Legal Counsel

JOB DESCRIPTION

You're an original. So are we. 

We're a company of people who like to forge our own path. We invented the blue jean in 1873, and we reinvented khaki pants in 1986. We pioneered labor and environmental guidelines in manufacturing. And we work to build sustainability into everything we do. Our brands stand for freedom and self-expression around the world. 

Where we lead, others follow. For more than 160 years, we've used the strength of our brands to lead with our values and make an outsized impact on the world. We employ more than 15,000 people globally to support our great brands: Levi's®, Dockers®, Denizen®, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co.™ and Beyond Yoga. 

About the Job 

The Legal Counsel is a generalist lawyer and is able to operate across various jurisdictions to enable achievement of business goals while managing legal, compliance and reputational risks. Primary responsibilities at European or country level include:

• Commercial: Work with business teams to enable profitable business growth, including negotiating, drafting, or reviewing commercial agreements such as distribution agreements (franchise, wholesale, licensing, selective distribution), e-commerce agreements, marketing and promotional agreements, strategic real estate projects, warehousing and logistics agreements. Advising the business in connection with new business initiatives, transactions (e.g. store buy-backs) and retail store operations.
• Regulatory, Compliance & Risk Management: Monitor and advise internal stakeholders on relevant regulatory updates applicable to our business, in particular competition law, sustainability and human rights in the supply chain, consumer laws, and providing appropriate, regular trainings to the business. Assist with internal compliance and government agencies investigations.
• Vendor contracts: work with procurement team on a variety of services and supply agreements, including IT, in furtherance of business objectives. Supports the roll out of the Contract Lifecycle Management tool for LSE.
• Dispute Resolution: Work with business teams, and internal and external counsel to manage disputes and litigation claims.
• HR Legal: Work with local HR team to support employment law matters, including, reviewing policies and forms, and managing employee disputes.
• Brand Protection & Intellectual Property: in partnership with Global Intellectual Property Team, advise clients on trademark and other IP-related issues, such as parallel imports. Support Global Intellectual Property team in brand protection efforts and strategies for relevant cluster(s).
• Corporate: provide oversight on subsidiary maintenance and corporate governance of the European subsidiaries of the Levi Strauss & Co. group and support relationship with outsourcing vendor.
• Global & Regional Projects: Support global or pan-regional projects, as required.

Key Relationships: Global & LSE legal team, local and/or functional business teams.

Travel: Occasional travel within LSE region.

About You 

Education: Law degree (LLB) from a recognized university and called to the Bar (in an LSE jurisdiction).

Experience: Minimum 6-7 years’ experience practicing law with leading law firm and in-house. Ideal candidate is a generalist commercial lawyer and has experience within an in-house legal department of an international company.

Functional Competencies:

• Business Acumen: Strong understanding of business and commercial transactions, understands key business drivers, and conversant in key business financial metrics.
• Business and Solutions Oriented: Able to think critically about key business drivers and risk factors. Able to develop practical solutions to achieve business objectives within acceptable risk parameters.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and oral communications skills. Able to communicate clearly and concisely at all levels, including to executives, junior staff and external stakeholders. Comfortable making executive-level presentations and delivering training.
• Legal Skills: Strong understanding of legal concepts and how to apply to real-world situations. Excellent drafting skills, able to draft simple or complex legal documentation as needed. Able to learn new areas of the law and apply to company’s business. Able to analyze complex situations and identify and simplify core issues.
• Collaboration: a strong team player inside and outside the ELD. Able to work as part of cross-functional teams and establish strong working relationships with key stakeholders at country, regional and global levels.
• Self-Starter; Maturity: Able to operate with high degree of autonomy and handle ambiguity. Confidence to make recommendations.

Industry Requirements: Experience in retail, apparel industry and/or consumer goods preferred.

Individual Requirements:

• Excellent English (written and oral) and proficiency in German and/or Dutch.
• Strong work ethics, an individual interested in operating in a values-driven environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to build relationships and effectively work with people at all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to work well both independently and in a team environment, including cross-functional teams.
• Business and solutions oriented, proactive, and able to work flexibly and independently under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Possess self-confidence, maturity and ability to work through challenges and ambiguity. 

LOCATIONZaventem, BelgiumFULL TIME/PART TIMEFull timeCurrent LS&Co Employees, apply via your Workday account.