Legal Counsel - Fortune 100 FMCG - JPY 20M

This is an exciting opportunity for a Legal Counsel to join a leading multinational FMCG organisation. The role is ideal for an independent, commercially minded in-house lawyer with excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships across all levels of the business.

Key responsibilities include:

• Act as a trusted legal advisor to business leaders, providing practical guidance on commercial, corporate, regulatory, and compliance matters across Japan, while supporting regional initiatives across APAC
• Partner with the business on strategic projects, including new product launches, business expansion initiatives, acquisitions, joint ventures, and other corporate transactions
• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a broad range of commercial agreements, including supply, distribution, procurement, manufacturing, marketing, licensing, sponsorship, digital, and customer agreements
• Provide legal support on marketing and advertising campaigns, consumer protection, competition law, product claims, and intellectual property matters
• Ensure compliance with Japanese laws and regulations, while helping to develop and enhance internal governance, compliance programmes, and risk management frameworks
• Advise on employment-related legal matters, including workplace policies, employee relations, investigations, and dispute resolution
• Work closely with cross-functional stakeholders across Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, HR, Regulatory Affairs, and Operations to support commercial objectives
• Manage relationships with external counsel and liaise with government authorities and regulatory agencies where required

For further information, please contact Natsuki @ 03-4540-7880

The main requirements are as follows:

• Bilingual legal professional with strong drafting and negotiation capability in both Japanese and English
• Licensed to practice law in Japan, the US, or the UK, with hands-on experience in Japanese legal matters
• Solid background advising on corporate, commercial, labor, and regulatory issues under Japanese law
• 15+ years of post-qualification experience, ideally gained across both private practice and in-house roles
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities and deliver accurate, timely work in fast-paced environments
• Collaborative and proactive mindset, with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills