Legal Counsel - APAC

About the role

ofi supplies cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices ingredients to household food brands and manufacturers worldwide. Reporting to the Senior Corporate Counsel, APAC, the Legal Counsel acts as a proactive, strategic business partner to ofi's businesses and functions across the APAC region, supporting private label, innovation, sales and other commercial activities while ensuring compliance, managing legal and commercial risk and protecting intellectual property. The role works closely with APAC business units and supports group functions such as Treasury and Finance, as well as selected global projects.

Key responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements with vendors, customers and third parties, including manufacturing, supply, quality, distribution, agency, packaging, banking and finance, warehousing, R&D and other commercial agreements.
• Advise Treasury, Finance and other group functions on banking and finance matters, including financing arrangements, guarantees, security documents and intercompany arrangements.
• Provide practical, business-oriented advice on the meaning, implications and risks of legal documents and contracts.
• Advise on product, food, labelling, advertising, consumer protection and other regulatory matters.
• Manage disputes, investigations and potential claims, coordinating internal stakeholders and external counsel and advising on dispute-avoidance strategies.
• Support key regional customers and help develop commercially appropriate solutions for them.
• Participate in cross-functional, regional and global projects and support business leadership and the APAC Legal team in analysing complex legal issues.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments and advise stakeholders on their impact.

Required profile

• LLB, Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent degree.
• 5-10 years of post-qualification legal experience in a leading law firm and/or a multinational corporate legal function.
• Qualified to practise law in at least one recognised jurisdiction and in good standing with the relevant professional body.
• Experience in commercial contracting and banking and finance preferred, plus one or more of manufacturing, international trade, dispute management and food law.
• Experience with consumer products or the agriculture industry preferred.

Required skills

• Ability to navigate complex, global, matrixed organisations and work across jurisdictions, time zones and cultures.
• Strong communication, verbal and written, and a keen eye for detail.
• Self-starter, highly organised, able to deliver clear, business-oriented advice with minimal supervision.
• Eager to learn new areas of law and the company's businesses.