Senior commercial counsel (australia)

Location: Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, or New Zealand (Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington) (Hybrid - 3 days in office)

Business: Marsh Group – supporting Marsh and Mercer Australia and Pacific

Reporting to: Chief Commercial Counsel, Pacific

The Opportunity

Marsh is seeking an experienced, technically strong, and commercially minded lawyer. This role is for a senior commercial lawyer who will support multiple and diverse product lines and brands across Marsh and Mercer Australia. This is a role for someone who enjoys variety—no day is the same. You'll move between fast‐paced commercial negotiations, nuanced regulatory and risk advice, and strategic business projects. The work is often cross‐border, with regular collaboration across overseas offices on regional and global initiatives. As a senior commercial lawyer, you will work directly with business leaders on their projects and business issues. You'll be joining a close, tight‐knit Legal Commercial team—high trust, genuinely supportive, and focused on delivering practical outcomes together.

What You'll Achieve (First 6–12 Months)

• Become a trusted adviser to senior leaders across the Marsh Group in Australia, providing clear, commercial guidance on priority initiatives.
• Lift contracting efficiency and consistency through practical templates, playbooks, training, and improved ways of working.
• Help proactively manage legal and regulatory risk by identifying exposure early and recommending workable solutions.

We Will Count on You To:

• Commercial Partnering and Negotiation (Varied, High-Impact Matters)
• Lead and advise on a broad range of commercial matters, including negotiation, drafting, and review of complex agreements and related documentation.
• Provide timely, solution-focused advice to internal stakeholders across Sales, Procurement/Vendor Management, and Regulatory Compliance.
• Support strategic projects and initiatives, bringing sound judgment and a calm approach to shifting priorities.
• Contribute to cross-border matters and collaborate with colleagues in overseas offices to support regional and global initiatives.

Regulatory and Risk Advisory

• Monitor, analyze, and advise on new and changing laws and regulations impacting Marsh Group in Australia.
• Identify liability exposures and recommend practical mitigation strategies aligned with business objectives and risk appetite.

Leadership and Capability Uplift

• Mentor and support junior team members, helping build legal capability and consistent standards across the team.
• Deliver clear guidance and training to stakeholders to enable better decision-making and reduce repeat issues.

What You Need to Have

• Admitted to practice in Australia (current practising certificate, or ability to obtain/maintain one).
• Significant post‐qualification experience as a commercial lawyer (guideline: 8+ years PQE), gained in‐house and/or in private practice.
• Experience operating in a regulated environment and managing risk proportionately; an insurance and/or financial services regulatory background will be highly regarded.
• Strong drafting and negotiation capability with a proven ability to deliver pragmatic, commercially oriented advice.
• Confidence engaging with senior stakeholders and influencing outcomes with clear, concise communication.
• Strong matter management skills: prioritization, responsiveness, attention to detail, and sound judgment under time pressure.

Why Join Our Team

At Marsh, your work will be visible and valued—supporting market‐leading businesses and high‐impact initiatives for many of the top companies in Australia and globally. You'll be part of a close, tight‐knit team with an excellent culture, alongside supportive colleagues who value collaboration and pragmatic problem‐solving. Our scale enables us to provide a range of career opportunities, as well as benefits and rewards to enhance your well‐being.

Marsh is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people and embrace diversity of age, background, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, gender orientation or expression, marital status, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, sexual orientation or expression, skin color, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Applications will only be considered from candidates who have the appropriate approval to work in Australia. Successful applicants will be required to complete a Criminal & Bankruptcy check prior to commencing of employment.

Marsh is committed to hybrid work, which includes the flexibility of working remotely and the collaboration, connections and professional development benefits of working together in the office. All Marsh colleagues are expected to be in their local office or working onsite with clients at least three days per week. Office‐based teams will identify at least one "anchor day" per week on which their full team will be together in person.