Legal Counsel

Climate Friendly is seeking a Legal Counsel to support its financial services compliance, manage legal obligations, and develop agreements related to carbon credit trading. Key responsibilities include compliance management, contract negotiation, policy development, and regulatory monitoring. The role requires a law degree and at least 2 years of post-qualification experience. The position is based in Millers Point, NSW, Australia, indicating it is not remote.
About Us

Acting to combat climate change is one of the world’s most pressing challenges. Climate Friendly was founded in 2003 as a profit-for-purpose business. Our growing team is passionate about active land management, and we are focused on finding economically viable solutions to maximise our impact on climate change. 

We are one of Australia’s largest and most experienced carbon farming project developers. This includes more than 160 projects with farmers, plantation managers, agribusiness, and Indigenous groups on carbon farming projects.

Climate Friendly has delivered over 20Mt in carbon abatement as at the end of 2020. Our immediate mission is to establish partnerships, by 2025, that will store or reduce 150Mt of CO2-e, while repairing nature and supporting reconciliation. Join our team and you will be helping to build A productive, sustainable land sector that contributes to a zero net emissions & nature positive Australia by 2050

We have a genuinely friendly and supportive culture where everyone has a voice and opportunity to help shape our future and to fulfil our purpose.

The role

As part of our legal and governance hub, you will be a key support for Climate Friendly's financial services compliance systems, develop and review agreements for the trading of carbon credits, and provide general advice as part of a busy in-house team

Key Responsibilities Include
• Managing compliance related to our Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL), AML/CTF, anti-financial crime and other legal and regulatory obligations including client onboarding and KYC.
• Supporting audits, regulatory correspondence, and policy development
• Updating and delivering training and monitoring programs for authorised representatives under our AFSL.
• Supporting the development, negotiation, and review of a wide range of commercial contracts for the trading of Australian carbon credit units (ACCUs).
• Preparing statutory and compliance reports from across the business; translating report outputs into improved systems and processes
• Preparing corporate risk assessments including ML/TF, ABC and AI
• Managing / supporting (delete as applicable) breach investigations, reports and remediation.
• Providing advice, research and support across a broad range of legal and policy issues including commercial contracts, AFSL, carbon trading, carbon farming, nature repair, corporate governance and IP.
• Supporting internal investigations, dispute resolution processes, and external counsel engagement, including in relation to commercial, regulatory or reputational issues.
• Monitoring regulatory developments (e.g. ASIC, ACCC, Clean Energy Regulator) and providing proactive advice on anticipated legal and regulatory changes supporting external consultations and responses to regulatory reform proposals
• Supporting the development, negotiation, and review of a wide range of commercial contracts; assisting in improving contract templates, clause libraries, and contract management systems to drive efficiency and mitigate risk
• Supporting the development and implementation of legal operations tools, templates, and technologies that streamline legal workflows, knowledge management, and reporting

About You
• Tertiary qualification in law in Australia and current practising certificate.
• A minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience in private practice / in-house (either in carbon or other financial services business).
• Experience in managing financial services compliance and/or the provision of financial services.
• Experience in drafting and negotiating commercial agreements.
• Excellent legal and problem-solving skills.

Climate Friendly encourages people from different backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from different cultural backgrounds and people with disabilities.

Why join our team?

Benefits

Our goal is to be seen as an organisation that supports wholeness, lifestyle and wellbeing whilst rewarding individual and collective performance. In addition to competitive salary and transparent career progression opportunities, our benefits include:
• Work with purpose, contributing to a productive, sustainable land sector that contributes to a zero net emissions and nature positive Australia by 2050
• A fully hybrid workplace - work to your own rhythm and balance connection and productivity
• A supportive and inclusive environment that promotes diversity
• 2 all staff events a year to connect with your friends and colleagues
• Christmas holiday - 3 days of additional leave each year
• Floating public holidays
• Gender neutral paid parental leave
• 2 days each year for training / development / study leave
• Home office setup and refresh allowance
• Company performance bonus and shared equity