Senior Corporate Counsel Disputes APAC

Senior Corporate Counsel – Disputes (APAC)

Perth or Brisbane | Permanent

• A commitment to the safety of yourself and your team.

• Lead complex, high‑value disputes across the Asia‑Pacific region in a senior enterprise‑level legal role

• Act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, shaping disputes strategy and managing material legal and reputational risk

We’re Finding Better Ways™ to provide materials the world needs, now and in the future. Our values – care, courage and curiosity – guide how we work and how we treat each other.

About the role

We are seeking a Senior Corporate Counsel – Disputes (APAC) to provide senior legal leadership across Rio Tinto’s disputes portfolio in the Asia‑Pacific region.

Reporting to the Chief Counsel, Disputes, Closure & Sustainability, this is a senior, enterprise‑facing role responsible for shaping and executing disputes strategy across APAC. You will oversee complex, multi‑jurisdictional litigation, arbitration and regulatory investigations, while managing significant legal, commercial and reputational risk.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced disputes lawyer to operate at the forefront of high‑value and sensitive matters, working closely with Product Groups and Functions across APAC and acting as a trusted adviser to senior executives.

You will be responsible for:

• Developing and implementing disputes strategy across APAC in alignment with Group frameworks

• Leading complex, high‑value litigation, arbitration and regulatory investigations across multiple jurisdictions, including managing class actions, regulatory enforcement matters, government investigations and other material disputes relevant to the region

• Ensuring consistent disputes strategy and alignment across Product Groups operating in the region, including working and partnering with Product Group counsel

• Advising senior leaders on emerging dispute risks, trends and mitigation strategies

• Setting litigation and resolution strategies, including settlement and alternative dispute resolution where appropriate

• Managing and optimising external counsel relationships and legal spend across APAC

• Embedding strong governance, reporting discipline and proactive dispute prevention practices

• Supporting the development of a high‑performing regional disputes capability and mentoring legal team members

About you

• Significant senior legal experience in litigation and regulatory investigations, gained in a leading law firm and/or multinational in‑house environment

• Proven experience managing complex, cross‑border disputes across APAC jurisdictions

• Strong strategic judgement with the ability to advise senior executives on material legal and reputational risk

• Demonstrated capability in formulating and executing disputes and litigation strategy in complex environments

• Experience leading and developing high‑performing legal teams and managing external counsel effectively

What we offer

• Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress

• A work environment where safety is always the number one priority

• A permanent position working directly for Rio Tinto

• A competitive base salary reflective of your skills and experience with an annual incentive program

• Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family

• Attractive share ownership plan and company‑provided insurance cover

• Extensive salary sacrifice and packaging options

• Career development and education assistance to further your technical or leadership ambitions

• Family‑friendly wellbeing support and leave for all of life’s reasons

Where you’ll be working

You will be based in Perth or Brisbane, working as part of Rio Tinto’s Legal, Governance & Corporate Affairs function. This role operates across the Asia‑Pacific region and will require travel as reasonably necessary.

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About Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.

We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.

Respect and Inclusion

At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTI+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.

We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.

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