Group Legal Counsel (HK or SG based)

Group Legal Counsel

A market-leading financial services organization is currently recruiting for a group Legal Counsel to lead its in-house legal function and provide strategic legal support across multiple business lines and jurisdictions.

About the Job

Reporting directly to senior management, this is a newly established leadership role responsible for building and leading the Group's in-house legal function. Acting as the principal legal advisor to the business, you will provide commercially focused legal counsel across 3 businesses (External Asset Management, Trust and Insurance Broking). You will play a critical role in developing legal governance frameworks, supporting business growth, managing legal risk and ensuring regulatory compliance across multiple international jurisdictions.

Responsibilities

• Establish and implement the Group's legal framework, including standard operating procedures, governance policies and legal playbooks to strengthen legal risk management and support consistent legal practices across the organization.
• Serve as the primary legal advisor to senior management and business leaders, providing commercially pragmatic legal guidance on strategic initiatives, new business opportunities and day-to-day operational matters.
• Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including trust documentation, referral and distribution agreements, vendor and outsourcing contracts, client documentation and other complex legal arrangements.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments across multiple jurisdictions, advise on regulatory obligations and engage with regulatory authorities on licensing, supervisory matters and compliance initiatives.
• Identify legal and regulatory risks, develop appropriate mitigation strategies, prepare legal opinions and board papers, and provide clear recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Lead the management of disputes, customer escalations and litigation matters while overseeing external legal counsel to ensure effective and commercially appropriate outcomes.
• Partner closely with business, compliance, finance, operations, marketing and human resources teams to provide practical legal support for business initiatives, market expansion and data protection compliance.

The Team

This is a single contributor role working closely with the Head of Compliance and reports directly to senior management.

Skills and Experience

The successful candidate will hold a Bachelor's degree in Law and be admitted as a solicitor or barrister in Hong Kong or another common law jurisdiction. You will possess 8+ PQE gained within leading law firms and/or reputable financial institutions, with significant exposure to insurance , financial services or other highly regulated sectors. Strong expertise in Hong Kong and Singapore insurance and wealth management law and regulation, together with experience advising on complex commercial contracts, regulatory matters and contentious issues, is essential. You should demonstrate excellent commercial judgement, strong analytical and stakeholder management skills, and the ability to operate independently in a senior advisory capacity. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are required. Proficiency in Chinese (Cantonese and/or Mandarin) would be advantageous to support communication and legal matters involving Chinese-speaking stakeholders across the Group's regional operations.

To apply, please click on the apply button or contact Perennial HR for a confidential discussion.

EA No: 23S1936