Brenntag, the world’s largest & leading full-line chemical distributor with a market cap of EUR11 billion is seeking a highly-motivated, diligent, and meticulous Regional Legal Counsel – YOU will play a crucial role in supporting the Business units in contract negotiations, commercial advice, and corporate matters.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating contracts in English and Mandarin. Candidates should have experience in contract review and negotiation. Those with prior experience in distribution agreements, supply agreements, procurement agreements, office/warehouse leases are preferred.
- Working closely and communicating effectively with Business, Procurement and other departments to ensure that objectives are achieved and risks properly identified.
- Supporting APAC Legal Director on disputes, compliance, licensing, data privacy, employment and intellectual property matters that may arise in day-to-day operations; and special projects (e.g. M&As, restructurings, regional event organizations etc).
- Supporting Brenntag APAC entities on corporate matters, e.g. to draft articles of association, company by-laws, shareholders/directors resolutions and minutes, prepare/review statutory filings (particularly in China).
- Work with corporate secretarial firms and instruct external counsel (including fee management).
- Work with other members of APAC Legal team in developing legal templates and ensuring that contracts are properly stored as part of contract management.
- Implementing Brenntag’s Group Polices & Guidelines, and supporting APAC Legal Director on the conduct of trainings to other departments.
- Candidate will report directly to Brenntag APAC Legal Director (based in Singapore).
Job Requirements:
- Education: Bachelor of Laws Degree (minimum).
- Language: Excellent command of English and Chinese at business level – Must have ability to negotiate and draft legal documents in both languages.
- At least 4 years of post-qualification experience, ideally with a mix of private practice and in-house experience in an MNC.
- Candidates should be a generalist experienced in Corporate and Commercial matters, who enjoys working closely with Business teams in contract review/negotiation (Note: This will take up roughly 60 ~70% of this role).
- Candidates with background in chemicals industry or distribution business are preferred.
- Ability to multi-task in the dynamic & fast-moving environment of a large MNC with multiple stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently – once the successful candidate has assimilated into the role, he/she will not be under daily supervision for BAU (‘business as usual’) matters. But there will be regular catch-ups with the APAC Legal Director, and closer supervision on special projects and non-BAU matters.
- Candidate should therefore be a team-player who is willing to learn, and sees him/herself as part of APAC Legal organization (rather than a ‘solo’ legal manager) - with good judgment on when to escalate issues to APAC Legal Director.
- Experienced in managing external corporate secretarial firms and external counsel.
- This is a regional role, so (in addition to PRC work) there will be exposure to work in other APAC / SEA countries. Candidate should ideally have experience (or at least interest in) APAC / SEA legal work.
- Candidate is not expected to travel outside of China for day-to-day work. Intermittent travel within China may be required (but is expected to be infrequent).
- Common law degree is preferred but not a must.
Objective: Present the main benefits and incentives for this role.
Guidelines: Highlight fair salary, bonuses, and other financial incentives if applicable. Mention also non-monetary benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and flexible working hours. Emphasize any unique company perks or cultural aspects:
Competitive and fair salary
Comprehensive health insurance
Retirement savings plan
Flexible working hours and remote work options
Professional development opportunities
Brenntag provides equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees of all backgrounds and identities to create a workplace where difference is valued because it forms a resilient and more innovative organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, religion or belief, parental and family status, or any other protected characteristic. We welcome applications from women, men and non-binary candidates of all ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds.
