This is a role for someone who wants breadth in their commercial practice without stepping into a large city firm or a narrow specialist lane.
You’ll join a Waikato-based commercial and corporate team working closely with business owners and organisations who expect practical, commercially grounded advice. The work includes transactions, contracting, and advisory matters, with exposure to a broader range of legal issues as they arise.
The Role
You’ll take on a varied commercial and corporate workload with real responsibility for your own files. You’ll get early exposure to real work, support on more complex matters when needed, and increasing ownership of your files as you develop.
The bulk of your work will sit in commercial contracting and business transactions, with additional exposure to related advisory areas.
Key Areas of Work
- Drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, including shareholder arrangements, terms of trade, and joint venture structures
- Business sales, acquisitions, and structuring advice
- General company law and transactional support for business clients
- Technology and ICT-related matters, including data and privacy issues where relevant
- Not-for-profit and charitable entity work, including incorporated societies and trusts
- Exposure to insolvency, franchising, and financial services related advisory work
- Running files from instruction through to completion with appropriate oversight
- Drafting tailored agreements and advising on commercial risk and structure
- Working directly with business owners, directors, and decision makers
- Collaborating with colleagues across the firm when matters overlap with other practice areas
- Managing your own client communication and building relationships over time
- NZ Qualified and Admitted Lawyer
- Around 2–6 years PQE in commercial or corporate law
- Strong drafting ability and confidence working through commercial issues independently
- Interest in working directly with business clients on practical, real-world problems
- Ability to manage competing priorities and maintain accuracy under pressure
- Curiosity about broader commercial work, including advisory areas outside core M&A and contracting
- Broad commercial exposure rather than a narrow technical lane
- Early responsibility with genuine client contact
- A stable regional firm with an established commercial client base
- A straightforward structure where lawyers are trusted to run their own work
- Hamilton-based role with strong regional connectivity and long-standing client relationships
This is a long-established Waikato firm with deep local roots and a strong commercial client base across the region. The commercial and corporate team works across a wide range of business-facing legal issues, giving lawyers exposure to both day-to-day advisory work and transactional matters.
The environment is practical and client-focused, with an emphasis on ownership, responsiveness, and developing long-term client relationships rather than operating within heavy hierarchy or rigid specialisation.
How to Apply
Send CV and academic transcripts to jenny.g@stellarrecruitment.co.nz or call 021 0230 3960 for a confidential chat
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