Legal Counsel

Legal Counsel —GermanyPosition Overview:Following a recent acquisition, this Legal Counsel role is a pivotal member of our legal team, responsible for comprehensively leading and managing all legal affairs for our German operations. This includes providing dedicated support for key strategic initiatives in Germany and championing Group-level compliance within the German entity. This position requires strong independent project-managing abilities, robust legal research and analytical skills, and excellent communication abilities to effectively collaborate with internal teams, group headquarters, and external stakeholders including governmental departments.Work Place: Berlin, GermanyResponsibilities:Comprehensive German Legal Operations:Draft, review, negotiate, and finalize a wide range of contracts, agreements, and other legal documents essential for the company’s business operations in Germany, including but not limited to commercial agreements, vendor contracts, partnership agreements, and potentially leases or construction agreements as relevant to the business.Provide dedicated and specialized legal support for key strategic projects and initiatives within Germany, advising on all related legal and regulatory aspects from inception to completion.Legal Risk Management & Compliance (Germany Focus):Conduct legal research and manage legal risks in relation to the company’s operations in Germany (both offline and online).Independently manage and handle comprehensive legal projects and advisory related to German regulatory requirements, including but not limited to importation/exportation compliance, product labeling/marking , advertising compliance , data protection, employment law, and consumer protection requirements.Develop, implement, and monitor compliance programs and policies for the German entity, ensuring adherence to local laws and Group-level compliance standards.Manage corporate secretarial matters for the German entity, ensuring good corporate governance in line with German corporate law.Intellectual Property Protection:Oversee the protection of the company’s intellectual property rights in Germany and support regional IP strategies.Review and negotiate IP licensing and related contracts and agreements to ensure compliance with applicable laws and in the best interest of the company.Stakeholder & External Counsel Management:Liaise effectively with external legal counsel in Germany and government agencies to ensure smooth operations and compliance with legal obligations.Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand business needs and provide practical, commercially-sound legal solutions.Headquarters & Group Legal Liaison:Assist the headquarters (HQ) legal team with legal affairs in relation to auditor’s reviews, adjustments of shareholding structure, M&A activities affecting Germany, and other legal matters as assigned by the HQ legal team from time to time.Knowledge Sharing & Development:Participate in and, where appropriate, conduct legal training sessions to enhance the legal knowledge and compliance awareness of internal teams in Germany.Qualifications:Fully qualified German lawyer; successfully completed First and Second German State Examinations in Law is highly preferred.Admission to the German Bar is a significant advantage, especially as an in-house counsel. Alternatively, qualification in another civil law jurisdiction with substantial experience in German law will be considered.Minimum of 5 years of relevant legal experience, ideally with a combination of law firm and in-house counsel experience, preferably within a multinational corporation. Experience in retail is a plus.Strong legal research and analytical skills, with the ability to independently manage projects, interpret, and apply complex German legal provisions.Solid understanding of German contract law, commercial law, corporate law, data privacy, and relevant industry regulations.Desired Skills:Experience working in a transnational corporation and familiarity with navigating matrix organizations.Excellent command of German and English (both written and spoken) is a must.Proven ability to work independently, take ownership of assigned tasks, and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.Creative and pragmatic thinker with the ability to provide innovative yet practical legal solutions to complex business challenges.Positive attitude, commercially astute, and results-oriented approach, with a strong commitment to the company's values and mission.Proficient in legal software and technology tools, as well as Microsoft Office suite.