Legal Counsel
About the role
As Legal Counsel at Auckland Airport, you will play a key role in providing timely, strategic and commercially focused legal advice across a large, multi-faceted enterprise.
This is not a narrow or siloed inhouse role. You will be a trusted adviser working across the business on matters that genuinely shape the future of New Zealand’s gateway to the world — from major commercial agreements to complex operational and regulatory issues.
Working closely with the Senior Legal Counsel and Head of Legal, you will have significant autonomy to manage your own matters while being well supported by an experienced and collaborative legal team. You will engage directly with senior leaders and operational teams, helping them navigate risk, unlock opportunities, progress projects and make confident, well-informed decisions.
It is an exciting time to join AKL as we deliver a once in a generation precinct transformation programme. No two days are the same, and the variety, scale and impact of the work make this role both challenging and deeply rewarding. You won’t get this breadth of exposure in many other in-house roles.
Your key responsibilities are:
- Advising the company on a wide range of commercial contracts and legal documentation
- Supporting and participating in negotiations with counterparties
- Guiding the business through potential disputes and resolution pathways
- Providing strategic legal input on major projects
- Helping teams navigate complex, novel or high-risk legal issues
- Interpreting legislative obligations and advising on their operational impact
- Assisting with engagement involving airlines, Government agencies, and thirdparties
- Maintaining and improving precedent documents and legal processes
- Creating efficient processes for drafting, negotiating, and executing documents
- Supporting insurance acquisition and annual renewal processes
- Managing the formal execution and recording of contracts in line with company policy
What you’ll bring to the role
At Auckland Airport, we are a busy hive of activity, and a lot of what we look for is how you would align with our AKL values All In | Tātou tatou – How we feel, Know How | Kōkiri Tahi – How we think and Let’s Go | Karawhiua – How we act.
This role will suit someone who is technically strong, commercially minded, and keen to grow their in‑house career in a sophisticated, high‑impact environment.
To succeed in this role, you will bring:
- An LLB and admission as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand, with a current practising certificate
- Around 3 + years’ experience in a leading private practice law firm and/or in-house legal role
- Strong commercial judgement and the ability to provide pragmatic, solutions‑focused advice
- The confidence to work independently, balanced with a collaborative team mindset
- Excellent relationship-building skills across all levels of an organisation
- Demonstrated ability to influence and negotiate to achieve balanced, win/win outcomes
- The ability to think strategically and operate effectively within business complexity
- An understanding of commercial realities, and well-developed business acumen
- A sound working knowledge of New Zealand contract law and other relevant legal frameworks
About us
From the arrival of the Tainui Waka into the Manukau Harbour, Auckland Airport has always been a place of journeys. We stand proudly as the gateway to Aotearoa, welcoming travellers beginning their journeys, farewelling Kiwis to new destinations, connecting businesses and workers to new opportunities, and celebrating partners and investors who back us along the way.
We have ambitions to be a global hub and a comprehensive development programme to deliver this vision.
With so many moving parts to keep the airport precinct running, it’s our collaboration and passion that keeps everything together. This is what our culture and heritage have been built on. When you work with us, you’ll share our ambition to be a great New Zealand business, and one that’s making a strong contribution to the wellbeing of our communities and economy.
E mahi ana mātou mō Aotearoa. We are working for New Zealand.
Auckland Airport is more than just a business. It’s a truly unique place with an important role to play in New Zealand’s recovery. Together we’re its custodians, knowing that the work we do has the power to create positive change for our customers, the community, the environment and for the prosperity of Aotearoa. We’re all about creating a sense of place where everyone can thrive, and one where others aspire to work. We’re a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome people from all walks of life.
Whiria te tangata. Our values weave us together. They’re what we stand for, who we are and how we act.
Apply today
It’s our collaboration and passion that keep everything together. This is what our culture and heritage have been built on. When you work with us, you’ll share our ambition to be a great New Zealand business, and one that’s making a strong contribution to the wellbeing of our communities and economy.
If this role sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you. Apply online now.
Attention Recruitment Agencies: Auckland Airport has a Direct Sourcing model and at this point in time we will not require any recruitment agency support for this role.
Please note that applications will be reviewed continuously throughout the recruitment period, and appointments may be made before the official closing date of the advert.
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