Senior Legal Counsel

At KPMG we believe in fuelling prosperity for all New Zealanders.  We bring this purpose to life through the work that we do, and the way in which we do it.  Everyone at KPMG is expected to follow our Code of Conduct and to consistently demonstrate behaviours aligned with our shared Values of Integrity, Courage, Excellence, Together, for Better.
Join our transformational Office of General Counsel (OGC) team that was recently recognised as a finalist for the Innovation Award and Small In-house Team of the Year at the 2025 ILANZ Awards and an Excellence Awardee and finalist for ‘Financial Services In-house Team of the Year’ at the 2024 NZ Law Awards.

The Opportunity:

• Are you an exceptional lawyer with a corporate/commercial background, looking to take your career in a new direction?  KPMG’s OGC team is growing and has an exciting opportunity for a driven and forward-thinking Senior Legal Counsel to join us.  This is your chance to move in-house from private practice, or continue to progress your inhouse career, and be part of a progressive team that blends legal expertise with cutting edge technology, innovative ideas and business acumen to deliver pragmatic business solutions.  You’ll join a fast-paced business, get exposure to a breadth of legal matters across multiple sectors and have fun along the way!


• You’ll be joining a high-performing team that will nurture and encourage your passion to upskill, adapt and advance your professional growth and in-house legal career.  Enjoy autonomy and collaborate directly with a broad range of stakeholders to shape business outcomes.  

Day to Day you will:

• Draft and negotiate a variety of commercial contracts, including T&Cs, government contracts, supplier agreements, technology contracts, MSAs and more.
• Provide pragmatic legal advice on commercial matters, the impact of new/emerging laws (such as the EU AI Act), compliance (including privacy and professional standards), global and local governance and, strategic projects.
• Bring a keen interest in integrating technology to improve legal operations, contribute to cross-functional process design and deliver business value.
• Contribute to the team's collaborative culture, commitment to continuous improvement and maintenance of in-house legal assets.  

About you:

• Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.
• Hold a current Practising Certificate issued by the New Zealand Law Society.
• Minimum 10 years PQE, ideally gained at a reputable law firm and/or in-house. 
• Corporate/commercial experience required, preferably in some of the following areas: corporate M&A transactions, complex contracting, technology contracts, regulatory advice, privacy compliance, corporate governance and project management.
• Ability to identify, assess and articulate legal risks and propose business solutions.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills with a high-level of attention to detail.
• Tech-savvy, with a passion for leveraging technology for efficiency.
• Self-motivated with an ability to independently manage competing priorities.
• Energetic, innovative, and enthusiastic with a good sense of humour.
• Enjoys building stakeholder relationships and is confident in engaging at all levels.

Recruitment Agencies: The recruitment for this role is being managed directly by the KPMG Talent Acquisition team. We will contact our preferred agency partners if we require agency assistance. Thank you for your understanding.
Life at KPMG
KPMG values diversity in the workforce and we encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply for roles, including individuals with a disability, additional mental health needs, chronic health conditions or who identify as neurodivergent. 
For disabled and neurodiverse candidates, if you encounter accessibility barriers or if you have access needs and require support to participate equitably in the recruitment process, please phone Enya van Dulm on 04 816 4660 or email [email protected]
We offer rewarding careers to talented individuals and a holistic range of benefits to support your life balance, whatever your circumstance. We want you to do Work That Matters, Thrive and Grow and know that you Belong here with us, at KPMG. 
As a KPMG employee, we will offer you: —  Access to the firm's annual incentive scheme—  Opportunities for local and international secondments—  Hybrid working across a mix of office, client and home hubs to recognise that people have individual circumstances and preferences when it comes to where and how they work— The ability to work from overseas and extend time connecting with friends and family outside New Zealand—  Flexible leave options, including the ability to purchase additional annual leave—  Gender-neutral support for all stages of the parental journey, including access to 18 weeks of fully paid parental leave for all new parents —   A paid professional association membership of your choice—   Digital accreditations through our partnership with Microsoft, LinkedIn Learning, with bespoke learning pathways for all employees—   A wide-range of special offers and discounts on insurances, banking services, and lifestyle goods and services—   The support, allyship and opportunity to join our many Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Affinity networks, including the Kiwa, Pride, Ethnicity, Accessibility and Wahine groups—  The opportunity to participate in Green Team activities, as we work toward reducing the firm’s environmental footprint and become carbon zero by 2030—  An invitation to join your local Social club and enjoy events aimed at bringing people together for social, sporting, cultural, family and fundraising activities—  Paid time off for volunteering and involvement in citizenship activities—  An array of health and wellness benefits such as free flu vaccinations, subsidised sporting events, free confidential counselling services, additional 5 days of Wellbeing leave to support you and your family's overall health and wellness, access to our Wellbeing portal with an extensive range of advice and resources and much much more! We believe that diversity of background and experience strengthens relationships and delivers meaningful benefits to our people, clients and communities. Our goal is to be recognised as an employer of choice for all, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, generation, flexible work status, family circumstances, sexual orientation or disability. Further info can be found on our website.