Legal Counsel & Company Secretary

Posted 11 May 2022
LocationWellington
Job type Permanent
DisciplineIn - House Legal
Reference489910a

Job description

About the Organisation

Willis Bond has for over three decades now dedicated itself to delivering beautifully designed, location enhancing mixed-use developments across the country. Its reputation as one of New Zealand’s most trusted property development and investment companies precedes them. The quality of Willis Bond developments is best in class and as such makes them a highly desirable strategic partner for corporate and government organisations to realise fantastic property and community outcomes with (such as residential build projects completed at Wynyard Quarter).
  
Culturally, the organisation operates with a professional, collaborative and flat structured approach where everyone has an integral role in the successful operation of the business. There is a hybrid working model, so there is the opportunity to do a mix of working from home and being in the office.
  
About the Role
  
Reporting into the General Manager of Operations & Finance, as well as working with the Directors of the business, the Company Secretarial and Compliance function forms the core part of this role. You'll be a part of a team of 16 in Wellington and 18 in Auckland. There are also broader in-house legal matters that you'll have the opportunity to get involved in, with scope for the in-house Counsel function to grow over time. 
  
The role could be Auckland or Wellington based, with modern offices in both city centres. Ideally a full time role, but 4 days a week will be considered for the right person. 
  
Company Secretarial responsibilities include:
  • Co-ordinating board papers for quarterly fund meetings and attend board meetings
  • Maintaining company registers including share registers, limited partnerships register, directors’ interests registers and Related Party Transactions Registers, as well as keeping Companies Office details up to date. 
  • Setting up and managing the contracts register for development projects
  • Drafting and circulating minutes following meetings 
  • Leading AML and compliance obligations, with assistance of an outsourced provider, and dealing with audits.
  • Managing Health and Safety reporting to the Directors including coordinating annual health and safety meetings and site visits. 
  • Ensuring that necessary approvals are obtained and decisions are accurately documented e.g. from the Investment Committee and for Transactions. 
  • Ensuring compliance with all statutory obligations (e.g., Companies Act 1993 and Limited Partnerships Act 2008), company constitutions and contractual fund documents, liaising with the regulator where required. 
  • Co-ordinate annual shareholder meetings.
  • File annual returns for their 30 company entities and limited partnerships
In-house Counsel duties may include:
  • Overseeing capital raising activities and documentation involved
  • Reviewing bank facility documents
  • Reviewing and advising on legal agreements including Development Agreements, Sale & Purchase Agreements, Leases, Consultant Agreements and Construction Agreements  
  • Consulting with external lawyers when required on matters
  • Advising the Board on legal risks and relevant changes in the legislative landscape
About you

To be considered for this position, you will have:
  • an LLB and be a NZ qualified lawyer;
  • 5+ years solid experience in one or more of the following legal areas - commercial property, corporate, commercial and/or banking and finance;
  • experience gained in a well-regarded law firm, in-house legal role or a company secretarial or compliance role;
  • experience gained working with a property development or investment business would be a bonus but isn't a requirement for this role; 
  • commercial nous, with the ability to understand legal risk and communicate those effectively to stakeholders within the business; 
  • Initiative, strong attention to detail and good interpersonal skills; and
  • The ability to work well in a team-based environment. 

On offer is the chance to be a part of an excellent company culture, that can provide a work/life balance and a property development business that is considered a leader in its field. 
  
This role would suit someone that would like to utilise their property and commercial legal skills within a company secretarial focused role. 
 

To learn more, contact Anand Ranchhod on 027 2746 186 (anand@colegal.co.nz) or Pippa on 027 274 5926 (pippa@colegal.co.nz) or to apply, email us your CV and university academic record by clicking APPLY now. 

CoLegal is managing the recruitment of this position, so if you'd like to apply, send us your application.