Assistant Manager, Legal & Secretarial - MY/SG Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Financi[...]

Tasks

1. Partners and advises the business to drive continued performance and growth

• Reports to the General Counsel of Malaysia and Singapore and takes on tasks as may be assigned from day to day to support the MY/SG business.
• Acts as day-to-day legal point of contact and company secretarial topics for local business stakeholders (in Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Singapore and Mercedes-Benz Fleet Management Singapore).
• Builds strong relationships between the Legal team and business functions.
• Provides legal consultation and support, both for day-to-day and operational matters, as well as for strategical and tactical projects and initiatives of the local business.
• Supports stakeholders and takes an active role in negotiation of legal topics and legal documents with business partners, regulators/ authorities and other external parties.
• Drafts, reviews, negotiates and advises on a wide range of contracts to ensure the business’ legal rights and interests are protected and/or enforced, and to minimize legal risks or breaches of law/ contract.
• Takes care of disputes/ litigation matters as well as investigations and audits (internal & external) where relevant to the Legal function, as and when the need arises.

• Acts as key legal strategist and risk manager

• Prepares and approves legal templates (including contracts, T&Cs).
• Maintenance of corporate governance portfolio, including registers and requirements under the Companies Act, and liaising with corporate secretarial service providers.
• Keeps abreast of legal developments trends, and manages proactive communication with stakeholders, including advising on potential impacts on the business.
• Provides updates and training on legal relevant topics to management and employees.
• Drafts and reviews internal legal processes, policies and procedures to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and internal Mercedes-Benz-group requirements.
• Supports Mercedes-Benz Legal HQ in relation to reviews, audits and compliance measures.
• Aligns and collaborates with the Mercedes-Benz Group Compliance functions.

• Manages local legal function

• Participates in internal and regional Legal team meetings/ conferences.
• Involved in hiring and managing legal interns and resources (if any).
• Selects, liaises with and supervises external lawyers, ensuring high quality and value of external legal support, including cost-efficiency.
• Planning for and execution of Legal-related tools and technology, related to digitalisation goals of the business.
• Implementation of Legal strategy and vision, including supporting the Regional General Counsel in developing and implementing plans to support the Legal team goals.

Qualifications

• Candidates must possess at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) from a recognized university.
• Masters of Law degree is a plus.
• Admitted to the Singapore Bar and/or UK Bar.
• 3-5 years of legal working experience at a legal firm and with in-house legal department (multinational company is a plus) and/or (2) a law firm (international law firm is a plus).
• Automotive/Finance industry experience is a plus.

• High and consistent level of integrity, including being able to take a personal stand, to take responsibility and be accountable.
• Profound knowledge in the following areas: general corporate and commercial law, contract law, consumer law, competition/ antitrust law, data protection (knowledge of GDPR is a plus), technology law, intellectual property law, employment law.
• Particular experience/ expertise in the following areas: financing and leasing matters (knowledge of vehicle financing including hire purchase regulations would be a plus), collections and restructuring, corporate secretarial issues.
• Good legal research and writing skills, and able to think analytically and strategically.
• Proficiency in drafting, reviewing, negotiating and advising on a wide range of commercial contracts.
• Capable of translating complex legal topics into brief and comprehensible legal analysis, with concrete and precise recommendations.
• Strong ability to understand business needs and partner with business to create solutions.
• Effective communication skills (both written and verbal, in particular with business stakeholders as well as management), including presentation and training skills.
• Ability to manage conflict and resolve/ mediate disputes.
• Penchant for networking and interacting in a larger global team, and experienced in working with and managing external lawyers.
• Be able to multi-task, and work under pressure and tight time schedules.
• Basic computer literacy (at a minimum, proficiency in Microsoft Office).