Special Counsel - Regulatory Compliance, Aged Care & Disability Services

Special Counsel - Regulatory Compliance, Aged Care & Disability Services (Sydney)

We are seeking an established senior practitioner to lead the development of our Regulatory Compliance - Aged Care & Disability Services practice in New South Wales.  The practice area is led from Melbourne by Victor Harcourt, Partner and Practice Area Leader.  The successful candidate will be the senior resident practitioner for this practice area in Sydney, working directly with the Practice Area Leader and with the practice area’s other Partner, Anita Courtney, as part of a national team of eleven practitioners, and carrying individual accountability for a book of work and for the growth of the practice in New South Wales.  The position also involves working in RK DocsConnect Pty Ltd, the firm’s subscription based regulatory compliance template and knowledge business.

The role is client facing and practice building, spanning complex regulatory advisory work, compliance frameworks, investigations and inquiries, administrative law challenges, and governance and risk mandates across the Commonwealth funded aged care sector, disability services (the NDIS and state funded services) and retirement living.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Providing legal advice and representation to registered aged care and disability services providers, as well as to peak bodies and providers of services to those industries.
• Advising on regulatory compliance with the Commonwealth aged care law scheme, including the Aged Care Act 2024 (Cth) and the Aged Care Rules 2025 (Cth), and with the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cth) and the rules made under it, including the conditions of registration, the statutory duties and the Quality Standards under each scheme.
• Leading responses to regulators, including the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, on investigations and examinations, information and document requests, serious incident and reportable incident matters, Code of Conduct matters, complaints, and compliance and enforcement action.
• Representation in litigation and review matters, including applications to the Administrative Review Tribunal, coronial inquests, NCAT proceedings and proceedings in the Federal Court and other courts.
• Designing compliance frameworks, conducting compliance risk assessments, and delivering training and education to boards, governing bodies and senior executives.
• Drafting regulatory compliance templates and contributing to product development for RK DocsConnect Pty Ltd.
• Acting as the senior point of contact for New South Wales clients of the practice area, and deputising for the Practice Area Leader as required.
• Leading, mentoring and supervising lawyers and graduates in Sydney; building team capability and utilisation; contributing to recruitment; and championing quality, knowledge management and best practice in cyber security and anti-money laundering compliance.
• Driving business development and relationship expansion in the New South Wales market; originating and converting opportunities; setting and contributing to pricing and scoping; producing thought leadership; presenting at industry forums; and maintaining strong networks across aged care and disability providers, peak bodies and service vendors.
• Contributing to the practice area business plan and to the New South Wales growth strategy with the Practice Area Leader and the Practice Group Leader.
• Carrying an agreed individual budget for billable hours, personal fees and originated fees, and contributing to the revenue performance of the practice area.
• Working with the Aged Care & Retirement Living Sector Group and the Health, Disability and Charitable Sector Group, and with the firm’s Corporate and Commercial, Workplace Relations, Employment and Safety, Property and Development, and Dispute Resolution teams.
• Time recording and billing.
• Complying with the firm’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing program, including customer due diligence and reporting obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth).

Skills/Experience

• At least ten years post admission experience, a substantial part of it in aged care, disability services or a closely related regulatory practice.
• Demonstrated experience running complex regulatory, investigation and review matters independently, and taking primary responsibility for client relationships.
• Experience conducting matters before tribunals and courts, including the Administrative Review Tribunal, NCAT, the Coroner and the Federal Court.
• Experience designing compliance frameworks and delivering training to boards, governing bodies and senior executives.
• An established profile in the sector, or the demonstrated capacity to build one, evidenced by speaking engagements, publication, peak body engagement or a client following.
• Well-developed initiative and effective Business Development skills with a demonstrated ability to think critically and strategically.
  

Further Information 

Any questions regarding the vacancy can be directed to Radhika Rahul on (02) 8987 0091. For further information or to submit your application for this position please visit the careers page on our website. Please note any offer of employment made by Russell Kennedy Lawyers to the successful candidate will be subject to a police check. We are currently accepting applications from direct applicants only.

Our Firm and Culture 

Russell Kennedy is a commercial law firm with more than 380 people in Melbourne and Sydney. At Russell Kennedy we are committed to providing exceptional legal strategies and solutions to our clients, guided by market-leading expertise across our key sectors of focus.

As part of our team, you'll receive hands-on experience, quality mentoring and access to valuable learning opportunities. We encourage a professional and committed work ethic, while recognising the importance of an enjoyable working environment and balanced lifestyle. We believe we have a culture where individuals of all backgrounds and abilities feel included and confident in bringing their whole selves to work, and where your talents are fostered, empowering you to contribute to the success of the firm.

Russell Kennedy is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is certified as a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality, as well as being certified as a gold employer in the Australian Workplace Equality Index for employers with 500 or less employees. We respect and celebrate the things that make each of us different. The firm supports and promotes a range of initiatives to create an environment that is characterised by equal access and respected participation of all groups and individuals. There is a particular focus and emphasis on gender equality, inclusion of First Nations peoples, accessibility for people with disability, LGBTIQ+ inclusion, and cultural diversity. Russell Kennedy is recognised by Australian Disability Network as a Disability Confident Recruiter employer.

Russell Kennedy is committed to attracting and retaining the best talent available. We acknowledge the importance of work-life balance, all current and prospective employees have access to flexible work options and workplace adjustments including alternate accessible formats, where required. If you require an adjustment during the recruitment process, please contact Leanda Nissen on 03 9609 1523.

Russell Kennedy Lawyers acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we meet and work. Our offices are situated on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri and Gadigal peoples. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, to their emerging leaders and to the resilience, creativity and vitality of their cultures including their laws and systems of governance.