Associate Counsel

Position Overview :

Following a recent acquisition, this Legal Counsel role is a pivotal member of our legal team, responsible for comprehensively leading and managing all legal affairs for our Spanish operations. This includes providing dedicated support for key strategic initiatives in Spain and championing Group-level compliance within the Spanish entity. The role will also extend to supporting new company establishment and business rollout efforts in Portugal. This position requires strong independent project-managing abilities, robust legal research and analytical skills, and excellent communication abilities to effectively collaborate with internal teams, group headquarters, and external stakeholders including governmental departments.

Work Place : Spain

Responsibilities :

Comprehensive Spain Legal Operations :

Draft, review, negotiate, and finalize a wide range of contracts, agreements, and other legal documents essential for the company's business operations in Spain, including but not limited to commercial agreements, vendor contracts, partnership agreements, and potentially leases or construction agreements as relevant to the business.

Organize and manage the contract approval matrix and ensure systematic archiving of legal documents for the Spanish entity.

Provide dedicated and specialized legal support for key strategic projects and initiatives within Spain, advising on all related legal and regulatory aspects from inception to completion.

Legal Risk Management & Compliance (Spain Focus) :

Conduct legal research and manage legal risks in relation to the company's operations in Spain (both offline and online, if applicable).

Independently manage and handle comprehensive legal projects and advisory related to Spanish regulatory requirements, including but not limited to importation / exportation compliance, product labeling / marking (if applicable), advertising compliance, data protection (GDPR), employment law, and consumer protection requirements.

Develop, implement, and monitor compliance programs and policies for the Spanish entity, ensuring adherence to local laws (e.g., Spanish Companies Act, GDPR, anti-bribery laws) and Group-level compliance standards.

Manage corporate secretarial matters for the Spanish entity, ensuring good corporate governance.

Portugal Company Establishment & Business Rollout Support :

Act as a key legal partner supporting the Group's establishment strategies and business rollout in Portugal.

Provide legal due diligence, risk assessment, and strategic advice for market entry, new business setups, and potential M&A activities in Portugal, coordinating with HQ and external counsel as needed.

Intellectual Property Protection :

Oversee the protection of the company's intellectual property rights (trademarks, copyrights, patents, etc.) in Spain and support regional IP strategies.

Review and negotiate IP licensing and related contracts and agreements to ensure compliance with applicable laws and in the best interest of the company.

Stakeholder & External Counsel Management :

Liaise effectively with external legal counsel in Spain, Portugal, and other relevant jurisdictions and government agencies to ensure smooth operations and compliance with legal obligations.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams (local, regional, and Group) to understand business needs and provide practical, commercially-sound legal solutions.

Headquarters & Group Legal Liaison :

~ Assist the headquarters (HQ) legal team with legal affairs in relation to auditor's reviews, adjustments of shareholding structure (if applicable to Spain / Portugal), M&A activities affecting Spain or Portugal, and other legal matters as assigned by the HQ legal team from time to time.

Knowledge Sharing & Development :

~ Participate in and, where appropriate, conduct legal training sessions to enhance the legal knowledge and compliance awareness of internal teams in Spain.

Qualifications :

Bachelor's degree or above in Law (LLB, LLM, or JD preferred) from a recognized university.

Eligibility to practice law in Spain; alternatively, qualification in another civil law jurisdiction with substantial experience in Spanish law.

Minimum of 5 year of relevant legal experience, ideally with a combination of law firm and in-house counsel experience, preferably within a multinational corporation. Experience in [mention specific industry if relevant, e.g., tech, retail, manufacturing] is a plus.

Strong legal research and analytical skills, with the ability to independently manage projects, interpret, and apply complex legal provisions relevant to Spain and Portugal.

Solid understanding of Spanish contract law, commercial law, corporate law, data privacy (GDPR), and relevant industry regulations.

Desired Skills :

Experience working in a transnational corporation and familiarity with navigating matrix organizations.

Excellent command of English and Spanish (both written and spoken) is a must. Proficiency in Portuguese would be an advantage.

Proven ability to work independently, take ownership of assigned tasks, and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Creative and pragmatic thinker with the ability to provide innovative yet practical legal solutions to complex business challenges.

Positive attitude, commercially astute, and results-oriented approach, with a strong commitment to the company's values and mission.

Proficient in legal software and technology tools, as well as Microsoft Office suite.