In-house Legal Counsel

Legal Counsel

Commercial Property

Stonewood Group  |  Auckland  |  Full-time

Stonewood Group is looking for a commercially minded in-house lawyer to lead legal delivery across our property, hospitality, investment and corporate activities. You will work closely with our directors and executive team, turning legal advice into clear, decision-ready recommendations, and keeping property, leasing and dispute matters moving with pace and sound judgement.

This is a broad, hands-on in-house role. You will move between strategic advice, drafting, dispute management and coordination of external advisers, with genuine autonomy and direct access to senior decision-makers.

What you'll do

• Advise on commercial leases, licences, deeds of lease, variations, renewals, assignments, guarantees, bonds and related property documentation, and manage landlord and tenant matters including rent reviews, defaults and notices.
• Manage a portfolio of disputes, claims, arrears, statutory demands, mediations, arbitrations and court-related matters, from letters of demand through to instructions to counsel.
• Provide practical legal input on acquisitions, disposals, financing, development, construction and hospitality operations, reviewing commercial proposals early enough to catch issues before commitments are made.
• Select, brief and manage external lawyers, valuers and consultants, keeping cost proportionate to risk and commercial value.
• Support corporate governance, entity maintenance and board matters, and build a reliable legal register covering active matters, deadlines, exposure and spend.
• Improve templates, precedents and legal request triage across the Group, and provide guidance to colleagues working on legal matters.

What you'll bring

• A current New Zealand practising certificate and the right to practise as a barrister and solicitor (or solicitor) in New Zealand.
• Strong commercial legal experience, gained in-house, in a leading commercial practice, or a combination of both.
• Demonstrated experience in commercial property, leasing, contract drafting and negotiation.
• Practical experience managing disputes, litigation, recovery or enforcement matters.
• Sound judgement, and the ability to explain complex legal issues plainly to non-lawyers.
• Excellent organisation and follow-through across multiple live matters, and confidence working directly with directors and senior stakeholders.

It would be great if you also had

• Experience in property investment, hospitality, hotel operations, construction, development or a multi-entity group.
• Experience managing external counsel, budgets and litigation strategy.
• Familiarity with New Zealand commercial property documentation, court processes, arbitration, mediation and statutory demand work.

Why Stonewood Group

This role sits close to the directors and executive team, with real influence over how legal risk is managed across the Group. You will have the scope to build the systems, templates and relationships that make the function work, and to become the trusted operating partner the business relies on for pragmatic, timely advice.

Employment details

Position: In-house Legal Counsel — Commercial Property

Employer: Stonewood Group

Employment type: Full-time

Location: Auckland, with portfolio-wide support across New Zealand

Reporting to: Managing Director

Remuneration: An attractive remuneration package will be negotiated based on experience.