FIRB Legal Executive

Legal Executive/Paralegal

• Step into this newly created Legal Executive/Paralegal role for our foreign investment team where you can truly make it your own and shape how this function operates within our leading M&A practice
• Play a pivotal part in major, high‑value transactions, supporting work that directly influences commercial outcomes and deal success
• Join a collaborative M&A team in Canberra that values initiative, ownership, and the chance to build a unique specialist skill set

About the role

We’re looking for a full‑time Legal Executive/Paralegal to join our high‑performing M&A team in Canberra, supporting some of the most interesting and high‑value transactions in the market.

FIRB (Foreign Investment Review Board) approvals sit at the centre of many major deals, and this role gives you the opportunity to play a pivotal part in work that truly shapes commercial outcomes. Transactions involving foreign investment often cannot proceed without FIRB clearance, making accuracy, speed, and strong coordination essential.

As our Paralegal/Legal Executive, you’ll be the engine that keeps these critical matters moving - managing the FIRB portal, tracking key deadlines, and ensuring the team has complete visibility across all matters.

If you’re someone who thrives on responsibility, enjoys being the organiser at the heart of complex work, and wants to make a real impact, this role offers genuine variety and purpose every day.

Key responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include, but won’t be limited to:

• Managing the interaction and workflow between the FIRB portal and the legal team
• Overseeing FIRB portal administration, ensuring all submissions and updates are actioned promptly
• Maintaining oversight of deliverables on matters, including tracking deadlines and ensuring timely client deliverables
• Coordinating workflow and project‑managing the broader team to keep matters moving efficiently
• Supporting a high volume of internal stakeholders as part of complex, multi‑partner transactions
• Monitoring incoming work across the practice, ensuring requests are allocated correctly and progresses
• Ensuring all correspondence and documentation is accurately filed to the correct matter

About You

• Previous experience as a paralegal, legal assistant, or similar role within a corporate, commercial, or transactional practice
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to track multiple matters simultaneously
• Confidence working with legal portals, document management systems, and matter workflows
• A proactive mindset - you anticipate needs, follow up on deadlines, and keep matters moving
• High attention to detail and a commitment to accurate, timely work
• The ability to build strong relationships across teams and provide exceptional internal service
• A collaborative, team‑oriented approach with a willingness to roll up your sleeves during busy periods

Who are we?

We help our clients manage their risk and enable their growth. Our full-service offering combines un-matched top tier local capability complemented with an international platform.

We have deep roots in Australia spanning almost 200 years and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional owners and custodians of these lands and waters.

Why work with us?

We promote a collaborative culture where people feel respected, valued and supported both personally and professionally, and where diversity and inclusion also play an important role in enhancing our knowledge, driving innovative solutions for our clients and creating positive social impact. 

We live by our Principles, and strive for mastery in all that we do.  We take pride in the high quality work we deliver. Working with colleagues and clients who are leaders in their fields, means the ability to explore new paths to progress with continual learning and development, career and leadership opportunities.

As part of the KWM community you’ll have access to a suite of wellbeing initiatives, benefits, policies and processes, to enable you to achieve your career goals.

At KWM, we’ll provide you with the platform to Learn, Master, Lead.

Next Steps

Please click ‘Apply Now’ to apply online with your cover letter summarising why you’re applying and your resume to support your experience.

If you have any questions or need any further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Sophie Larrett at Sophie.Larrett@au.kwm.com

If you are not an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you must hold all visas and other approvals necessary for you to work for the firm in Australia.
 

Diversity and Inclusion

King & Wood Mallesons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people from diverse backgrounds. We welcome, value, support and harness the positive benefits that people’s different life experiences bring, especially as they relate to gender, sexual identity, culture, faith, disability and life stages. 

If you are unsure if you meet all criteria for this role, but have a passion for delivering high quality work, developing your skills and realising your full potential, then we encourage you to apply and have a further conversation about how you could fit at KWM.

We have a range of inclusive hiring practices – if you would like to seek workplace adjustments to complete your application please contact the Recruitment contact for this role or email careers@au.kwm.com