Head of Legal, Germany and Northern Europe

**Flexible Work Eligible**: Remote Work

**DISCOVER your opportunity**

**Head of Legal, Germany and Northern Europe**(M/F/d)**

Permanent, Cologne, Germany

This is a CBI role regulated under the Central Bank of Ireland’s Fitness and Probity regime.
- The Head of Legal Germany and Northern Europe will lead and oversee a team of lawyers based in Germany and Northern Europe (to date: Benelux, Nordics, Austria, Switzerland and Poland), dealing with day-to-day requests for legal advice coming from local management (esp. Country Management and Underwriting Teams) in relation to (re)insurance, commercial and corporate activities and will deal with all aspects of legal work for the AXAXL Branch network in Northern Europe.
- The Head of Legal Germany and Northern Europe will form part of the German branch Leadership Team, partnering with internal stakeholders, including in the APAC Europe Business Unit and other enabling functions.
- The Head of Legal Germany and Northern Europe will report to the General Counsel for APAC Europe & Global Programs and have a dotted line to the Country manager for Germany and Northern Europe.

**DISCOVER**your opportunity**

What will your essential responsibilities include?
- Lead and oversee a team of lawyers based in Germany and in Northern Europe and ensure delivery effective, efficient and timely legal advice to the business across the region.
- Support Country Management in enhancing the governance, compliance, and internal control framework to ensure alignment with AXA XL's business objectives and regulatory requirements and joining and attending to the relevant branch’s management committee(s).
- Perform and arrange for local Legal trainings as required.
- Reviewing marketing and commercial materials and press releases.
- Liaise with competent authorities and industry’s associations and arranging for relevant filings.
- Oversee local non-claims litigations and report developments to the APAC Europe General counsel.
- Wording support and legal advice to all lines of business, including drafting of pre-bind guidance, perform post bind reviews.
- Approve on commercial contracts and closely interact with AXA XL’s international Procurement team in this regard.
- Keep abreast of changes in relevant legal, compliance and regulatory developments, with a specific focus on insurance and insurance distribution rules, contract and commercial law, financial crime regulation and others that may be relevant to the company’s and their clients’ business. Key advisor to the General Counsel APAC Europe on insurance and regulatory matters for APAC Europe (Horizon scanning)
- Provide a monthly report as part of the standard XLICSE branch reporting coordinated through Country Managers.
- Monitor legal activities of external counsels.
- Collaborate with Compliance team on various issues across Northern Europe.
- Coordinate and support AXA XL / Group projects in collaboration with peers and other functions.
- Steer APAC Europe Legal Team on Global and Regional projects including Tech & Ops related projects in collaboration with peers in AXA XL and AXA as well as with relevant functions.

You will report to General Counsel APAC & Europe & Global Programs.

**SHARE your talent**

**SHARE your talent**

We’re looking for someone who has these abilities and skills:

- Fully qualified lawyer (2nd state examination) with at least one exam passed with distinction
- 15 years+ of professional experience as a in house lawyer within the Large risk Insurance industry (Large risks insurers and brokers). Operational experience (like underwriting or claims) is a plus, as well as job experience abroad.
- Specialized in insurance and reinsurance law (including global programs expertise), and related litigation, with knowledge and experience in compliance, commercial law and civil law.
- Proven experience in team management.
- Excellent technical legal skills, especially across (re)insurance and general commercial work.
- Excellent communication skills, commercial acumen and the ability to explain and present complex issues clearly and efficiently to underwriters, managers and senior executives.
- Strong understanding of EU legal and regulatory environments.
- Foreign languages preferred: German and English, additional language of the region a plus.
- Broad knowledge of insurance contract law.
- Ability to exercise sound judgement and provide good, robust and commercial legal advice.
- Ability to work independently without supervision as well as part of a team.
- Ability to manage and support a diverse team of European lawyers.
- The position is designed as a corporate lawyer position (status as Syndikusrechtsanwalt)

**Our BENEFITS**

We’re offering:

- An attractive working environment, with attractive compensation with a secure, socially committed and fair employer
- For us, the compatibility of family and career is important - among other things with 30 days of vacation plus 1 day vacation on your birthday, a fl