Legal Counsel / Senior Legal Counsel at NZ Commerce Commission, Wellington or Auckland

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Ko mātou tēnei | Who we are

Te Komihana Tauhokohoko | The Commerce Commission is New Zealand's competition, fair trading, consumer credit and economic regulatory agency. Our mission is to make New Zealanders better off by ensuring our markets work well and consumers and businesses are confident participants in those markets.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Legal Counsel or Senior Legal Counsel to join our Competition Legal team. This is a permanent role that may be based in our Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) or Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) office.

The Commission is going through an exciting period of growth, driven by increases in its functions, duties and powers. Of particular note in the competition space, cartel conduct was criminalised in April 2021 and amendments to section 36 of the Commerce Act will usher in a new abuse of market power regime in April 2023. You will also have the opportunity to work closely with Commissioners.

As our areas of regulation grow, the Commission has been transforming as an organisation and adopting a more collaborative, cross-functional approach to the delivery of legal services. Our lawyers and paralegals sit in a single branch, comprising one of the largest legal teams in the country.

Mō te tūranga | About the role

Sitting in the Legal Services Branch, the Commission's Competition Legal Team carries out a critical function for the Commission, advising on the full spectrum of the Commission's competition law powers, including in relation to civil and criminal cartels, mergers, market studies, anticompetitive agreements and misuse of market power.

You will work with, and provide legal advice to, case teams as they investigate potentially anticompetitive conduct, assess applications for clearance and authorisation of mergers and other conduct, and carry out market studies.

Where matters reach the litigation phase, you will act as project manager, advising on litigation strategy, providing instruction to external legal counsel, drafting and reviewing Court documents and ensuring the Commission behaves as a model litigant.

The team is close-knit and our lawyers care deeply about promoting competition in markets for the long term benefit of New Zealand consumers. The team has a strong track record of high performance, and was a finalist in the 2022 ILANZ awards in the In-House Team of the Year category.

He kōrero mōu | About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• an undergraduate degree in law with a sound academic transcript;
• a current New Zealand practising certificate;
• ideally experience in competition law, public law and/or litigation (experience in criminal litigation would be an advantage);
• demonstrated expertise in the drafting of legal advice;
• exemplary legal research and analytical ability;
• excellent verbal and written communication skills; and
• for the Senior Legal Counsel role, 8+ years' Post Qualification Experience.

Above all, we are seeking a smart and curious lawyer who has a keen interest in working on important competition issues.

Read more about the skills, experience and knowledge required for this position in the position description. If you are applying via SEEK, by clicking Apply Now you will be redirected to our careers page where you can access our position description.

Te wāhi mahi | Working here

We're friendly and collaborative and enjoy contributing to our shared vision of making New Zealanders better off. Career growth and development is not only supported and encouraged, it's a part of everyday life here. We also offer a range of benefits to show that we'll value your mahi, including generous leave entitlements, study support, a range of wellness initiatives and competitive remuneration.

We are committed to our people's wellbeing. Any support needed is freely given, providing the opportunity for everyone to thrive. Our flexible working options are key to supporting that goal and our people have the technology they need to make it happen. We even offer a contribution to working from home set up costs. Our environment is inclusive, and our people know they are free to be their authentic selves at work and structure the way they work to suit their lifestyle.

Ka pēhea te tono mai | How to apply

If you want to contribute to our vision to make New Zealanders better off, please click 'Apply for this job' below. You will need to complete an online application form and upload your CV and Cover Letter outlining your motivation for applying for this role and the skills and experience you bring.

For any queries contact Liz Martin on 04 924 3625. Closing date for applications 6 February 2023.

Studies have shown that women and people from under-represented backgrounds are less likely to apply for roles where they don't match the job description criteria exactly. If you're excited about this role and think you have what it takes, but your experience doesn't align 100%, we still want to hear from you and would encourage you to apply.

Our recruitment process is fair, inclusive and free from bias and we encourage our applicants to let us know if we can make it more user friendly for them. We are an equal opportunity employer. We value diverse perspectives and the contribution every one of our people makes to our culture. Put simply – you can be yourself here.