Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Sophie Dowling

Newcastle,Australia

Summary

Dedicated in-house lawyer admitted to practice in 2015 with over 9 years of post-qualification experience. Demonstrated success in establishing strong client relationships and delivering clear and comprehensive legal guidance. Specialises in corporate governance, compliance, and corporate and commercial matters. Committed to providing strategic advice to ensure rigorous regulatory compliance.

Overview

10
10
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Legal Counsel

Coal LSL
02.2024 - Current
  • Advised senior leadership on complex legal matters, contributing to strategic decision-making processes.
  • Negotiated favourable contract terms by diligently reviewing and revising legal documents.
  • Provided legal counsel on a wide range of privacy, data protection, and commercial matters, ensuring compliance with governing legislation.
  • Supported negotiations for a business-critical registry replacement project, working with external counsel to ensure the protection of confidential business information through robust contractual safeguards.
  • Advised on cross-border data transfers and data protection compliance in connection with ICT supply contracts.
  • Cross-functional collaboration to develop and implement privacy-by-design strategies.
  • Handled privacy incident responses, enhancing internal processes and ensuring timely remediation of issues.
  • Evaluated legal and commercial risk factors in business decisions, offering proactive advice to minimise potential exposure.
  • Delivered training to internal stakeholders on privacy laws, data protection regulations, and their business implications.
  • Managed escalated issues involving non-compliant employers, working alongside external counsel to pursue enforcement actions where necessary.

LEGAL COUNSEL

Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Corporation
01.2020 - 02.2024
  • Advised the business on the administration of the Coal Mining Industry Long Service Leave Scheme, ensuring compliance with governing legislation and regulatory frameworks
  • Provided strategic legal advice on compliance, commercial risk factors, and regulatory obligations impacting business operations and decision-making
  • Collaborated with internal teams to design and implement data privacy strategies, ensuring alignment with legal requirements and best practices in data protection
  • Managed escalated legal disputes and contractual issues, including overseeing litigation matters and working closely with external counsel for enforcement and prosecution.
  • Facilitated collaboration among legal team members to ensure a unified and cooperative approach to addressing company-wide legal matters.
  • Created and implemented comprehensive compliance programs aimed at minimising potential legal risks and ensuring adherence to applicable regulations.

LAWYER

SWS Lawyers
07.2017 - 12.2019
  • Advised clients on a variety of legal matters pertaining to business sales, corporate restructures, capital raising and divestments
  • Interpretation of laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses
  • Focused on providing specialised and timely advice to clients
  • Prepared and reviewed transaction documents including business and asset sale agreements, shareholder agreements, company constitutions, trust deeds in accordance with relevant legislation
  • Prepared and drafted estate planning documents including wills, trust deeds, powers of attorney and enduring guardian documents.

SENIOR ANALYST

Deloitte
03.2017 - 07.2017
  • Client facing role (primarily multinationals and pre-IPO companies) within the global equity and rewards team
  • Collaborating with management and HR teams to create effective equity-based compensation plans, including share options and performance shares, that meet the company’s strategic goals
  • Ensuring that executive share plans are tax-effective and drafted in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, including tax and securities laws
  • Drafting term sheets, share plan rules and ancillary documents including loan agreements and offer letters
  • Preparing tax guides for share plan rollouts
  • Preparing presentations for board meetings
  • Ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, regulations and ASX listing rules.

CONSULTANT

Egan Associates
03.2015 - 03.2017
  • Provision of timely legal advice to support remuneration and governance projects, ensuring adherence to Company law, including ASX Listing Rules and ASIC Class Orders
  • Tax law, particularly regarding incentive structures such as employee share schemes
  • Providing client counsel on Initial public offerings (IPOs), reward adjustments, and post-listing compliance
  • Executive remuneration and director fee assessments, including benchmarking
  • Annual report and remuneration report reviews, focusing on transparency
  • Board governance, emphasising director independence, corporate reporting, and ethical remuneration
  • Incentive and reward structures, encompassing security types, performance benchmarks, and implementation
  • Annual general meetings, managing the approval process and legislative conformity.
  • Evaluated client needs and expectations, establishing clear goals for each consulting engagement.
  • Liaised with clients to better understand customer needs and recommend appropriate solutions.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to successfully deliver comprehensive solutions for clients.
  • Assisted clients in navigating complex industry challenges with strategic recommendations.
  • Managed client relationships through regular check-ins and updates on project progress.

Education

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) -

University of Newcastle
Newcastle
2014

Bachelor of Business (BBus) -

University of Newcastle
Newcastle, NSW
2012

Skills

  • Commercial contracts
  • Legal research & analysis
  • Risk assessment & mitigation
  • Contract review & drafting
  • Privacy & data protection
  • Litigation management
  • Legal writing
  • Legal advisory

Timeline

Senior Legal Counsel

Coal LSL
02.2024 - Current

LEGAL COUNSEL

Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Corporation
01.2020 - 02.2024

LAWYER

SWS Lawyers
07.2017 - 12.2019

SENIOR ANALYST

Deloitte
03.2017 - 07.2017

CONSULTANT

Egan Associates
03.2015 - 03.2017

Bachelor of Laws (LLB) -

University of Newcastle

Bachelor of Business (BBus) -

University of Newcastle

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