Chief Counsel APAC

ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND (ADM) SINGAPORE, PTE. LTD.; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

ADM Singapore is seeking a Chief Counsel, APAC to lead the regional legal function, reporting to the General Counsel, APAC. You will oversee business unit and country counsels, ensure consistency of legal standards across APAC, and provide senior-level counsel to APAC leadership.

This role oversees M&A, regulatory compliance, contracts, governance, and dispute resolution; drives digitalization, operating playbooks, and budgets; mentors a multi-jurisdictional team and coordinates with global

Qualifications

• Leadership of an APAC legal team across multiple jurisdictions.
• Strategic counsel and governance experience at senior level.
• Ability to partner with global Legal domain leads to execute regional strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop the APAC legal team comprising associates and counsels across multiple jurisdictions.
• Drive team cohesion, knowledge sharing, performance management, and succession planning.
• Manage internal and external legal resources and budgets to meet business objectives.
• Provide senior-level legal counsel to the APAC leadership on high-impact strategic matters.
• Develop and execute legal strategies aligned to ADM's goals across all Business Units.
• Advise on and oversee complex legal matters including M&A, JV, regulatory compliance, litigation, and governance.
• Integrate legal strategy into business planning and collaborate with global Legal domain leads for regional execution.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate enterprise-level legal risks across APAC.
• Ensure timely and accurate advice on applicable laws across all APAC jurisdictions.
• Oversee contentious matters and manage outside counsel and related budgets.
• Establish and enforce legal operational frameworks, playbooks, and policies.
• Drive digitalization and efficiency initiatives within the legal function.
• Oversee corporate governance and representation in regional and global Legal forums.
• Demonstrate ADM's Mission, Vision, and Values through day-to-day behavior.

Job description

Position Summary

The Chief Counsel, APAC is a leader within ADM's Legal function, serving as principal deputy and operational lead for the APAC legal team. Reporting to the General Counsel, APAC LARC (Legal affairs, Regulatory and Compliance), the role oversees Business Unit counsels and country counsels across the region, ensures consistency of legal standards across all APAC jurisdictions and business units, and provides senior-level legal counsel to APAC leadership. The Chief Counsel assumes full responsibility for the APAC legal function in the absence of the APAC GC.

Your Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop the APAC legal team comprising associate general counsels, senior counsels, counsels and paralegals across multiple jurisdictions.
• Drive team cohesion, knowledge sharing, performance management, and succession planning across the APAC legal function.
• Manage internal and external legal resources and budgets to meet business objectives.

Strategic Legal Counsel

• Provide senior-level legal counsel to the APAC President, regional business leaders, and APAC Executive Council members on high-impact strategic matters.
• Develop and execute legal strategies aligned to ADM's corporate goals and APAC business priorities across all Business Units (AS&O, Nutrition, Carbohydrate Solutions, ADM Investor Services).
• Advise on and oversee complex legal matters across APAC jurisdictions, including organic growth, commercial contracts, M&A and JV transactions, regulatory compliance, litigation, and corporate governance.
• Proactively integrate legal strategy into business planning; collaborate with global Legal domain leads (M&A, Litigation, Regulatory, Employment, IP) for consistent regional execution.

Legal Risk Management

• Identify, assess, and mitigate enterprise-level legal risks across APAC, including regulatory, litigation, contractual, and reputational risks.
• Ensure the APAC legal function provides timely and accurate advice on applicable laws and regulations across all jurisdictions in which ADM operates.
• Respond swiftly and effectively to legal challenges, government investigations, and enforcement actions to protect ADM's interests.
• Oversee contentious matters including litigation, arbitration, and regulatory proceedings; manage outside counsel and related budgets effectively.

Governance & Operations

• Establish and enforce legal operational frameworks, playbooks, policies, and best practices across the APAC legal function.
• Drive digitalization and efficiency initiatives within the legal function, leveraging legal technology and process improvement.
• Oversee corporate governance and legal operations across APAC, including representation in regional and global Legal forums.
• Demonstrate ADM's Mission, Vision, and Values through day-to-day behavior and job performance.

Stakeholder & External Relations

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with the APAC and global business leaders, APAC EC members and Global Legal and LARC colleagues.
• Manage relationships with external counsel across APAC, including panel law firm management and outside counsel spend oversight.
• Interface with regulators, government bodies, and external stakeholders as required.