Legal Manager APAC

WD-40 Company (UK); Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

5-day work week

Job summary

A leading multinational company is seeking a Legal Manager based in Kuala Lumpur to provide expert legal counsel and risk management across the Asia-Pacific region. This role involves translating the global legal strategy into actionable regional plans and overseeing complex commercial contracts. Applicants must hold a law degree and offer 3-5 years of in-house experience. This position promises an attractive package with performance-related bonuses, fostering a culture of learning and accountability.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years in a multinational or regional in-house legal role.
• Strong experience in managing complex commercial contracts.
• Ability to advise senior business leaders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as regional legal business partner to the APAC Executive Team.
• Lead regional contract management programs.
• Implement global ethics and compliance programs.

Skills

Legal expertise

Risk management

Contract negotiation

Education

Law degree (LLB/JD)

Job description

We are looking for a Legal Manager to provide expert legal counsel, risk management, and strategic partnership across the Asia‑Pacific region. Reporting directly to the Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer, this role plays a key part in enabling the business to grow responsibly while navigating diverse legal, regulatory, and cultural landscapes across APAC.

As the regional legal expert, you will ensure the consistent application of global legal frameworks while adapting policies and guidance to meet the needs of individual markets. This role combines hands‑on legal execution with high‑level strategic advisory, offering a unique opportunity to influence commercial decisions, safeguard the business, and drive operational excellence.

What You’ll Be Doing

Strategic Legal Leadership

• Serve as the regional legal business partner to the APAC Executive Team, advising on key legal, regulatory, and governance matters.
• Translate global legal strategy into actionable regional plans and adapt policies to local market requirements.
• Support strategic initiatives, including market entry, mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, and commercial partnerships.
• Lead regional legal risk assessments and guide leadership on mitigation strategies and risk‑tolerance decisions.
• Act as Corporate Secretary for APAC entities when required, advising on corporate governance obligations.

Commercial Contracts

• Lead and oversee regional contract management programs aligned with global standards.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex, high‑value commercial agreements (sales, distribution, supplier, manufacturing, etc.).
• Ensure consistency and quality across regional contract templates, terms, and risk‑allocation standards.
• Coach internal teams on contract negotiation, risk spotting, and approval processes.

Ethics, Compliance & Privacy

• Implement global ethics and compliance programs across APAC, including anti‑corruption, privacy, and third‑party risk management.
• Work with Corporate Legal to localize compliance processes where needed.
• Monitor regulatory changes and adapt compliance training, policies, and controls accordingly.
• Act as the primary regional contact for data privacy matters; manage DPAs and ensure GDPR/local law alignment.
• Manage and coordinate regional disputes, claims, and pre‑litigation matters in partnership with external counsel.
• Support crisis management and product‑recall readiness.
• Provide legal oversight across assigned areas including insurance, real estate, and regulatory compliance.

Leadership & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Demonstrate servant leadership, modelling company values and fostering a high‑performance culture.
• Provide coaching, training, and development opportunities to support team and stakeholder growth.
• Remove barriers, provide resources, and empower teams to achieve corporate and regional goals.
• Support broader corporate objectives and act with integrity, aligned to company values and strategic priorities.

What You’ll Bring To The Role

• A law degree (LLB/JD or equivalent) from a recognised and accredited institution
• Admission to practise law in at least one major APAC jurisdiction.
• Strong experience post‑qualification experience, including 3–5 years in a multinational or regional in‑house legal role.
• Strong experience in Chinese contract law and managing complex commercial contracts across multiple APAC jurisdictions.
• Proven ability to advise senior business leaders and effectively manage external counsel.

When Applying

Please, only consider employment with WD-40 Company if you feel as strongly about our values as we do: We live, breathe, and play by our values every day.

• We value doing the right thing.
• We value creating positive lasting memories in all our relationships.
• We value making it better than it is today.
• We value succeeding as a Tribe while excelling as individuals.
• We value owning it and passionately acting on it.
• We value sustaining the WD-40 Company economy.

Our Company

WD-40 Company is the manufacturer of the world famous WD-40 Multi-Use Product. Our multi-national, American based parent company has produced a #1 product to the world for the past 60 years. Our products are at the industry forefront of technology, industry, manufacturing, and science.

Whilst WD-40 Multi-Use Product is our leading brand, our company portfolio also includes a host of lubricating and general maintenance products which are sold in over 188 countries. The company continues to experience unprecedented levels of sales growth within the region, resulting in the need to expand our Subang Jaya based Asian Regional Office (ARO).

We foster a strong culture of learning and accountability in a relaxed, small-team environment. We seek people who share our values and strive to leave positive and lasting memories in all their interactions. While the 60 year-old formulation of WD-40 remains a secret, it is no secret that our passion for our people, culture, and products is what distinguishes us.

An attractive all round package, with 5-day work-week and performance-related bonus awaits the suitable candidates.

Thank you for considering WD-40 Company in your career search!