The Role

The Senior Lawyer and Company Secretary will be a dynamic, driven and enthusiastic senior lawyer, that will focus on advising the charity and not-for-profit sector in the areas of corporate, commercial, governance dispute resolution, intellectual property and basic employment. The other key component of this role includes undertaking the duties required of a company secretary for our not-for-profit and charity clients.

The preferred candidate will be able to commit to 3 days per week. Candidates looking for more than 3 days per week are also invited to apply. This fantastic opportunity will also allow the flexibility to work from home, as For Purpose Advisory has a remote workforce.

The Firm

For Purpose Advisory is a specialised and multidisciplinary firm dedicated to supporting clients operating for a social or community purpose to realise and achieve their objectives. We do this by providing legal, mediation, company secretarial and consulting services. We also deliver training and connect our clients with the people and resources that they need to succeed.

We work with not-for-profit organisations and charities across a range of industries, including health, benevolent services, disability, international aid, environment, education, sport, religion, hospitality and aged care. We also support governments, individuals and for-profit organisations with their philanthropic and not-for-profit initiatives.

You can find out more about For Purpose Advisory on our website.

Qualifications & Experience

Our ideal candidate would have:

• minimum 5 years' legal experience;
• relevant corporate and commercial experience advising the charity and not-for-profit sector;
• employment law experience or dispute resolution experience also desirable;
• a strong client service orientation;
• strong technical, drafting and commercial skills;
• excellent analytical, communication, and research skills;
• relevant legal qualifications;
• a strong academic background;
• a commitment to high work standards and strong attention to detail;
• an ability to demonstrate initiative and proactivity;
• a preparedness to go 'above-and-beyond';
• an ability to work well in a team environment;
• an ability to present content confidently; and
• a willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

Main responsibilities include:

• Not-for-profit legal work including:
  • the establishment and registration of charities and other not-for-profit organisations;
  • the application of relevant governance standards, regulatory and compliance matters including fundraising, privacy, whistleblower and child protection laws;
  • advising on appropriate legal structuring options for start-ups and in the case of mergers;
  • applications for various registrations, endorsements and concessions, including charity registration and DGR and PBI status;
  • preparation and review of governing documents;
  • advising on collaborations between not-for-profit organisations including MOUs, auspicing, mergers and acquisitions including preparing the necessary agreements;
  • drafting and reviewing other commercial agreements including service, fundraising and sponsorship agreements;
  • establishing charitable trusts and ancillary funds, and advising trustees on related charitable, tax and trust law matters;
  • representing and supporting not-for-profits to deal with various regulators, including for incorporation, charity registration, responding to ACNC enquiries or investigations, notifying data breaches to the OAIC and working with the ATO to apply for various tax endorsements or exemptions, or to clarify or rectify potential instances of non-compliance;
  • representing clients involved in governance disputes; and
  • carrying out the necessary training requested by clients from time to time,

• Undertaking company secretarial duties for clients including:
  • maintaining registers;
  • completing annual reporting;
  • maintaining records with regulators;
  • coordinating and attending board meetings and preparing minutes;
  • coordinating general meetings and preparing minutes of these meetings;
  • coordinating committee meetings and preparing minutes of these meetings;
  • on-boarding of new members or directors; and
  • other governance assistance as required from time to time,
• Attending events as agreed; and
• Contributing to For Purpose Advisory’s knowledge management resources and publications as agreed.

For a confidential discussion about the role and further information, please contact Hannah Rose, Managing Principal, 02 9188 7736.

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