Commercial Lawyer

Job Summary

The role reports to the Head of Legal for Colt Asia and the U.S. dealing with commercial matters arising in the entire Asian region and the U.S. Geographical focus will be predominantly on matters in Japan, but also in other jurisdictions as required, especially in the U.S. and other territories in Asia, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and South Korea. Utilising both Japanese and English language skills at a professional level to provide legal support to the business focusing on commercial transactions or matters, including customer contracts, supplier contracts and litigation.

Job Description

Key Accountabilities

• Providing excellent quality legal support in various types of commercial matters, including customer and/or supplier related issues
• Providing direct transactional support to internal customers on small to large sales and procurement transactions in the whole area of Asia and the U.S.
• Ensuring that legal risk is minimised and Colt assets are protected
• Adhering to best practice, both legally and commercially and complying with Colt’s policies
• Establishing good working relationships with internal and external customers and colleagues to promote openness and trust

Key Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate a wide-range of commercial agreements, particularly customer contracts for the provision of network and IT services
• Deliver high standards through the provision of creative, proactive and technically excellent legal and commercial support on a broad range of matters and disputes to all business units in Asia and the U.S.
• Collaborate as a full member of the globally-integrated Colt Commercial Legal team and be a key stakeholder in the business as a “go to” for matters that involve Colt Asia
• Develop and implement Colt’s group policies and procedures, particularly as they relate to Colt Asia
• Manage relationships with, and the advice of, external counsel

Role Requirements

Skills & Qualifications

• Bar admission in Japan, the U.S., or another country
• Post-qualification experience, preferably in a law firm or legal department of a multinational company
• Fluent Japanese and English required, including drafting and contract interpretation
• Ability to manage competing priorities and a varied workload, including when working on cross-border transactions
• Commercial acumen and strategic thinking. Able to provide solutions to the business by considering various commercial, financial, operational, technical and strategic issues in additional to legal issues
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, including the ability to deliver difficult messages in a positive way
• Results-focused, efficient and pragmatic, yet legally thorough with attention to detail
• Ability and willingness to travel when a transaction requires it (not very frequently)
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment with demanding clients
• Willingness to be flexible to get the work done and ability to plan and manage time effectively
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with various nationalities in a global team and cross-cultural environment
• Showing curiosity and ambition with the intention to achieve constant improvement

Other Preferences

• Robust, dynamic self-starter with imagination, solution orientation and pragmatism
• Someone who is good with people
• Keen to learn new things, develop skills and grow in a really international context; and a team player.
• An ability to work and draft contracts in any other additional language (e.g. Chinese or Korean) would be an advantage