Legal Head - Media & Entertainment

The Role

A leading Media & Entertainment Client is looking to hire their worldwide Global Head of Legal, based in Singapore.

The Global Head of Legal will have overall responsibility for coordinating all legal and compliance activities globally. S/he will report to the company's global CFO.

S/he will be the principal legal officer and will serve as a key adviser to all global business leaders. The Global Head of Legal will regularly consult with global business leaders and capability counsel to align on vision, key priorities, strategies, and expectations.

Client is a matrix organization, and so the successful candidate will be comfortable operating in this structure. Influencing skills, maturity and gravitas will be important.

The scope of legal issues will include general commercial, intellectual property, corporate governance, M&A, litigation, employment, and regulatory matters. S/He will also be responsible for ensuring that the company's strategic plans are aligned with government and regulatory policy changes and that the businesses have access to the key government authorities regionally.

The Global Head of Legal will manage external legal resources in US and India and determine the inhouse resource hiring strategy.

Specific Responsibilities :

- Perform commercial contract review and negotiations of all carrier, content provider, advertising agency and other business partner contracts.

- Define legal policy, contract positioning globally for all types of contracts.

- Maintain global signatory responsibility for all contracts.

- Partner with global leadership as well as the business and capability leaders to drive new business opportunities, maintain viability of current business and develop legislative and regulatory strategies

- Consult with global business and capability legal leaders to identify key legal priorities and strategie for the various businesses and capabilities. Develop and execute plan to achieve the stated objectives

- Provide advice and direction on key strategic legal issues which could have a material impact on the Company's finances, competitive positioning and/or reputation

- Keep abreast of all legal, legislative and regulatory developments in North East Asia. Apprise senior management in a timely manner and assure full compliance with laws, regulations and policy matters

- Manage the legal department in a rewarding business environment to attract, retain and develop experienced legal professional staff

- Cost-effectively provide high quality legal services responsive to client needs and maximizing the Company's achievement of business objectives

- Corporate transactions and projects: In coordination with global business and legal leadership, manage internal and external legal staff to provide timely and effective legal advice and documentation for Company business transactions and projects

- Litigation, dispute and regulatory matters: Work with relevant internal stakeholders in managing litigation or threatened litigation, administrative or regulatory proceedings affecting the Company and its affiliates in the region. Defend the company in litigation and initiate legal action as appropriate to protect the Company's interests.

- Liability prevention and risk management: Provide advice and counsel regarding managing legal risk and liability prevention to senior management. Participate in the oversight of internal audit activities.

- Legal compliance: In coordination with global legal subject matter experts, advise on the laws and regulations applicable to the business within the region, and continuously review new requirements and oversight over the Company's development of policies, procedures and training. Select, build, and maintain, the external legal relationships with local vendors in our various markets.

- Corporate compliance and ethics: Promote a strong corporate code of conduct and business ethics in the region. Conduct or direct internal investigations on behalf of the Company in the region. Oversee the training of employees in code of conduct and related policies.

- Labour and Employment: Support the HR function globally with legal employment matters.

- Government Affairs: Maintain regular dialogue on key issues with government and industry contacts to ensure Client's position on key issues and contribution to the management of these issues is well understood and accepted

The Person :

Qualifications and Experience :

- Excellent academic credentials, including a JD or similar, from a highly respected law school

- At least 15 years of professional legal experience, ideally including some time in a top-ranked law firm

- Has held the position of Regional General Counsel in a large, complex company, or Deputy/Divisional Regional General Counsel in a significantly larger company or General Counsel in a mid-size company.

- Experience working within a truly multinational company is important

- A strong background in compliance is important

- Knowledge/experience in the media industry is important

- Broad-based legal training that includes general commercial law, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, intellectual property, antitrust, and employment and labour

Personal Characteristics :

- Ability to work in a matrixed, collaborative, global environment

- Ethical, with highest standards of integrity

- Ability to think critically and make clear and well-reasoned decisions

- Excellent legal and business acumen

- Ability and desire to work in an fast-moving environment

- Proven leadership skills; ability to mentor and develop talent; someone who encourages cooperation and teamwork across organizations and functions

- High level of energy, enthusiasm and motivation skills

- High EQ - know how to manage through influence, anticipate issues, and build key relationships across the organization. Ability to build trust throughout the company

- Strong customer centric and collaborative mindset

- Hard-working, with a willingness to roll up one's sleeves

- Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills, including strong presentation and negotiation skills

- Sensitivity to a range of cultures and business philosophies