Senior Legal Counsel

Suntory Holdings Limited; London, Uxbridge; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global beverage company is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel in London. The role involves providing legal advice on commercial activities, managing data protection compliance, and mentoring junior legal team members. The ideal candidate will have over five years of experience in commercial and intellectual property law, with strong drafting and negotiation skills. This position offers a hybrid working model and competitive compensation and benefits.

Benefits

Hybrid working model

Professional development opportunities

Competitive compensation and benefits package

Qualifications

• Over 5 years of post-qualification experience.
• Strong background in commercial and intellectual property law.
• Experience mentoring and developing team members.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice across sales, supply chain, and procurement.
• Draft and negotiate agreements for various business areas.
• Lead on data protection compliance and competition law strategy.

Skills

Commercial law expertise

Intellectual property law expertise

Drafting and negotiation skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership and mentoring

Education

Qualified lawyer

Job description

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Senior Legal Counsel

Requisition ID: 10402

Who We Are

We are Suntory, a global leader in the beverage industry with a heritage that dates back to 1899 in Osaka, Japan. Today, we operate across more than 265 group companies worldwide, employing over 40,000 people. Our portfolio spans soft drinks, spirits, beer, wine, ready-to-drink beverages, and wellness products, combining tradition with innovation to deliver exceptional quality.

We are driven by our philosophy,“Bringing Water to Life,”which reflects our deep respect for nature and our commitment to sustainability. We strive to enrich lives and create harmony with people and nature through everything we do.

As one of the world’s leading beverage companies and the third-largest distilled spirits company globally, we continue to grow while staying true to our values of quality, craftsmanship, and responsibility to society.

About your role

You are a qualified lawyer with over 5 years of post-qualification experience, ideally gained within a reputable law firm or an in-house legal team. You have a strong background in commercial and intellectual property law, with proven experience in drafting and negotiating complex agreements. You are commercially astute, a strong communicator, and capable of providing pragmatic legal solutions that align with business objectives. You thrive in fast-paced environments, are a self-starter, and have experience mentoring and developing team members.

About you

As aSenior Legal Counsel, you will play a key role in supporting the company’s commercial activities. You will work closely with the General Counsel and other senior stakeholders, providing legal advice across sales, supply chain, procurement, marketing, and digital initiatives. You will lead on data protection compliance, competition law strategy, and manage small-scale litigation. Additionally, you will provide training to various departments and support risk management initiatives.

What You'll Do

You will work closely with the General Counsel, Senior IP Counsel, and other members of the legal team, as well as senior stakeholders across the business. You will provide legal advice on the company’s commercial activities, ensuring alignment with business strategy. You will draft and negotiate agreements related to sales, supply chain, procurement, marketing, sponsorships, collaborations, and significant CAPEX projects. You will lead on data protection compliance, manage the company’s competition law strategy, and handle small-scale litigation while coordinating with external counsel on complex matters. You will also provide training to various departments, support risk management initiatives, and mentor and develop junior legal team members.

What's in it for you

You will have the opportunity to work on diverse and challenging legal matters that directly impact the business strategy. You will be part of a collaborative and supportive team environment and gain exposure to senior leadership and cross-functional projects. You will benefit from a hybrid working model with two to three days in the Arc Uxbridge office. You will also have access to professional development opportunities, including leadership and technical training, along with a competitive compensation and benefits package.

What You need to be successful

You are a qualified lawyer with over five years of post-qualification experience. You have strong expertise in commercial and intellectual property law and possess excellent drafting and negotiation skills. You are capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and have strong interpersonal skills that enable you to influence senior stakeholders. You may also have experience in data protection and competition law compliance, which is considered a plus. You demonstrate leadership skills and are able to mentor and develop junior team members effectively.

Our DEI Commitment

At Suntory, we recognize that diverse knowledge, perspectives, and backgrounds contribute to our collective success. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all individuals can bring their whole selves to work every day, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or any other protected characteristic.

Our recruitment and selection processes are designed to highlight what Suntory offers as an employer while allowing candidates to share their unique skills and experiences. We understand that career trajectories vary, and if you believe your experience/background can benefit our team, we encourage you to apply. We endeavor to make our interview process as inclusive as possible and offer reasonable accommodations as needed. Together, we can cultivate a workplace where everyone can thrive and propel our mission of Growing for Good.