EMEA Commercial Legal Counsel - Frankfurt

Permanent role; based in Germany (Frankfurt); 10+ years PQE
Competitive market salary and benefits package reflecting qualifications and experience

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced commercial Legal Counsel to join the ERM Legal Group.

This new role will provide legal, contracts and governance support to ERM’s operations in the EMEA region helping ERM Legal Group to achieve its overall mission of reducing ERM’s risk profile, improving decision-making and enhancing client relations. The role will cover a wide range of legal and compliance issues, covering countries located in the EMEA region with an emphasis on Germany.  

This is a fast paced, commercially focused and highly collaborative environment, working with ERM business units, clients, service providers and external legal counsel in EMEA. You will act as a trusted legal adviser to colleagues throughout the business units at various levels of seniority. You will report to the Regional Managing Counsel for EMEA, based in London.

Responsibilities:

With your expertise and knowledge, you will provide legal support and advice to the ERM business in various countries located in the EMEA region with an emphasis on Germany.

• Reviewing and drafting a wide range of agreements, including consultancy service contracts, appointment contracts, master services agreements, subcontracts, reliance letters, confidentiality agreements, and secondment agreements, ensuring prompt and efficient turnaround.
• Ensuring compliance with ERM's corporate governance, policies, and procedures.
• Providing risk management advice to ERM staff at all levels of the business.
• Offering support on litigation matters as needed.
• Assisting with the integration of newly acquired businesses.
• Collaborating with the EMEA Legal Team on special projects and initiatives.
• Managing external counsel and coordinating their work as necessary.
• Working closely with HR to brief new joiners on legal requirements and risks associated with drafting proposals and contracts.
• Providing practical, hands-on legal advice to business partners on a variety of commercial, legal, regulatory, and compliance matters.
• Supporting other business enablement functions to ensure smooth operations.
• Regularly reporting to the EMEA Regional Counsel on key developments and material issues.

This role includes a significant component of contract reviews, drafting and advice as part of an in-house team in a business facing role, providing an end-to-end service with a wide variety of work and responsibilities.

Within a busy team and mutually supportive environment, you will enjoy high value work across the business.

What you’ll need:

• Native German speaker and German-qualified lawyer with at least 10 years of post-qualification experience (PQE), ideally including some in-house experience with an international company.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Cross-jurisdictional experience and a strong understanding of commercial, contract, and risk management issues, including compliance and regulatory aspects relevant to international companies and global business.
• In-depth knowledge of contract law, distribution law, competition law, and corporate/commercial law.
• Proven ability to work effectively in cross-functional and international teams.
• Capable of working collaboratively within a team and independently when needed.
• Proactive with the ability to take the lead when necessary.
• Creative and pragmatic approach to problem-solving.
• Professional, calm under pressure, well-organized, proactive, quick to grasp new concepts, and able to meet challenging deadlines.
• Experienced in conducting training sessions and providing legal guidance to internal stakeholders, promoting awareness of legal risks and best practices.
• Ability to present legal guidance and advice clearly and concisely, tailoring content and style to suit the audience, whether one-on-one or in a group setting.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to foster trust with senior management and partners across the EMEA region.

This job is a good fit for you if:

• You are an excellent communicator with proven technical and organisational skills, with the ability to be open and candid whilst demonstrating respect for others and cultivating a culture of inclusion and trust.
• You are accustomed to working under pressure to meet challenging deadlines and be able to thrive in a fast-paced, complex and rapidly changing environment, adapting to different business needs (operational, transactional and structural