Senior Legal Counsel

About BYD

BYD is a high-tech company devoted to technological innovations for a better life. BYD is dedicated to providing zero-emission energy solutions.

As a leading battery-electric zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) manufacturer, BYD has created a broad range of battery-electric, hybrid-electric, and internal combustion (IC) passenger vehicles. Developing electric vehicles that are intelligent and connected, BYD is inaugurating a new age of automotive innovation featuring a sleek design and an innovative user experience.

Role Overview

The Senior Legal Counsel will provide strategic, commercial, and regulatory legal support across BYD’s automotive OEM operations in Australia. This role partners closely with senior leadership, cross-functional teams, and global HQ stakeholders to support business growth, manage legal risk, and ensure compliance in a highly regulated industry.

You will play a key role in enabling commercial outcomes while safeguarding the business across product development, supply chain, sales, marketing, and aftersales activities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Commercial Legal Support

• Act as a trusted legal advisor to senior leadership and key business stakeholders
• Provide pragmatic, business-focused legal advice aligned with corporate strategy
• Support major strategic initiatives including business transformation and market expansion

Contracts & Transactions

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including:
• Supplier and manufacturing agreements
• Dealer, distributor, and agency agreements
• Technology, software, and data-sharing agreements
• Joint ventures and strategic partnerships
• Support high-value or complex commercial transactions and projects

Regulatory & Compliance

• Advise on automotive regulatory frameworks, including:
• Vehicle safety and emissions compliance
• Consumer law, franchise law, and product liability
• Competition and dealer network regulations
• Support compliance frameworks, policies, and governance across the organisation

Risk Management & Dispute Resolution

• Identify and manage legal and commercial risks across business activities
• Support dispute resolution, litigation, and regulatory investigations
• Coordinate and manage external legal counsel where required

Product & Technology

• Advise on legal aspects of vehicle development, connected cars, EVs, autonomous technologies, and software
• Provide guidance on intellectual property, data privacy, cybersecurity, and AI-related legal issues

Leadership & Collaboration

• Work closely with global and regional legal teams
• Support and mentor junior legal team members where applicable
• Represent BYD in high-level legal and regulatory engagements

Essential

Skills & Experience

• Qualified lawyer with current practising certificate
• Minimum 6+ years post-qualification experience
• Strong experience in commercial contracts and regulatory law
• Background in automotive, manufacturing, or other highly regulated industries
• Proven ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders
• Strong commercial judgement with ability to balance risk and business needs

Desirable

• In-house legal experience within automotive OEM or Tier 1 supplier
• Exposure to EV, mobility, software, or connected vehicle industries
• Experience in global or matrix organisations
• Leadership or mentoring experience
• Mandarin and English language capability

If you believe you are a good fit for the role, please don't hesitate to click on APPLY and submit your updated resume.