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
The Legal Counsel plays a critical role in delivering high-quality legal services that enable Climate Friendly to operate confidently, compliantly and with purpose. Working within a small but dynamic in-house Legal Hub, this position is responsible for providing expert legal advice across a diverse and fast-paced portfolio of issues, especially commercial contracting and financial regulatory compliance, but also including environmental law, native title and corporate governance.
In addition to advising on legal and regulatory matters, the Legal Counsel contributes to the ongoing development of legal systems, templates, and processes that improve efficiency, reduce risk, and support sustainable growth.
This position requires a proactive, solutions-focused legal professional who can balance strategic insight with practical execution, and who is committed to contributing to an inclusive, values-driven workplace.
Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Leadership and team support
- Providing supervision, training, guidance and professional development to junior legal staff in the team, ensuring high-quality legal work.
- Supporting the continuous improvement of the Legal Hub, including contributing to team strategy, knowledge sharing, and capability development.
- Developing templates, systems workflows and processes to streamline workflow and reporting across the team.
- Fostering an inclusive and values-led team culture that supports diversity, collaboration and learning.
Financial Services Regulation and Compliance
- Managing legal and regulatory compliance related to our Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL), Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF), anti-financial crime and other legal and regulatory obligations.
- Supporting engagement with regulators and internal and external audits, investigations, and reviews.
- Contributing to the development and implementation of compliance frameworks, policies, and internal controls such as for AML/CTF.
- Advising on and conducting investigations for compliance and complaint processes.
Commercial Contracting and ACCU Trading:
- Leading the negotiation and drafting of complex commercial agreements with client and partner lawyers.
- Supporting the development, negotiation and review of commercial contracts for the trading of Australian carbon credit units (ACCUs), ensuring alignment with legal, commercial and strategic objectives.
- Advising on deal structures, counterparties, and emerging market risks in a dynamic policy and commercial environment.
- Creating and refining templates and tailored agreements to support new and emerging business areas, including natural capital and carbon markets.
Governance and Risk Management:
- Preparing high-quality statutory and compliance reports and contributing to and driving the implementation of governance frameworks across the business.
- Conducting and advising on enterprise risk assessments including money laundering and terrorism financing (ML/TF), anti-bribery and corruption (ABC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- Managing investigations into breaches or non-compliance including preparing reports and ensuring remediation is effective and legally robust.
- Supporting in the management of corporate governance arrangements, including management of corporate registers, and associated share, option and other transactions.
General In-House Legal Advice:
- Providing timely, strategic legal advice to internal stakeholders on a broad range issues including commercial contracts, AFSL, carbon trading, carbon farming, nature repair, corporate governance, and IP.
- Coordinating with and managing external legal counsel on specialised or high-risk matters.
- Monitoring regulatory developments across agencies (e.g. ASIC, ACCC, Clean Energy Regulator) and providing proactive briefings and strategic advice to inform business planning and advocacy efforts.
- Drafting submissions to public consultations and supporting engagement with policy and regulatory reform processes.
About you
Essential:
- Tertiary qualification in law in Australia and current practicing certificate.
- 4-7 years post-qualification experience in private practice / in-house.
- 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.
Desirable:
- Experience and interest supervising and developing junior lawyers.
- Experience and interest in AI and technical applications that assist legal workflow.
- Experience and interest in carbon farming and nature projects in Australia.
Why join our team?
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
