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Overview

Job Summary:
The Head of Legal is a senior executive responsible for leading the legal function of the organization, ensuring all business activities comply with applicable laws and regulations. This role involves providing strategic legal counsel, managing legal risks, overseeing regulatory compliance, and leading a team of legal professionals. The incumbent will play a critical role in safeguarding the company’s reputation, assets, and sustainability initiatives within the dairy processing industry, ensuring adherence to food safety standards, environmental laws, corporate governance, and international trade regulations.

Key Responsibilities:

Legal Strategy & Leadership
Develop and implement a comprehensive legal strategy aligned with the company’s overall business objectives, growth plans, and risk appetite.
Lead, mentor, and develop the legal team, fostering a high-performance environment.
Serve as a strategic advisor to the Board of Directors and executive management on legal matters affecting the company’s operations.
Contract Management & Commercial Law
Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial contracts, including supply agreements, distribution contracts, licensing, joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions, and procurement agreements.
Establish contract templates and standard procedures to ensure consistency and legal soundness.
Oversee contract compliance and manage contractual disputes or claims.
Regulatory Compliance & Industry Standards
Ensure compliance with all applicable local, national, and international food safety, labeling, packaging, licensing, and environmental standards.
Monitor and interpret changes in food safety laws, health standards, environmental regulations, and trade policies affecting the dairy industry.
Coordinate with Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs teams to ensure product compliance and to address any compliance issues proactively.
Corporate Governance
Oversee corporate governance practices, including shareholder and board meetings, minutes, and organizational policies.
Ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements related to corporate reporting and filings.
Intellectual Property & Brand Protection
Manage and defend patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets related to dairy products and processing technologies.
Develop strategies to protect, maintain, and enforce intellectual property rights.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Manage and oversee all legal disputes, claims, and litigation involving the company.
Engage external legal counsel and oversee investigations, settlement negotiations, and resolution strategies.
Risk Management & Internal Controls
Conduct legal risk assessments across all business units and propose mitigation measures.
Establish internal legal compliance programs, training sessions, and policies to promote ethical and legal behavior.
Develop crisis management strategies related to legal challenges.
External Relations & Government Liaison
Maintain relationships with regulatory agencies, industry associations, and legal jurisdictions relevant to dairy processing and food manufacturing.
Represent the company in legal proceedings, inquiries, and negotiations with authorities.
Mergers, Acquisitions & Strategic Expansion
This is a significant scope of the role, including:
Strategic Planning: Identifying acquisition targets and evaluating strategic fit based on business goals and legal considerations.
Due Diligence: Leading comprehensive legal due diligence to assess legal, contractual, regulatory, and financial risks associated with potential mergers, acquisitions, or divestitures.
Transaction Structuring: Advising on the optimal structure of M&A transactions to meet regulatory, tax, and operational objectives.
Negotiations: Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating transaction agreements, including share purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements, joint ventures, and shareholder agreements.
Regulatory & Compliance Review: Ensuring all M&A activities comply with relevant antitrust, competition laws, and food safety regulations in jurisdictions involved.
Integration & Post-Merger Support: Providing legal support during post-transaction integration, including employment law, intellectual property, and operational legalities.
Risk Mitigation: Developing legal strategies to mitigate transaction risks, including contractual protections and contingency planning.
Stakeholder Engagement: Coordinating with financial advisors, external legal counsel, and management teams to facilitate smooth transaction processes.
Data Privacy & Cybersecurity
Ensure compliance with data privacy laws applicable to customer, supplier, and employee data.
Advise on cybersecurity policies and legal obligations related to data breaches or cyber incidents.

Qualifications & Experience:
Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B) or Juris Doctor (JD) from a recognized university.
Master’s degree or further specialization in Corporate Law, Food Law, or International Law preferred.
Minimum of 10-15 years of legal experience, including significant exposure to corporate, commercial, and regulatory legal environments.
Proven experience managing M&A transactions, preferably in the food, beverage, or dairy industry.
Prior experience in managing legal teams and working with senior management.
Deep understanding of food safety laws (e.g., FDA, EFSA), environmental regulations