Head of Legal (Syndikusanwalt)

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Legal to join a leading manufacturing business based in Berlin, Germany. As the Head of Legal, you will play a pivotal role in providing strategic legal guidance and support to the businesses operations globally. You will lead a team of two legal professionals and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, mitigate legal risks, and drive business objectives forward.

Responsibilities:

Provide expert legal advice and guidance to senior management and various departments on a wide range of legal matters including commercial, corporate, employment, data privacy and litigation.
Lead and manage a team of two Legal Counsels (both based in Germany).
Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of commercial agreements, including but not limited to vendor contracts, distribution agreements, and licensing agreements.
Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations governing manufacturing operations, including environmental, health and safety, and employment laws.
Develop and implement an effective legal strategy to protect the company's interests and minimise legal risks.
Manage and oversee legal disputes and litigation, working closely with external counsel as necessary.
Stay abreast of changes in laws and regulations affecting the business and proactively advise the business on potential impacts.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including finance, human resources, and operations, to support business initiatives and drive strategic objectives.
Cultivate strong relationships with external legal providers in Germany, and other international markets in which the company operates, regulators, and industry associations.

Requirements:

Qualified German lawyer (completion of second state exams) with at least 8* years of post-qualified experience (of which some should be in-house). PQE is given as a guide only and candidate outside this range with relevant transferable skills and experience will be considered.
Proven leadership experience, with the ability to effectively manage and develop a team of legal professionals.
Strong understanding of German and EU laws and regulations relevant to the manufacturing industry.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
High level of integrity and ethical conduct.
Fluency in English and German, both written and verbal, is required.

Desirable:

Previous experience working within the manufacturing industry.
Expertise in German employment law.

Leonid Group Corporate Governance is a talent acquisition consultancy that specialises in the placement of Legal, Ethics & Trade Compliance, Data Privacy & Cyber Security, Risk, Audit, and Human Rights & Sustainability professionals on an international scale across the Americas, EMEA and APAC. These teams are global, with teams worldwide, and our network reflects this. We work with multinational corporations to help structure their departments with the best people, from the Global Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel to the Compliance Analyst and Trade Compliance Specialist.