Senior Counsel – Commercial & Corporate

CHANEL is a privately-owned company whose values are grounded in creating the conditions for people to perform at their best and feel fulfilled and confident in their work. We care deeply about our employees and strive to create a safe environment that values people’s humanity and uniqueness so that they are free to bring their full selves to work and to their life’s calling.

Inspired by our founder, Gabrielle Chanel, who constantly pushed boundaries in her personal and professional life, there is no one way forward at Chanel. We offer a unique work environment where you are encouraged to better understand the brand, the business, and your motivations, so that together we can unlock the possibility of your growth.

At CHANEL, being a purposeful and human-driven employer means being intentional, meaningful and caring in inspiring our people; fostering environments that reflect our strong values; encouraging and enabling inclusion; and investing in work and workplaces that foster collaboration and well-being. This is critical for the long-term success of our business.

About the Role:

Reporting to the Head of Legal, Korea, the Senior Counsel, Commercial & Corporate will provide senior-level legal support across a broad range of commercial, corporate and operational matters.

The role will partner with business divisions and corporate functions on significant initiatives, complex transactions and day-to-day matters requiring experienced legal judgment, practical structuring and commercially balanced advice.

The Senior Counsel will lead or oversee assigned matters from early assessment through implementation, support consistent legal service delivery, and contribute to the continued development of legal capability, governance and ways of working.

Key Responsibilities

Senior Legal Advice and Business Partnership

• Act as a senior legal partner to business and corporate-function stakeholders, providing clear, practical and proportionate advice on material matters.

• Develop a strong understanding of relevant business priorities and operating models in order to anticipate legal needs and support informed decision-making.

• Serve as a senior point of escalation for complex, sensitive or high-impact commercial and corporate matters, in coordination with the Head of Legal.

• Support effective prioritization and delivery of commercial and corporate legal services across the organization.

Commercial Projects, Transactions and Operations

• Lead or oversee the legal workstream for significant commercial projects, transactions, strategic partnerships and other business initiatives.

• Advise on legal and contractual structuring, negotiations and implementation, identifying material legal, operational and risk considerations at an appropriate stage.

• Provide senior review of material, complex or non-standard agreements and support the resolution of contractual or operational issues affecting business execution.

• Advise on a broad range of commercial and corporate matters, which may include retail, distribution, real estate, digital commerce, services, marketing, events and general corporate activities.

Customer and Boutique-Related Matters

• Provide legal support on selected customer or boutique incidents where commercial context, customer experience and operational considerations are material.

• Work with relevant functions to assess and resolve sensitive or complex legal matters in a practical, consistent and appropriately calibrated manner, including coordination with relevant specialist legal colleagues where required.

• Contribute legal input to customer-facing and boutique-related policies, procedures and guidance insofar as they relate to commercial operations, contractual matters or customer interactions.

Matter Management and External Counsel

• Oversee assigned commercial and corporate matters and help ensure appropriate allocation, escalation and follow-through based on complexity, risk and priority.

• Coordinate with regional, global and specialist legal teams where appropriate.

• Manage external counsel on designated matters, including scope, quality, and efficiency.

Team Capability and Legal Governance

• Provide senior review and guidance to other members of the Korea Legal team, as appropriate.

• Promote knowledge sharing and help institutionalize legal capabilities through practical guidance, templates, precedents and training.

• Contribute to the improvement of commercial and corporate legal processes, contract governance, matter management and legal technology.

• Lead and develop the Commercial Legal team, providing clear direction, setting priorities and fostering strong collaboration and capability within the team.