- Join our client on a secondment basis for a 14-month maternity cover contract.
- Flexible working arrangements.
Clario connects Australian-qualified lawyers with leading in-house legal teams on a flexible basis.
Our team has deep legal industry experience in lawyer engagement, legal operations, technology and customer experience.
Our people have worked with 65% of Australia’s leading corporate and government organisations and are experts at providing seconded lawyers for special projects or helping in-house legal teams manage peaks and troughs in demand.
We are the perfect employment model for lawyers who are:
- returning to the workforce after a career break
- transitioning to independent contracting
- seeking to balance work with travel or study commitments
- making the move from private practice to an in-house legal role.
About the Role
We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated
Senior Counsel — Franchising to join our client on a secondment basis for a 14-month maternity cover contract, with strong potential to extend.
Our client is an established real estate and hospitality business with a significant Australian footprint. This role offers a unique opportunity to work closely with the legal, sales and franchising teams, providing expert advice and support on a broad range of franchising matters.
This is a senior, hands-on and business-facing role. You will work closely with the General Counsel, Head of Franchising and broader commercial teams, acting as a trusted adviser across a large and active franchise network. The role is effectively the General Counsel’s 2IC and will suit a confident, commercially minded franchising lawyer who can operate with autonomy from day one.
This role is Melbourne-based, with a minimum of three days per week in the office.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide comprehensive legal advice on franchising matters, including franchise sales and purchases, renewals, disputes and ongoing franchise network issues.
- Draft, review and negotiate franchising documentation and related commercial agreements.
- Work closely with the Head of Franchising and other senior stakeholders to support strategic and commercial objectives.
- Provide practical, solutions-focused legal advice across adjacent areas including marketing, procurement and finance as required.
- Support the management of franchising disputes and risk across the network.
- Guide and support junior members of the legal team.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure legal compliance and mitigate risk.
- Contribute to a lean, highly capable and well-automated legal function.
Qualifications
- Australian-qualified lawyer with strong experience in franchising law.
- A minimum of 8PQE.
- Deep knowledge of Australian franchising legislation, regulations and compliance requirements.
- Experience advising on franchise network matters, renewals, disputes and related commercial issues.
- Excellent drafting, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Strong commercial judgement and the ability to provide clear, practical advice.
- Experience working with a reputable law firm or in-house legal team.
About You
You are a senior commercial lawyer with genuine specialist expertise within franchising. The successful candidate will need strong technical capability and confidence advising independently, while sharing knowledge and assiting in the up-skilling of junior team members.
You will bring:
- Significant experience advising on Australian franchising law and franchise network matters.
- Strong commercial judgment and a practical, solutions-focused style.
- Confidence operating autonomously in a senior in-house or embedded advisory role.
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
- The ability to build strong relationships with senior business stakeholders.
- Experience supporting or mentoring junior lawyers.
- A calm, collaborative and resilient approach in a busy legal function.
- Full Australian working rights — we are unable to provide sponsorship at this time.
How to Apply If you are ready to take the next step in your legal career and join a company that values your expertise and dedication, we would love to hear from you.
Please hit “Apply” or reach out to
[email protected].
If you would like to find out more about how working with Clario can help advance and diversify your career, visit our website — clario.com.au.
