Senior Solicitor

Protect New Zealand's sensitive land and businesses,
- Bring your legal skills to a multi-disciplinary compliance team,
- Help shape New Zealand case law,
- Flexible by default working environment

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role
Are you a seasoned legal professional with a strong litigation background? Embrace a fulfilling career with Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand, as we seek for an experienced litigator/Senior solicitor to support our Compliance Team, focusing on breaches of the Overseas Investment Act 2005.
The Compliance Team plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of New Zealand's Overseas Investment regime by:

- making sure consent holders meet the conditions of their consent and deliver the promised benefits of their investments.
- investigating possible breaches of the Act; and
- taking enforcement action where overseas persons have tried to circumvent the Act, provided false information, or failed to meet their consent conditions.

You will contribute by managing LINZ's compliance litigation programme, involving both civil and criminal proceedings under the Overseas Investment Act. You will instruct the Crown Law Office, Crown Solicitors and external barristers, and work closely with them to progress cases. There may be occasional opportunities to appear for LINZ, alongside a Crown Counsel or Crown Solicitor, but this is not the focus of the role.
You will also provide legal advice, and work side-by-side with investigators as they investigate possible breaches of the Act. This includes overseeing the use of our information gathering powers and supporting our investigators as they undertake evidential interviews. You will assess the strength of our cases and make recommendations on the most appropriate and proportionate enforcement action. In addition, you will help with the preparation of advice for decision makers, briefings for Ministers' offices, as well as media and Official Information Act 1982 responses.
As this is a senior position, you will be expected to have the experience, resilience, and judgement necessary to weigh up different courses of action and assess risks. You will also be expected to guide and mentor junior colleagues. We are also looking for someone who will complement the professional, collegial, nature of our team.
This is an exciting time to join us, as the Compliance Team has a number of cases ready to bring to Court. To get an overview of the Compliance Team's work, you should visit the ‘Enforcement' page of our website which sets out our enforcement approach, our strategic priorities, and enforcement action taken.
While you will be homed within the Compliance Team and focus on its work, this role is part of (and reports to) the LINZ Legal Team.

**He pūkenga tou - Skills & Experience**:

- To succeed in this role, you will be an experienced litigator with at least five years PQE and a current practising certificate (or the ability to hold one).
- While experience in regulatory enforcement, commercial law, property law, and trusts would be advantageous, it's not critical as this expertise already exists in the Compliance Team and other teams that administer the Overseas Investment Act.
- You will have excellent communication skills to confidently interact with investors and their legal counsel on compliance issues and potential breaches.
- The maturity, pragmatism, and commercial acumen needed to reach sensible resolution of matters.

**The annual salary range for this role is**: $120,000 - $150,000. based on skill and experience
Ngā mea e tukuna ana e tātau - What we offer our employees
- Intellectually stimulating work in a supportive and collegial team environment
- Learning and Development opportunities
- Flexible working arrangements
- Eye & ear care reimbursements
- Annual flu vaccinations
- Reduced health insurance premiums
- Diverse groups and networks
- Active in-house social club membership
- If eligible for paid parental leave, you will be entitled to a top up payment for the first 18 weeks of the 26 weeks
- A minimum of four weeks and three days annual leave

Te Tākinatanga - Our Story
Toitū Te Whenua plays a vital role in understanding, developing and caring for New Zealand's whenua, moana and arawai (land, sea and waterways). Whether you're developing our products and services to support our customers, managing the Crown estate, engaging with our iwi partners, or helping us be an effective regulator, your contribution can make a difference. Our mahi helps New Zealanders have confidence that the development of our land, communities and country is being planned from an informed and expert position that balances environmental, social, cultural and economic considerations. Now and for future generations.
Our Kia Toipoto Intentions - Public Service Gender, Māori, Pacific and Ethnic Pay Gap Action Plan
Tono mai - How to Apply
At Toitū Te Whenua we design our roles around shared capabilities (rather than focusing on tasks) a