Provision of legal advice in response to business requirements on increasingly complex and/or higher value matters typically with moderate or occasionally significant Sector impact. Initiates and implements some more proactive legal services. In each case within a Sector, region, business or functional team liaising with business clients generally not at the most senior level within the Sector or function. May manage people. Moderate level of oversight by more senior lawyers, decreasing with experience. Works independently within established functional practice. Confirms direction and judgements with more senior colleagues on complex or high value matters or where not seen before.Job purpose

The Legal Counsel will be responsible as a strategic business partner to various business units and functions within the JM China organization. This role involves proactively managing legal and quasi-legal matters across various risk spectrums and providing legal support to implement and shape the "China for China" business strategy. A key focus is to cultivate a deep understanding of JM's business, particularly within the commercial and operation pillars, and to foster collaborative relationships across all organizational levels, aiming to drive strategy and enhance the identification, assessment, and management of legal risks across all of JM’s functions and businesses in China.

Principal accountabilitiesLegal Advisory and Support: Collaborate closely with business units and group stakeholders to address day-to-day legal needs across various risk areas. Provide high-quality, timely legal advice that aligns with our business objectives, utilizing internal legal resources or external counsel as appropriate.Strategic Business Partnership: Assist the Head of Legal, China, in implementing business and functional strategies. Contribute to shaping the strategic direction of all business units within the China organization.Risk Identification and Management: Proactively identify and anticipate legal risks and opportunities across China businesses. Promote proactive behaviors and practices to address potential legal challenges.Cross-Functional Legal Support: Work independently with various business functions - including procurement, EHS, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, engineering, and commercial sectors - to identify and implement legal risk mitigation strategies. Establish strong partnerships with each sub-function and provide training and guidance as necessary.Site-Specific Legal Support: Provide timely legal advice for all legal and quasi-legal matters across each China site. Develop a deep understanding of site operations to anticipate issues and implement standardized mitigations where appropriate.Management of External Legal Services: Oversee specialist legal services provided by external firms, ensuring the delivery of high-quality services and cost-effectiveness.Promotion of JM’s Code of Ethics: Champion JM’s Code of Ethics to ensure that all business practices across JM's global operations reflect our unwavering commitment to ethical conduct and adherence to our core company values.Dispute Management and Settlement Negotiation: Lead the management of disputes, including negotiating settlements and overseeing litigation processes, to protect JM's interests and maintain its reputation.Legal Function Modernization: Collaborate with legal colleagues to enhance the legal function's efficiency by simplifying, standardizing, and where possible, automating legal documents and processes. This initiative involves adopting innovative technologies, such as the JM Legal Portal, and data analytics to streamline operations and ensure alignment with JM's strategic objectives.Implementation of Strategic Themes: Drive the execution of key strategic initiatives developed by the China Leadership Team within the assigned organization.Legal Support for M&A related projects: Provide comprehensive legal input for mergers, divestments, and joint ventures involving JM's businesses in China, ensuring compliance with local regulations and alignment with corporate strategy.Additional Duties: Perform other duties within the employee’s skills and abilities as reasonably instructed by the Head of Legal, China.ScopeProtect JM's reputation and commercial interests, through the delivery of trusted legal and compliance advice.Demonstrate a commercial mindset and apply relationship management skills to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across various sectors of Johnson Matthey's business, fostering collaboration and driving mutual success.Operate independently within established functional policies and legal practices, exercising judgment on novel, complex, or high-value matters, and seeking direction when necessary to ensure informed decision-making.Maintain awareness of expenditure controls, manage financial arrangements effectively, and develop strategic relationships with external law firms to optimize value and support Johnson Matthey's legal operation objectives.Utilize judgment and a deep understanding of the business to assess group risks, promoting solutions that address legal and compliance issues across multiple areas of Johnson Matthey's operations, thereby supporting sustainable business practices.Work closely with the Head of Legal, China, and team members to deliver value-added legal services, ensuring alignment with Johnson Matthey's Play to Win strategy, and contributing to the company's purpose of catalyzing the net zero transition.Special factorsDomestic travel to JM’s sites or offices within China will be required from time to time. International travel may also be required on occasion (c. 10%) if needed.Qualifications/ knowledge/ experienceQualified LawyerMaster’s degree in law or higherExtensive commercial and corporate legal advisory experience acquired in leading law firms or in-house roles within reputable corporations, with PQE of 7 years or aboveSignificant experience of negotiating and contracting high value transactionsSignificant experience of managing risk across the spectrumExperience of working in an international environmentExperience of working across multiple business units simultaneouslyFluent in Mandarin Chinese and English, both written and spoken.Exposure to (high tech) industrial/manufacturing operationsExperience of the automotive and/or chemical industryExperience of dealing hands-on with compliance mattersExperience of working in a matrix organizationExperience in advising legal matters in connection with procurement, supply chain, manufacturing, quality or EHS functions.

Personal skills and key competencies

Team player with strong interpersonal and communication skills,  and the ability to build strong relationships and trust with a wide range of audiences at all levels of the BusinessSufficient confidence and edge to independently deal with difficult situations and deliver agreed outcomes, whilst demonstrating calm in high-pressure situationsResilience to handle high risk, complex and ambiguous matters in short timescales.Ability to bring a pragmatic approach to complex legal issuesSelf-starter with the confidence and capability to carry out the majority of workload without supervisionBusiness acumenEffective change agentStrong leadership; coaching and developing self and othersSound independent judgementSkilled at establishing prioritiesAbility to handle ambiguity, juggle multiple matters at once and quickly shift from one task to anotherCustomer focusCuriosityAbility to talk fluently and persuasively at a management level about areas of expertiseHigh degree of integrity and commitment to displaying JM values and behaviorsStrong communication skillsInnovative

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