(Senior) Legal Counsel (High-Tech, IT)

For our client, a multinational industry group active in the fields of high-tech/IT and headquartered in the Lucerne area, we are seeking immediately or by arrangement a highly motivated (Senior) Legal Counsel (100%) to augment its existing team. This role represents a fantastic opportunity to join the group at an exciting time in its journey to build global business operations. Key to your success will be your ability to provide pragmatic and commercially relevant advice, guidance and solutions at all levels of the organization. Reporting to the Group General Counsel you will play a key role across the group, actively bringing to life the group’s vision, values and strategy, and driving the ongoing growth and transformation agenda. The draft job description reads as follows:

Responsibilities:

• Reporting to the Group General Counsel and working in a small international team of legal counsels, support and manage to further build up, the group’s Legal & Compliance function, and provide professional, pro-active advice and support to the Board of Directors, senior management, and staff at the group’s head office and all its affiliates on a wide range of commercial and strategic legal issues, including ad hoc legal advice
• Support the business strategy and operations, while acting as trusted professional and value adding business partner
• Ensure that the group’s financing and operations comply at all times with applicable laws and regulations, incl. data protection & privacy law, competition law and financial compliance
• Provide cross-functional Legal & Compliance support, all in compliance with statutory laws and regulations, company policies and industry standards
• Counsel the group’s affiliates especially in dealing with customers, suppliers, financial institutions and consultants, and with a focus on the legal aspects of the group’s products and business matters, as well as strategies
• Advise on sophisticated capital market and M&A transactions such as, e.g., the purchase and sale of shares and assets, (global) investments and respective vehicles, financing structures/syndications, joint-ventures, other major contracts and (start-up) projects. Where applicable, conduct legal due diligence and prepare and negotiate contracts
• General contracting support, by preparing, reviewing and negotiating all types of contracts and other legally relevant documents, incl. relevant standards, templates and policies
• Support the Board and senior management regarding risk topics; risk assessment of contracts and projects
• Provide end-to-end advice on corporate governance, corporate housekeeping and contract management, incl. corporate secretary with respect to assigned legal entities
• Coordination and provision of Legal & Compliance matter support to departments such as, e.g., Finance, Tax, and Intellectual Property
• Representation of the group towards external authorities, industry associations and other organizations
• Management of external claims, litigations and arbitrations, with a strategic approach to the underlying dispute
• Support Legal & Compliance audits
• Monitor legislation and jurisdiction that could affect the group’s operations, and propose and implement relevant action and policies to ensure compliance therewith
• Respect and uphold the group’s values and commitment

Requirements:

• Law degree (Master) from a continental European university; bar exam, LL.M., MBA and/or a similar degree, and/or accounting experience / degree would be a plus
• Fluency in German and English (each at least level C1) as a must; any additional European language(s) would be a plus
• At least 8 years’ experience in Legal & Compliance roles, gained in-house (ideally at a multinational high-tech/IT group), or at a renowned, international law firm, other consulting or advisory firm (big 4 a plus) or investment bank advising multinational high-tech/IT clients; at least 5 years of this experience must have been gained in Switzerland
• Experience in the field of establishing, financing and operating start-up companies, e.g., in the context of a private equity firm or family office, would be a strong asset
• Experience in planning and executing financing and M&A transactions
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication, presentation and negotiation skills
• Ability to analyze business requirements from a Legal & Compliance perspective and transform into actions and guidelines
• Experience in managing a hard workload with conflicting priorities
• Efficient and pragmatic working style, proactive, goal-oriented and solution-driven (can do attitude), entrepreneurial approach
• Ability to work in an international setting; strong awareness of cultural differences
• Down-to-earth character, self-driven, self-motivated, persistent and pragmatic; assertive with a diplomatic flair
• Ethical foundation; ability to apply high ethical standards and protect the higher interests of the organization
• Ability to travel (up to 20%)
• Ambitious for success

Place of work: Lucerne area