Paris: Temporary Associate General Counsel (Maternity Cover)

Sotheby's International; Paris; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Sotheby’s in Paris seeks a Temporary Associate General Counsel (Maternity Cover) to lead the French legal function, drafting and negotiating auction and private sale contracts, and advising on commercial matters across France, Belgium and Monaco.

French-qualified with 8–10 years PQE, you’ll work across time zones, manage external counsel, and ensure compliance with local and international laws, plus train staff and refine playbooks for scalable processes.

Qualifications

• French-qualified lawyer with approximately 8-10 years of post-qualification experience
• Excellent drafting, communication and analytical skills
• Ability to work across multiple time zones and jurisdictions
• Experience with auction and private sale contracts (preferred)
• In-house experience is a plus

Responsibilities

• Provide support to the business in France, Belgium and Monaco in general commercial practice of the global Legal Department
• Drafting and negotiating contracts for auction and private sales and other commercial agreements
• Provide legal advice on corporate matters, licensing, digital activities and new initiatives across France, Belgium and Monaco
• Advise on deal structure, legal and reputational risk
• Supervise outside law firms and manage external legal budget
• Keep templates, terms of business and client-facing documentation up to date
• Develop and maintain compliance policies with global Compliance Department
• Deliver training and coaching for employees in France, Belgium and Monaco

Job description

Sotheby’s in Paris seeks a Temporary Associate General Counsel (Maternity Cover) to lead the French legal function, drafting and negotiating auction and private sale contracts, and advising on commercial matters across France, Belgium and Monaco.

French-qualified with 8–10 years PQE, you’ll work across time zones, manage external counsel, and ensure compliance with local and international laws, plus train staff and refine playbooks for scalable processes.