Legal Counsel - Philippines

POPMART PH TRADING CORPORATION; Philippines; On-site; PHP 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

POP MART is seeking a qualified Legal Counsel to lead all legal matters for its Philippine operations. The role covers contract review, licenses, import/export compliance, and regulatory adherence, with close collaboration across internal teams and external stakeholders.

You will manage corporate governance, IP protection, and regulatory compliance while supporting strategic business rollout and international liaison, in a fast-paced multinational setting.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer admitted to the Philippines bar.
• Around 5 years of relevant experience in multinational or in-house roles.
• Strong research, analytical, and advisory capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts and licenses.
• Oversee compliance programs including data privacy, employment, and consumer protection.
• Liaise with HQ, government agencies, and external counsel in the Philippines.
• Manage corporate secretarial matters and license applications for the Philippines entity.

Skills

English fluency

Independent project management

Legal research

Communication

Commercial awareness

Education

LLB/JD/LLM or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Legal research databases

Job description

POP MART (09992.HK), founded in 2010, is a leading global company in the trend culture and entertainment industry. Centered around IP, POP MART has built a comprehensive platform for creative incubation and IP operation, empowering global creators while delivering exciting products, services, and immersive entertainment experiences to consumers. POP MART identifies and nurtures emerging artists and designers worldwide, creating popular character IPs through a well-established IP development and operation system. Its portfolio includes iconic IPs such as MOLLY, SKULLPANDA, DIMOO, THE MONSTERS, and Hirono. By launching art toys and derivative products based on these IPs, POP MART continues to lead trends in consumer culture. As of the end of first half of 2025, POP MART operates over 550 physical stores and more than 2,500 Robo Shops across the world. Through multiple cross-border e-commerce platforms, the company has reached audiences in over 90 countries and regions, bringing joy to young consumers around the world.

Position Overview: This Legal Counsel role is a pivotal member of our legal team, responsible for comprehensively leading and managing all legal affairs for our Philippine operations. This includes providing dedicated support for business rollout, license applications, import/export compliance, and contract review. This position requires strong independent project-managing abilities, robust legal research and analytical skills, and excellent communication abilities to effectively collaborate with internal teams, group headquarters, and external stakeholders including governmental departments.

Work Place: Philippines

Responsibilities:

• Draft, review, negotiate, and finalize a wide range of contracts, agreements, and other legal documents essential for the company’s business operations in the Philippines, including but not limited to commercial agreements, vendor contracts, partnership agreements, and potentially leases or construction agreements as relevant to the business.
• Organize and manage the contract approval matrix and ensure systematic archiving of legal documents for the Philippine entity.
• Application for All Required Licenses and Permits for Investment and Business Operations in the Philipine
• Provide dedicated and specialized legal support for key strategic projects and initiatives within the Philippines, including but not limited to business rollout, advising on all related legal and regulatory aspects from inception to completion.

Legal Risk Management & Compliance (Philippines Focus):

• Conduct legal research and manage legal risks in relation to the company’s operations in the Philippines (both offline and online, if applicable).
• Independently manage and handle comprehensive legal projects and advisory related to Philippine regulatory requirements, including but not limited to license applications, importation/exportation compliance, product labeling/marking (if applicable), advertising compliance, data protection (DPA), employment law, and consumer protection requirements.
• Develop, implement, and monitor compliance programs and policies for the Philippine entity, ensuring adherence to local laws (e.g., Corporation Code, DPA, anti-bribery laws) and Group-level compliance standards.
• Manage corporate secretarial matters for the Philippine entity, ensuring good corporate governance.

Intellectual Property Protection:

• Oversee the protection of the company’s intellectual property rights (trademarks, copyrights, patents, etc.) in the Philippines and support regional IP strategies.
• Review and negotiate IP licensing and related contracts and agreements to ensure compliance with applicable laws and in the best interest of the company.

Stakeholder & External Counsel Management:

• Liaise effectively with external legal counsel in the Philippines and government agencies to ensure smooth operations and compliance with legal obligations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (local, regional, and Group) to understand business needs and provide practical, commercially-sound legal solutions.

Headquarters & Group Legal Liaison:

• Assist the headquarters (HQ) legal team with legal affairs in relation to auditor’s reviews, adjustments of shareholding structure (if applicable to the Philippines), M&A activities affecting the Philippines, and other legal matters as assigned by the HQ legal team from time to time.

Knowledge Sharing & Development:

• Participate in and, where appropriate, conduct legal training sessions to enhance the legal knowledge and compliance awareness of internal teams in the Philippines.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or above in Law (LLB, LLM, or JD preferred) from a recognized university.
• Eligibility to practice law in the Philippines.
• Around 5 years relevant legal experience, ideally with a combination of law firm and in-house counsel experience, preferably within a multinational corporation. Experience in [mention specific industry if relevant, e.g., tech, retail, manufacturing] is a plus.
• Strong legal research and analytical skills, with the ability to independently manage projects, interpret, and apply complex legal provisions relevant to the Philippines.
• Solid understanding of Philippine contract law, commercial law, corporate law, data privacy (DPA), and relevant industry regulations.

Desired Skills:

• Experience working in a transnational corporation and familiarity with navigating matrix organizations.
• Excellent command of English (both written and spoken) is a must.
• Proficiency in Tagalog/Filipino would be an advantage.
• Proven ability to work independently, take ownership of assigned tasks, and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Creative and pragmatic thinker with the ability to provide innovative yet practical legal solutions to complex business challenges.
• Positive attitude, commercially astute, and results-oriented approach, with a strong commitment to the company's values and mission.
• Proficient in legal software and technology tools, as well as Microsoft Office suite.

*POP MART is committed to equal pay initiatives and will not ask candidates for their current or past salary.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, POP MART does not discriminate against applicants or employees because of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, veteran status, disability, age, citizenship, imarital or domestic/civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or because of any other status or condition protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

POP MART is a rising global force in pop culture and entertainment. Our purpose is to celebrate daily moments and inspire through designer toys and fun experiences. Our focus is IP incubation & operations, designer toys & retail, theme parks & experiences, also digital entertainment. As of the end of first half of 2025, POP MART operates over 550 physical stores and more than 2,500 Robo Shops across the world. We manage & represent incredible artists from all over the world. Our roster spans dozens of iconic characters, like MOLLY, DIMOO, SKULLPANDA, THE MONSTERS, HIRONO and more. With our IP characters, we create iconic cross-overs. Our mission is to light up passion & bring joy around the world. POP MART is not just a brand, it's a galaxy of creative possibilities.