Job Description

Legal Counsel

Business Unit:    Corporate Affairs

Team:     Legal

Reports to:       General Counsel

Team purpose:

The Corporate Affairs business unit is responsible for the Guardians’ legal and communications functions. The business unit provides best practice guidance and implementation support on all legal, and communications matters, including stakeholder relations, legal guidance, legislative compliance and Board Secretariat matters.

The Legal team is primarily responsible for advising on all legal matters impacting the Guardians, the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, the Elevate Fund and any other mandates (excluding tax and employment). The team provides legal input on all Guardians’ third-party relationships and activities, the implementation and ongoing management of investment of the Funds, the preparation, review and negotiation of contracts, as well as legal guidance on compliance to the business and support for staff who hold governance positions for the Guardians as part of their role. The team is also responsible for secretariat services in respect of the Guardians’ subsidiaries, Fund investment vehicles and venture capital fund investment vehicles. In addition, the team is responsible for the legislative compliance framework and seeks to ensure that the Guardians conducts its business according to all applicable laws and regulations.

The Legal team works closely with all areas of the business.

Core responsibilities:

1. Act as the primary legal contact for all technology, data and commercial contractual arrangements . This includes arrangements with our data, cloud and software providers, third party suppliers, consultants, insurers and global custodian.
2. Provide legal advice on a range of general matters including information technology, privacy, data and cyber security, intellectual property, procurement, Official Information Act requests, and general corporate and commercial matters.
3. Support the identification and implementation of continuous improvement initiatives to ensure the processes of the team are efficient and scalable, including legal operations and technology solutions.
4. Be the legal representative on all respective Working Groups in the Technology space.
5. Actively contribute to business unit and Guardians-wide projects and initiatives as required.
6. Provide timely, high quality legal advice to help the Guardians achieve its strategic and legal objectives.
7. Partner with other business units while providing independent whole of Guardians perspectives to deliver strategically focused legal advice to enable business outcomes and informed risk-based decision making.
8. Comply at all times with the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules.
9. Demonstrate appropriate knowledge and use of all Guardians’ systems and processes.
10. Understand and comply with all the Guardians’ policies and procedures, including those relating to risk management and compliance practices.
11. Champion the Guardians’ values and constructive culture at all times.

Key tasks:

1. Provide timely and high quality legal advice to the business.
2. Provide both proactive and reactive advice on legislative change (excluding tax and employment) including input into regulatory submissions to the Government.
3. Provide and co-ordinate internal and external regulatory training as required and proactively share knowledge.
4. Manage external counsel as required.
5. Contribute to the Guardians’ legislative compliance framework, regulatory updates and legal risk register.
6. Continuously assess legal risks and controls to establish appropriateness or opportunities for improvement.
7. Actively participate in relevant internal committees, forums and working groups and demonstrate high quality contributions.
8. Collaborate with external investment and asset managers, peer funds, counterparties, suppliers, co-investors, New Zealand legal peers and investee companies on legal issues.

1. Support other Guardians’ activities as required.

Personal profile:

1. Intermediate to senior/mid-level lawyer (minimum 5 years Post Qualification Experience (PQE)).
2. Must hold a current Practising Certificate and be admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand and comply with the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules.
3. Must have background in general corporate and commercial law and desirable to have technology law experience.
4. Excellent contract drafting and negotiation skills.
5. Interest in legal operations, artificial intelligence and technology efficiencies and a good understanding of Microsoft software including MS365 and SharePoint is desirable.
6. Excellent verbal and written communication.
7. Collegial, constructive approach, including the ability to foster both internal and external relationships.