Mars Recruitment is partnering with a leading Australian funds management and investment group is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to join its high-performing legal and governance function. This is a senior advisory role providing strategic, commercially focused legal support across a complex and regulated financial services environment. This position will suit a legally trained professional with deep experience in funds management, investment products, and financial services regulation, who is comfortable operating as a trusted adviser to senior executives and boards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide timely, high-quality and commercially pragmatic legal advice across a broad range of legal, regulatory, governance, and risk matters.
• Act as a trusted senior adviser to the business, translating complex legal and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable guidance.
• Lead and support significant transactions and strategic initiatives including fund establishment and wind-up, restructures, acquisitions, financings, and product development.
• Oversee legal matters relating to investment funds, including fund documentation, trust deeds, disclosures, distribution arrangements, and ongoing compliance obligations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements, including investment management agreements, distribution arrangements, custody and administration agreements, service provider contracts, confidentiality agreements, and AFSL-related documentation.
• Monitor and interpret legislative and regulatory developments impacting the Australian financial services landscape and provide practical guidance on implications.
• Identify, assess, and manage legal and regulatory risks, contributing to continuous improvement of governance frameworks, policies, and controls.
• Manage relationships with external counsel, regulators, auditors, and other third parties to ensure effective, commercially sound, and cost-efficient outcomes.
• Support corporate governance and company secretarial functions, including board and committee papers, resolutions, and corporate record maintenance.
• Mentor and guide junior legal team members, contributing to capability development within the legal function.

Key Requirements:

• Significant post-qualification experience in financial services, funds management, or investment law (in-house and/or top-tier private practice)
• Strong technical expertise in Australian financial services regulation and managed investment schemes
• Proven ability to advise senior stakeholders in a fast-paced, commercial environment
• Experience managing complex transactions and regulatory matters end-to-end
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• A pragmatic, solutions-oriented mindset with strong commercial acumen
• Leadership capability and a collaborative approach to mentoring others

If you would like to learn more about the opportunity or have a confidential chat, reach out to Abbey at abbey.lynch@marsrecruitment.com.au