Encourage and nurture an engaged and high performing team, whose members understand how their work aligns with the strategies, business plans, and deliverables for the Legal Services Branch and Partner Branch
• Contribute to the Legal Services Branch Leadership Team, and keep the General Counsel up-to- date with relevant staffing matters as appropriate
• Ensure priority areas in employee surveys are addressed and actions identified for improvement
• Be an effective role model and leader for team members, demonstrate our values, and promoting a supportive and inclusive team culture
• Encourage a positive health, safety and wellbeing culture in your team and ensure you and your team understand your accountabilities and responsibilities under our Health, Safety and Wellness policy and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Outcome:
• Team members are skilled, engaged, high performing, and effectively delivering results for the team, Legal Services branch, Partner Branch, and the Commission.
2: Lead, develop and be accountable for the delivery of high quality advice to the Partner Branch
and Commission, and oversee delivery of Legal Services branch projects and initiatives
• Provide technical leadership and expert advice to the Partner Branch, and guidance to your team and project teams on how to apply legal frameworks
• Develop presentations and present legal opinion / advice on project issues independently and in conjunction with others
• Communicate succinct outline of legal issues and rationales for opinions
• Identify solutions to significant and complex legal issues, assist in developing a ‘theory of the case’ and obtain agreement from the project manager
• Oversee and review the structure, format and content of written and oral communication to project stakeholders on significant and major projects independently and with others as appropriate
• Lead the development and implementation of new methods, processes, systems, frameworks, templates to optimise the delivery of work by your team
• Provide oversight and quality assurance of your team’s advice as and where required
• Keep General Counsel and SLT informed on priorities and risks
• Work with General Counsel, SLT and Board to understand and manage their expectations.
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Outcomes:
• The work programme, projects and initiatives across the breadth of your role are prioritised, resourced and effectively delivered in line with the plans and priorities of the Legal Services Branch and the Partner Branch, and the Commission’s purpose and strategic direction
• High quality and timely advice is delivered to stakeholders.
3: Work proactively as a member of the leadership team for the Partner Branch, and focus on delivery of legal services to that branch to support attainment of its work programme and priorities
• Ensure that the GM (and leadership team) of the Partner Branch are kept updated on matters with either strategic or cross-branch resourcing implications
• Ensure that the GM of the Partner Branch and sponsors of projects are kept informed as needed and consulted on case/matter decisions with either strategic or significant resource implications
• Ensure an understanding of the Partner Branch’s business strategy, goals and objectives to oversee a work programme that integrates with and closely supports the goals of that branch
• Plan, prioritise, resource, and deliver a portfolio of work in line with the plans and priorities of the Legal Services branch and the Partner Branch
• Guide project teams to evaluate alternative resolutions and recommendations
• Participate in project debriefs to ensure lessons learnt are shared and applied in future
• Escalate matters of novelty, complexity, importance or controversy to the General Counsel
• Act as a liaison with project managers and external legal services providers and mediate on resource allocation issues and other conflicts
• Adopt an advocacy role and confidently debate issues. Outcome:
• The Partner Branch and Division/s are well-informed and confident, and trust in the legal advice and support received from the Legal Services branch.
4: To provide effective management of litigation and other projects
• Act as a project sponsor and/or holder of delegation from Division/s on selected projects, including conducting litigation, leading settlement negotiations or holding accountability for effective drafting of secondary legislation (as appropriate)
• Ensure preparation of litigation or project budgets and reporting, including variance reporting
• Ensure preparation of timely progress updates to oversight and Divisions
• Ensure critical litigation-related and other project dates are met
• Act as a liaison point for the litigation process between internal and external stakeholders
• Manage litigation budgets in conjunction with project managers
• Approve key litigation documents and decisions in accordance with delegations from Divisions and in consultation with the General Counsel and the Partner Branch
• Report to the Commission and SLT on litigation progress and performance against litigation funding budgets
• Ensure that projects are managed with the aim of achieving the project’s objectives, and the objectives and strategy of the Legal Services and Partner Branches.
