Regional Corporate Legal Counsel (Employment Law & Industrial Relations)

Role Overview

We are seeking a versatile and commercially-minded Regional Corporate Legal Counsel to join our team in Kuala Lumpur. This role serves as a strategic legal partner for our operations across Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan. You will be responsible for providing robust legal advice on general corporate matters, commercial contracts, and employment law, while coordinating with both internal stakeholders and external legal partners across these jurisdictions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Employment & Industrial Relations (IR)

• Act as the subject matter expert on the Employment Law and provide high-level oversight for labor law compliance in regional offices.

• Guide HR teams in Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan on local employment practices, including contract drafting, disciplinary actions, and terminations.

• Manage sensitive Industrial Relations issues and minimize regional litigation risks.

2. Regional Corporate Governance & Compliance

• Oversee corporate secretarial matters and regulatory filings for subsidiaries in Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan, ensuring adherence to local Companies Acts and statutory obligations.

• Advise on regional corporate restructuring, and market entry strategies within the region.

• Implement and monitor cross-border compliance frameworks, including Anti-Bribery & Corruption and regional Data Privacy standards.

3. Commercial & Business Legal (Regional)

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of regional commercial agreements, including cross-border/local distribution, vendor and supplier contracts, rental and leasing agreement, NDA.

• Standardize legal templates across the regional offices to ensure consistency in risk management.

• Provide pragmatic legal solutions for business units to achieve commercial objectives while mitigating risks unique to each specific market.

4. External Counsel & Internal Stakeholder Management

• Source, appoint, and manage the performance of external legal firms/lawyers across the five jurisdictions. Monitor legal budgets and ensure cost-effective service delivery.

• Work closely with the Regional C-Suite, Finance, and HR departments based in KL and regional hubs to provide seamless legal support for business operations.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from a recognized university.

• Experience in regional law is a significant advantage.

• Min. 5 years of Post-Qualified Experience (PQE), with at least 2 years in a regional or cross-border capacity.

• Strong drafting and negotiation skills in English (essential). Proficiency in Mandarin is highly preferred to manage regional documentation.

• Proven experience in managing external law firms across different jurisdictions.

• Meticulous, resourceful, and able to communicate with people at all levels.

Work Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (with Regional Oversight)