- Lead a respected legal partnership at a pivotal moment in its evolution
- Shape culture, capability, and strategy across Southland and Central Otago
- Bring your people and commercial leadership skills to a high-performing, values-driven firm
About the Company:
AWS Legal is one of the South Island's most established law firms, with over 130 years serving the Southland and Central Otago communities. From six offices — Invercargill, Queenstown, Alexandra, Gore, Winton, and Te Anau — the firm delivers specialist expertise across corporate and commercial, rural and agribusiness, property development and residential property, employment and health and safety, energy, water, forestry and climate change, litigation and dispute resolution, family and relationship property, and succession, trusts and estates.
The Southern region has remained relatively insulated from the economic volatility affecting other parts of New Zealand and offers stability, strong community connections, and a quality of life that is increasingly hard to find. AWS Legal knows its region, is trusted within it, and is committed to its long-term future.
About The Role:
AWS Legal is seeking a Chief Executive Officer accountable to the partnership for leading the firm's strategic direction, governance, and management of key risks. This is a broad leadership role spanning people and capability, finance, technology, client services, legal administration, and brand and market positioning.
You will step into a well-resourced, cohesive firm with a clear strategic plan built around three pillars: being the employer of choice in Southland and Central Otago, being recognised as trusted advisors by clients, and ensuring the ongoing success and sustainability of the firm; you will understand, embrace, and actively lead delivery against this plan.
Beyond operational oversight, the role carries real strategic weight. The Chief Executive will drive strategic planning and implementation, oversee firm-wide performance against agreed plans and budgets, and ensure alignment across practice groups and individual partners. The firm is also actively navigating the implications of AI and technology for legal service delivery — including how it prices and delivers its work in the years ahead — a sector-wide strategic challenge that will require genuine leadership, not just oversight.
This is a role for a leader who is genuinely embedded in the Southern region, comfortable acting as a senior spokesperson for the firm, and energised by representing AWS Legal in the business and community organisations that matter to the region. A background in law is not required — what matters is the ability to lead with credibility, build trust quickly, and bring a fresh perspective to a firm that is ready for its next chapter.
Skills & Experience:
- Proven leadership experience in senior operational or general management roles, ideally within professional services.
- Strong interpersonal skills: the ability to lead, manage, and influence lawyers who own the business they work in, navigating the complexity of a partnership model with confidence and credibility.
- Strong financial and business acumen and skills in overseeing financial performance, cash flow, profitability, and financial sustainability.
- A track record of building high-performing teams, contributing to organisational culture, and driving performance across both financial and behavioural measures
- Technology literacy sufficient to provide strategic direction across cyber, AI, and digital transformation
- An understanding of risk and compliance obligations, or the ability to quickly get across these
- Commercially astute and strategically minded and project management and planning capabilities.
- Credibility with clients and the ability to engage effectively with the firm's client base and wider community
- Experience reporting to a board or managing partners, to support governance decision-making
- Preferably a tertiary qualification in accountancy, commerce or related field or an MBA.
Benefits:
- Genuine leadership scope and autonomy — a seat at the table, not a support function
- A stable, well-resourced firm with a strong regional footprint and clear strategic direction
- Membership of the LawLink cooperative — a national network of leading regional law firms offering peer support, financial benchmarking, and knowledge sharing; a genuine resource for an incoming Chief Executive
- A collegial partnership invested in its people and open to evolving how it works
- Competitive remuneration and benefits package (detail to be confirmed)
- Flexible leave options and working arrangements to suit your lifestyle
- Health and wellbeing programme, sporting activities, and a lively social calendar
- Focused career development and mentoring
- The lifestyle advantages of the deep south: breathtaking scenery, strong communities, and an unparalleled work-life balance
- Relocation support available for the right candidate.
AWS Legal is shaped by its five values — Better Together, Be Exceptional, Do it Smarter, Be Respectful, and Always Authentic — and these are lived out in how the partnership works day to day.
The culture is collegial and grounded. People are expected to tell it straight, embrace change, and bring their best. In return, the firm invests genuinely in its staff through wellness initiatives, career development, and an active, connected workplace. The same commitment to strong relationships, straight talking, and delivering on promises that defines the firm's client work applies equally to how it looks after its people.