Legal Counsel - Associate, Sydney

About this role

BlackRock is the world’s largest asset manager with USD13.5 trillion under management globally as at September 2025. It is a premier provider of global investment management, risk management and advisory services to institutional, intermediary and individual investors around the world. BlackRock's purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being.

BlackRock offers a range of solutions — from rigorous fundamental and quantitative active management approaches aimed at maximising outperformance, to highly efficient indexing strategies designed to gain broad exposure to the world’s capital markets. Our clients can access our investment solutions through a variety of product structures, including individual and institutional separate accounts, mutual funds and other pooled investment vehicles, and the industry-leading iShares® ETFs.

BlackRock Australia is a representation of BlackRock globally and manages over AUD350 billion for Australian clients. Our local operations include a full-service asset management (including local product manufacture and distribution), investment technology business and the deployment of offshore capital and expertise to Australian assets and clients. We have a broad range of Australian clients that include superannuation funds, government entities, insurance firms, asset management firms, large wealth organisations, financial advisers and other institutions.

Role Aim/Purpose:

• To support BlackRock’s extensive Australian and global business through the provision of high quality and commercially focused legal advice.

• To interact with the broader BlackRock global community both in Australia and abroad, reflecting the global interconnectivity of our business.

• To ensure that BlackRock continues to be regarded by regulators and peers as a company with high compliance standards and strong legal acumen.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide high quality and commercial legal advice to the Australian business on all aspects of asset management and investments (including wholesale and retail funds, ETFs and unlisted products, and across all asset classes). This will include advice on:

  • licensing, disclosure and conduct obligations that apply to an Australian retail fund manager;

  • new or proposed legislation and regulatory change, including implementation;

  • regulatory engagement and investigations.

• Act as a primary stakeholder in the product development process, fund registration, exchange admission processes, disclosure, distribution, and marketing.

• Engage with government, regulators (including ASIC and FIRB), industry groups, and external counsel.

• Draft and negotiate contracts, including investment management agreements, investment platform agreements, distribution agreements, custody and administration agreements, and services agreements.

• Draft papers and present advice to internal stakeholders and committees.

Experience, Skills & Knowledge Required:

• Admitted to practice in an Australian jurisdiction.

• Relevant and demonstrated legal experience equivalent to 3-5 years PQE as a legal practitioner at a highly regarded law firm or in-house in a top tier investment management or financial services company.

• Thorough working knowledge of the law as it affects financial services licensees and the wholesale and retail managed funds industry, including:

  • Chapter 5C & Chapter 7 of the Corporations Act

  • Current and emerging trends and regulatory priorities such as the design and distribution obligations, sustainable finance practices, digital assets, private markets, hedge funds and exchange-traded funds.

• Experience with the following will be looked upon favourably:

  • Regulatory inquiries, investigations and litigation;

  • Superannuation and insurance regulations including APRA prudential standards;

  • Corporate governance and advisory, including board reporting and company secretarial related tasks;

  • Foreign investment regulations; and

  • Legal technology.

Skills:

• Strong technical skills, including statutory and contractual interpretation, research and drafting.

• Proven ability to deliver high quality legal advice.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including to confidently present to an audience.

• Ability to work autonomously and operate in a fast-paced global environment with flexibility to adapt to change.

• An analytical mindset and ability to innovate and generate new ideas to solve complex problems.

• High levels of attention to detail and document management skills.

• Relationship management skills to effectively influence stakeholders and to manage competing stakeholder relationships and priorities.

Our benefits
To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our hybrid work model

BlackRock’s hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being.  Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children’s educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment – the one we make in our employees. It’s why we’re dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, family status, gender identity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected attributes at law.