Job Began Listed From: 27 Feb 2010
Job Close On: 27 May 2010
Confidential Position Specification
Asia General Counsel
- Hong Kong -
Client
Our client is the world's largest producer of fresh fruit and vegetables known best as the top grower of bananas, pineapples, and other tropical varieties of fruit.  The company sources its produce from growers in 25 countries, distributing products under their well-known brands to supermarkets, mass merchandisers, and other customers in about 90 countries.  In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, they produce packaged foods such as canned fruit and juices.
 
They have succeeded in becoming a powerhouse in the fresh produce business thanks to its large-scale sourcing and distribution operation, which allows the company to offer a greater variety of products and which guards against the risk of poor growing seasons in a particular region.   With the scale of its operations, they are the established market leader in many of the regions they serve.
 
The company is also keen on expanding its value-added and packaged food businesses and has introduced convenience-oriented products such as bagged vegetables, ready-to-eat salads, and individual fruit servings packaged in plastic cups and bowls, as well as niche products such as organic bananas.
Job Description
In Asia, they have an immediate need for an Asia General Counsel, based in Hong Kong.
 
Reporting to an Associate General Counsel based in the US and operationally to the Division Presidents based in Asia the key responsibilities include delivering the day-to-day legal support accountabilities for the client's Asian operations and its affiliate companies in Asia, as well as hands-on involvement in all significant matters. 
 
In-house Philippine lawyers, as well as a part-time consultant in Japan, report to this position. 
 
Location & Travel
 
The candidate must be based in Hong Kong and while videoconferencing is encouraged, heavy travel (primarily in the countries where the client operates in Asia, with occasional travel to the US and elsewhere) will be necessary in order to be an active member of Division management and the Legal Department, to be close to the action and to stay on top of critical matters.
Work Experience and Abilities Required
  • At least 8-12 years as a business person's lawyer with solid hands-on operational legal support experience. 
  • Significant experience dealing with American multinational companies.
  • Cultural competence in and superior knowledge of Asia and familiarity with Asian legal systems.
  • Experience with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, anti-boycott laws, anti-terrorism laws and the U.S. Patriot Act and U.S. economic sanctions.
  • Significant international transactional experience, including joint ventures and opening new country markets.
  • Experience in commercial and real estate transactions, international trade, financing transactions and financial statement fluency, environmental law, transfer-pricing, maritime and admiralty law.
  • Litigation management experience.
  • Food industry experience is not essential although a preference, but the candidate must have the ability to work in a very engaged, highly accountable, proactive, detailed-oriented and ethical management structure. 
  • In-house experience is highly preferred, as this person will need to be very adept at working cross-functionally and be business minded beyond what pure law firm training provides.
Desired Experience:
  • Prior in-house experience
  • Top law firm experience with international clients
  • Prior management experience
  • Experience in Asia governmental relations, human rights and labor rights
  • Labeling and trademarks experience
  • Food law experience preferred
Personal Characteristics and Skills
  • Excellent business judgment (as well as professional and personal judgment) and the know-how to recognize when to “push back” and when to be accommodating.
  • Hands-on leadership; accessible, open and engaging personality.
  • Someone who makes his/her presence known and has a proactive take-charge attitude, who commands the respect of his/her peers as well as those up and down the management chain.
  • Responsible and accountable; takes ownership of issues and “fills vacuums” rather than waiting for others to call attention to the issues.
  • The candidate must possess strong business acumen and must be a decision maker while also being a practical legal advisor to management.
  • Skilled at communicating with others, and sensitive to the different constituencies that need to be kept in the loop when dealing with multiple far flung locations.
  • Strong people skills as a team leader and manager, but also a capable individual contributor.
Education
  • Legal education from first-rate law school in a common law country (US JD, with LLM as foundation for Asian legal know-how, preferred). 
  • Bar membership in a major common law country and/or state bar membership such as CA or NY preferred. 
Language Ability

Fluency in written and spoken Mandarin Chinese required.  Fluency in written and spoken Japanese and/or Korean would be an advantage.