Legal Counsel AME

The Legal Department for Asia, Middle East Africa & Russia(AMEA) is currently seeking a Legal Counsel for Africa Middle East (AME). In this role you will:

• Be the responsible legal counsel for the two Africa Middle East business units (BUs) for Seeds and Crop Protection Products (based on Swiss or local laws), comprising approximately 50 jurisdictions with three-digit million US-Dollar annual sales and more than 3,000 employees
• Act as a partner for the business teams in the BUs who provide and contribute strategic, pro-active and in-depth legal and compliance advice in order to deliver the strategic agenda, with a focus on value creation, value protection and value capture
• Support leadership team meetings and provide ad-hoc legal advice for senior leaders
• Provide legal support on commercial contracts including distribution, direct and indirect procurement, 3rd party collaborations and intercompany agreements
• Manage day to day legal matters (including corporate governance, data protection laws, employment laws and corporate law topics for all BUs of Syngenta) in close collaboration with the department’s paralegal group
• Manage litigation cases including IP infringement cases (for all BUs of Syngenta), debt collection procedures and product liability claims
• Instruct, supervise and manage outside legal counsel
• Support the compliance program for all BUs of Syngenta, including investigations, in close collaboration with the Global Compliance Functions

Requirements

Critical knowledge and education

• Excellent academic background with a university bar exam level law degree or equivalent
• Fluent in English (spoken and written) and proficient in a second language French is a must

Critical experience

• Minimum 5-8 years post-qualification experience from a multinational company and/or an international law firm, preferably with a focus on commercial contracts, litigation and competition law
• Experience in providing legal support in difficult and complex negotiations
• Ability to deal pragmatically and effectively with and display presence and credibility to members of diverse functions both internally and externally in securing enthusiasm, support and buy-in

Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities

• Competent in effectively communicating and influencing through excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Able to take a strategic view of work and to identify and initiate change when necessary
• Possess high levels of analytical and conceptual competencies to structure business proposals and translate them into a suitable legal framework
• Able to prioritize and manage a huge number of wide-ranging tasks
• Maintain composure and interpersonal relations in times of pressure
• Have flexibility to travel when necessary and critical for business
• Display a genuine interest in and appreciation of diverse cultures and mentalities in AME