Outcome:
• These projects are well-managed with an effective use of resources, the exercise of good judgement and no material unexpected variance as against approved budgets.
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5: Operate collaboratively as a leader in the organisation to align behaviours, systems and
processes
• Develop and maintain relationships of trust with the General Counsel, Commissioners, CEO, other GMs, team members and other Commission employees
• Effectively communicate and provide sound advice to the General Counsel, CEO and GMs to support them in their decision-making responsibilities
• Be an effective role model for connecting, collaborating, knowledge sharing and fostering trusted and effective working relationships across the Commission
• Demonstrate commitment to leadership through aligning behaviours, systems and processes to have a consistent way of working, language of articulating how work gets done and what good performance looks like, and our processes are simple yet robust and aligned
• Work closely with the General Counsel, the Legal Services Branch Leadership Team and the Partner Branch Leadership Team and visibly support collective decisions
• Maintain and develop relationships with external stakeholders, eg the legal profession, industry stakeholders, government, and international agencies to assist with the operational and strategic goals of the branches and the Commission.
Outcome:
• Effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders are established and maintained to improve effectiveness and build confidence around matters relating to the Commission.
Note: These responsibilities are not exhaustive. From time to time it may be necessary to change the position requirements in response to the changing nature of our work environment, including technological requirements or statutory changes. Such change may be initiated as necessary by your manager or general manager and will be discussed with you.
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Person Specification Qualification Undergraduate degree in law and Practising Certificate
Ability Level
• Demonstrated ability to provide high quality legal services in the area of competition law, consumer law, consumer credit law, or the laws concerns with economic regulation
Strategic
• Demonstrated ability to provide high quality legal services in the area of public/administrative law and/or civil and criminal procedure
Expert
• Demonstrated conceptual thinking and problem solving ability Strategic
• Demonstrated drafting ability in court pleadings and legal advice, and other legal documents
Expert
• Demonstrated legal research and analytical ability Strategic
• Demonstrated numerical ability Expert
• Demonstrated understanding of economic concepts and principles Sound
• Demonstrated verbal and written ability Strategic
Experience
Level
• Demonstrated legal experience at a senior level Expert
• Demonstrated experience leading a team of professionals Strategic
• Demonstrated experience managing a team of professionals Expert
• Demonstrated experience presenting information and advice Strategic
• Demonstrated management experience Sound
• Demonstrated experience in business management and strategy Expert
• Demonstrated experience working in a project management framework or project team Expert
• Demonstrated experience managing internal and external relationships Expert
Knowledge
Level
• Knowledge of relevant legislation/ legal frameworks enforced by the Commission Strategic
• Knowledge of leadership principles and practices including strategy and vision Expert
• Knowledge of laws of evidence, court rules and professional rules of conduct Expert
• Knowledge of Commission internal and external guidelines, decision making processes and policies
Expert
• Knowledge of the Commerce Commission’s role and function, and the functions of each group
Sound
• Knowledge of relevant economic principles and frameworks Sound
• Knowledge of investigation techniques and their practical application Expert
• Knowledge of employment law and best practice people management Sound
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Definitions Basic The job requires adeptness in a skill and experience in a variety of tasks. The skill may be related to specific activities that take time to acquire, extending beyond short term. (Typically 1-2 years related experience.)
Sound The job requires highly relevant experience in a specific area of work, often involving specialised training in order to achieve competence. This is not short-term experience, but significant, longer-term experience, predominantly focused on acquiring specialist knowledge. (Typically 2-3 years related experience.)
Expert The job requires experience of a broad nature, above that of a skilled person. Normally involves an awareness of work activities beyond the immediate job situation and the impact of the job on these activities. (Typically 3-5 years related experience.)
Strategic The job requires highly relevant knowledge and experience, an understanding of immediate issues and long term effects of actions. This is a subject matter expert who can be focused on an organisation’s goals as well as the specific short term issues. (Typically 5-10 years related experience.)