Global M&A Legal Director

Minjon Recruiting; Helsinki; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

UPM is seeking an experienced Director, M&A Legal to lead a new M\&A legal capability. The role reports to the VP, Chief Compliance Officer and M\&A Legal, ideally based in Helsinki, Finland, with hybrid work and international transaction exposure.

You will oversee mergers, acquisitions, divestments, JV activity and other strategic transactions across UPM’s footprint, developing consistent approaches, playbooks, and tools while coordinating internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in law or equivalent qualification required.
• Substantial M&A experience from reputable law firm or multinational.
• Strong leadership, transaction-driven mindset and business judgement.
• Excellent written and spoken English; Finnish or other language skills are a plus.
• Experience with due diligence, contract drafting and negotiation in complex transactions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate legal workstreams in acquisitions, divestments, JVs and restructurings.
• Provide pragmatic, commercially-focused advice to transaction teams and leadership.
• Coordinate due diligence and translate findings into protections and actions.
• Draft, review and negotiate transaction documents (SPAs, SHAs, ancillary documents).
• Plan signing, closing and transaction implementation activities.
• Collaborate with tax, compliance, finance and other functions on governance and risk.
• Manage external advisers and promote reusable M&A templates and tools.

Skills

M&A experience

Leadership

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

English proficiency

Education

Master's degree in law

Equivalent legal qualification

Job description

UPM is seeking an experienced Director, M&A Legal to lead a new M\&A legal capability. The role reports to the VP, Chief Compliance Officer and M\&A Legal, ideally based in Helsinki, Finland, with hybrid work and international transaction exposure.

You will oversee mergers, acquisitions, divestments, JV activity and other strategic transactions across UPM’s footprint, developing consistent approaches, playbooks, and tools while coordinating internal and external stakeholders.