15h Left: Legal Counsel

Job Description

What are we looking for

We are looking for a proactive and experienced Legal Counsel to provide comprehensive legal support across the John Cockerill Group, with a primary focus on sales projects. You will be instrumental in analyzing, drafting, and negotiating various contracts, identifying and mitigating risks, managing legal disputes, and ensuring compliance with applicable regulations. This role requires a sharp legal mind with strong negotiation skills and a commitment to ethical conduct.

Key Responsibilities:

- Analysis, elaboration, drafting, and/or negotiation of all types of contracts (sale, association, consortium, collaboration, license, commercial agency, purchase, JV, etc.) concluded by John Cockerill and its subsidiaries.
- Analysis of the T&Cs (Terms & Conditions) issued by the client and identification of related risks, particularly on contractual and insurance aspects.
- Analysis of risks and constraints inherent in countries where contracts are executed, coordinating with the Tax Department (on permanent establishments, various taxes) and HR Department (on local administrative procedures like work permits), engaging local experts when necessary.
- Search for solutions and development of recommendations to cover or reduce all identified risks, and if necessary, their implementation (e.g., specific structures and agreements).
- Management of legal conflicts and/or disputes, including supporting external law firms when required.
- Legal monitoring, ensuring that applicable regulations (including internal procedures) in the territory are known and respected by internal stakeholders, potentially by organizing and/or participating in training.
- Ensure that corporate group policies on contract essentials are implemented and negotiated. If impossible, work with the commitment committee and the group to find intelligent solutions.
- Ensure a business mindset while staying firm on legal principles. Be respectful of others and act as a role model for the group regarding ethics.
- Assist with the implementation of group policies on ethics and compliance.
- Assist with global tasks relating to the corporate housekeeping of the group companies.

In order to carry out the assignments, the Legal Counsel will:

- Participate regularly in the Commitment Committee and Project Reviews.
- Communicate and raise awareness of legal risks among operational staff, providing in-house training on areas of expertise through knowledge sharing.
- Provide support to the rest of the activities of the Legal Department.
- This role reports directly to Senior Legal Counsel.

Context and Scope:

- Functional Lead: Group Head of Legal.
- Links - interactions - proximity to other missions - Functions: Legal Department and various corporate services such as Tax, Finance, Insurance, HR, etc.
- Permanent member of the Commitment Committee.
- Clients (internal and/or external): All sales / Purchasing / Project managers / Operational management teams of all Group sectors and subsidiaries in the country/region. Negotiations with external clients mainly for major projects in the country/region.
- Mobility (in scope and frequency of travel): Group scope, involving all subsidiaries or JVs of the group. Possibility of short-term assignments abroad (average: once a month).
- Key figures of the function: Support for any commercial contract of less than 2 million where legal support is needed by the Business.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

- Hold a bachelor's degree in law from a reputed institute.
- Experience: 7+ years of experience in this field or similar.
- Strong commercial and contractual experience.
- Good knowledge of the Group and its various entities, activities, and products.
- Understanding of operating and decision-making methods, global vision, and company constraints.
- Excellent drafting and analytical skills for all types of legal documents, particularly contracts (sale, purchase, JV, consortium, etc.).

Negotiation Strategist:

- Ability to provide input to the business to ensure contracts are negotiated to safeguard John Cockerill's interest at all times.
- Analytical and synthesis mind, ability to formalize, structured, and great rigor in work.
- Ability to arbitrate conflicting interests and demonstrate impartiality and firmness from the perspective of the Group's general interest.
- Solution-oriented and creative in offering innovative solutions.
- Ability to work in complete autonomy and take necessary initiatives for the smooth running of files.
- Strong interpersonal skills when dealing with high-level interlocutors; internal or external, from different cultures, etc.
- Exemplary discretion given the sensitive information available.
- Fluency in English (oral and written).
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite tools.
- Availability for occasional travel abroad.

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