Senior Legal Counsel, Asia

About this role

Regional Legal Advisory

Provide timely, pragmatic legal advice to Asia leadership and business functions on corporate, commercial, operational, and regulatory matters.

Assess legal risk, recommend proportionate solutions, and support informed business decisions across multiple jurisdictions.

Partner closely with the global Legal team to ensure regional matters align with global policies, governance, and risk standards.

Employment & Labour Law / HR Support

Act as the principal legal adviser to Human Resources on employment and labour law matters across Asia.

Advise on recruitment, employment terms, compensation and benefits, performance management, disciplinary action, grievances, investigations, restructurings, redundancies, terminations, employee relations, and workplace conduct.

review employment contracts, policies, restrictive covenants, and other HR materials for compliance with local law.

Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and provide practical guidance and training to HR and management.

Commercial Contracts & Business Support

Review and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including vendor, services, partnership,

sponsorship, marketing, technology, property, and confidentiality agreements.

Support auctions, exhibitions, private sales, client relationships, corporate initiatives, and strategic projects with clear legal guidance.

Develop practical templates, playbooks, and approval processes to improve efficiency and consistency.

Compliance, Governance & Risk

Advise on applicable laws and internal policies, including data privacy, anti-bribery and corruption, sanctions, anti-money laundering, consumer protection, competition, and records management.

Support internal investigations, audits, regulatory enquiries, disputes, and remediation actions while protecting privilege and confidentiality.

Promote legal and compliance awareness through training, guidance, and clear escalation protocols.

Disputes & External Counsel Management

Manage employment, commercial, and regulatory disputes, including strategy, evidence preservation, settlement, and litigation support.

Select, instruct, and oversee external counsel across Asia, ensuring quality, responsiveness, budget discipline, and practical outcomes.

Maintain effective relationships with relevant advisers, authorities, and professional bodies.

Who we’re looking for

• PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
• Qualified lawyer admitted in at least one relevant jurisdiction, with current practising status where required.
• Approximately 8–12+ years of post-qualification experience gained in a reputable law firm and/or in-house legal function.
• Strong, demonstrable proficiency in employment and labour law across Asia, with experience advising HR on complex employee matters in multiple jurisdictions.
• Broad commercial legal experience, including contract drafting and negotiation, regulatory compliance, disputes, and corporate governance.
• Experience in luxury, art, retail, financial services, professional services, or another international client-focused business is advantageous.
• Familiarity with the auction business is an advantage.
• Proven ability to manage cross-border matters, external counsel, senior stakeholders, and competing priorities.
• EDUCATION AND TRAINING
• Law degree and professional legal qualification from a recognized jurisdiction.
• Fluent written and spoken English required; Mandarin and/or another Asian language is highly desirable.
• PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
• Commercially minded, pragmatic, and solutions-oriented, with sound legal judgment.
• Trusted and discreet, with the maturity to manage sensitive employee and business matters.
• Clear and persuasive communicator who can translate complex legal issues into practical guidance.
• Collaborative and culturally fluent, with the ability to work effectively across regional and global teams.
• Highly organized, responsive, and resilient, with strong attention to detail.
• Willing and able to travel across Asia and internationally as business needs require.
• Acts as an enabler rather than a gatekeeper, seeking to understand the desired business outcome and be proactive in offering creative, practical alternatives within legal boundaries when the proposed approach cannot be approved.