Latam Regional Head of Legal

About Kerry

Kerry is the world's leading taste and nutrition company for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Every day we partner with customers to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products that are consumed by billions of people across the world. Our vision is to be our customers' most valued partner, creating a world of sustainable nutrition. A career with Kerry offers you an opportunity to shape the future of food while providing you opportunities to explore and grow in a truly global environment.

About the role

The Regional Head of Legal role is responsible for implementing legal strategy and providing legal advice to the business and functional leaders in his/her region. As a trusted legal business partner, they support regional business leaders in legal matters in conjunction with the Group General Counsel and Global Legal COEs, to proactively protect Kerry, Kerry’s reputation and manage potential risks and liabilities.  

Key responsibilities

•    Provide accurate and timely counsel to regional business leaders, function leaders & other stakeholders, in a variety of legal topics, across complex matters as part of a globally governed, regionally anchored legal function.
•    Establish a rigour in all regional legal processes and procedures, ensuring the right level of governance across all matters in line with Global ways of working, while regularly monitoring compliance
•    Manage a small team of lawyers and paralegals supporting the Region(s), ensuring efficient allocation of activity across the team and appropriate learning and development opportunities for team members.
•    Work closely with Global COE Leads: including M&A, Intellectual Property, Data Protection, Business Integrity, and Employment Law.
•    Research and evaluate different risk factors regarding business decisions and operations, applying effective risk management techniques and offering proactive advice on possible legal issues.
•    Negotiate and draft a wide variety of agreements, contracts, and other legal documents in line with the company’s risk appetite to include sale contracts, procurement contracts, partnership agreements, distributions agreements etc.
•    Advise the business on a wide range of legal matters including corporate, competition law, employment, procurement, intellectual property, data protection, drawing on the support of the global Centres of Excellence and/or external legal advisors when necessary 
•    Represent the Company before relevant agencies in audits and administrative charges.
•    Identify appropriate external legal counsel to assist on relevant matters, including scope of work, fees, tenders, and feedback on performance. 
•    Manage outside counsel to receive jurisdiction-specific legal advice and oversee related litigation matters and relevant mediations.
•    Leverage strong relationships with key stakeholders, ensuring the legal team and external legal counsel are focused on adding value.
•    Responsible for regional budget spend on external agencies and lawyers.
•    Provide learning and development to the regional team on Kerry’s legal strategy including best practices and processes.
•    Bring ‘outside-in’ perspective to enhance the regional legal strategy in line with Kerry’s Global legal strategy.
•    Maintain current knowledge of relevant policy, regulatory and legislative changes.
•    Review, develop and manage the updating of regional legal policies and procedures in line with overall group policies.

Qualifications and skills

•    Qualified Attorney, Solicitor, Barrister i.e., a Legal Professional Qualification.

•     Active practicing certificate for relevant jurisdiction.

•    Extensive experience leading an in-house legal team considered an advantage. 

•    Experience with working in a corporate legal environment or law firm.
•    Experience with collaborating in a team environment.
•    Excellent knowledge and understanding of corporate and contract law and procedures.
•    Full comprehension of the influences of the external environment of a corporation.
•    Ability to serve as a business partner to business and function leaders and build consensus on complex law and business issues while viewing legal issues through a business lens.
•    Demonstrated ability to create legal defensive or proactive strategies.
•    High degree of professional ethics and integrity.
•    Sound judgement and ability to analyze situations and information.
•    Outstanding communication skills.

•    English full conversational (must)

•    Available to travel