Stephen Blank is the Managing Director of Counselcorp with over two decades of experience in corporate law and advisory roles. His career has seamlessly blended private practice and in-house positions, offering a comprehensive perspective on legal matters. Leading Counselcorp for the last five years, Stephen has cultivated a firm known for providing astute legal counsel and corporate advisory services to a diverse clientele ranging from sizable multinational corporations to small and medium enterprises. Earlier in his career, Stephen served as General Counsel for an Australian listed pharmaceutical company, spearheading crucial growth initiatives across Australia and Asia. His initial eight years in private practice focused on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets with some of Australia's top commercial law firms. This was followed by a tenure as General Counsel at Australia's largest independent petroleum company. His strategic influence has spanned industries such as healthcare, energy, telecommunications, IT, and government. At Counselcorp, Stephen's expertise encompasses a broad range of transactional matters, including equity capital markets advice, mergers and acquisitions, and funding arrangements. The firm's tailored approach has led to significant involvement in sectors like healthcare and IT, particularly in facilitating M&A transactions and securing funding for new ventures. In addition to his leadership at Counselcorp, Stephen holds significant roles at CNH Industrial where he contributes to legal and compliance strategies across the ANZ region. Here, he has pioneered substantial projects, including dealer agreement rewrites and the development of a comprehensive Corporate Governance Framework. Previously, Stephen was instrumental in the growth of Ascent Pharmahealth Limited, managing strategic development, product portfolios, and supplier relations that significantly expanded the company's market presence. Stephen's academic credentials include a Master of Laws, a Bachelor of Laws, and a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University, accompanied by a Graduate Diploma in Company Secretarial Practice. His professional affiliations include membership with the Law Institute of Victoria and the Governance Institute of Australia. Beyond his professional life, Stephen is an avid golfer and tennis player, enjoys camping, and values time spent with his three children.
General Counsel, Director and Company Secretary
CNH
May 2023 - Present • 3 years 6 months
Managing Director
GoPharm
Jan 2013 - Oct 2014 • 1 year 9 months
General Counsel / Managing Director
Counselcorp Lawyers and Corporate Advisers
May 2012 - Present • 14 years 6 months
Senior Vice President/ General Counsel and Company Secretary
Ascent Pharmahealth Limited
Aug 2006 - Apr 2012 • 5 years 8 months
General Counsel
United Petroleum Pty Ltd
Sep 2004 - Aug 2006 • 1 year 11 months
Senior Associate
Norton Rose Fulbright
Oct 1999 - Sep 2004 • 4 years 11 months
Associate
Gadens
Jul 1995 - Sep 1999 • 4 years 2 months
Grad. Dip Company Secretarial Practice, Company Secretary
Governance Institute of Australia
2002 - 2003
Master of Laws (LL.M.), Commercial Law and Intellectual Property Law
Monash University
2001 - 2004
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.); Bachelor of Economics (B.Ec.), Commercial Law; Accounting, Economics and Management
Monash University
1989 - 1996
Last checked: 12 Sept 2026 • Checked with Victorian Legal Services Board
