Senior Legal Counsel

The position:  

As Senior Legal Counsel, you will provide strategic and practical legal support across a broad range of commercial, contractual, and business matters in an international environment. You will act as a trusted business partner, advising stakeholders on legal risks and opportunities, supporting commercial initiatives and all kinds of business projects. You will help the company navigate legal risks, unlock opportunities and achieve its objectives while maintaining high standards of compliance, governance and risk management. 

A key aspect of the role is supporting the continuous improvement of the company's contracting processes, including the development, standardization, and maintenance of contract templates and playbooks. Experience with distribution models and distribution law is highly desirable, although this is not a specialist position.  

Your responsibilities will include:   

• Provide day-to-day legal advice to business stakeholders on operational and strategic matters. 

•  Partner with business teams to identify legal risks, assess opportunities and develop pragmatic, business-focused solutions. 

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a broad range of commercial agreements, including customer, supplier, service, partnership, confidentiality and other agreements. 

• Support the design and implementation of distribution and channel partner arrangements and advise on the group’s distribution strategy. 

• Develop, maintain, and update contract templates, standard clauses, and negotiation guidelines. 

• Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting commercial activities and distribution networks. 

• Support the harmonization and continuous improvement of contracting processes and practices across the organization, and contribute to projects aimed at increasing efficiency, consistency, and scalability. 

• Deliver training and guidance to internal stakeholders on legal risk awareness and best practices. 

• Support cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives across the organization. 

• Provide legal support in connection with product-related issues, commercial incidents, and other business-critical matters requiring legal assessment and risk mitigation. 

• Handle customer complaints, claims, and contentious matters, and support the resolution of disputes in coordination with internal stakeholders and external counsel where required. 

• Advise on regulatory and compliance matters affecting the company's products, services, and business operations. 

• Assist with dispute prevention and management, including coordination with external counsel when required. 

• Contribute to corporate governance, compliance, and risk management initiatives. 

Educational background, experience and skills: 

• Master's degree in Law, ideally with a specialization in Business, Commercial, Contract or Competition Law. 

• A minimum of 10-12 years of experience gained both in a law firm and as an in-house practitioner.  

• Strong experience as a commercial legal generalist in an international business environment. 

• Extensive contract drafting, negotiation, and stakeholder management experience. 

• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain contract templates and support contracting processes. 

• Knowledge of distribution law and distribution models is a plus. 

• Exposure to corporate matters, compliance, and M&A projects is an advantage. 

• Fluent in French and English. 

Personal characteristics: 

• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across functions and levels of the organization.  

• Strong analytical, critical and problem-solving skills, coupled with sound legal judgment.  

• Proactive, pragmatic and business-oriented mindset, with the ability to balance legal risk and commercial objectives. 

• Strong stakeholder management skills and ability to work effectively in a complex, international environment.  

• Highly adaptable and resilient, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced fast-paced and evolving business environment.  

• Flexibility to adapt to changing legal landscapes and work effectively in a dynamic corporate environment. Collaborative team player with the ability to work autonomously and drive projects forward. 

• Hands-on approach, intellectual curiosity, and a willingness to take ownership of matters from inception to completion.  

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with excellent drafting and contract management capabilities. 

• Highest level of professional integrity and ethics, with a commitment to compliance and responsible business conduct.