Senior Legal Counsel (International) (m/f/d)

Our client is an internationally recognized outdoor and lifestyle company with a strong presence in premium apparel, footwear, and equipment, known for combining functional innovation with contemporary design.

Location: Near Frankfurt am Main
Full-time job
Scope: Global (Excluding Mainland China)
Reporting Line: Global Head of Legal (International)

Key Responsibilities:

· Commercial Contracts & Retail Operations Support

o Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including brick-and-mortar leasing, franchise/wholesale distribution, vendor, and service contracts.

o Provide end-to-end legal support for international store rollouts, shop-in-shop concepts, and e-commerce platform operations.

· GTM Marketing & Regulatory Compliance

o Partner with regional marketing and GTM teams to review campaign materials, brand storytelling, and promotional mechanics, ensuring compliance with local advertising, consumer protection, and unfair competition laws.

o Assist in implementing data privacy frameworks (e.g., GDPR and local equivalents) across online and offline consumer touchpoints.

· Supply Chain, ESG & Logistics Compliance

o Support the execution of the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) and EU ESG directives through supplier compliance reviews, risk assessments, and policy implementation.

o Review and optimize logistics, warehousing, and transportation agreements; provide legal backing for “Green Logistics” and carbon-reduction initiatives.

· IP Portfolio & Brand Protection Execution

o Execute trademark filing, renewal tracking, and watch services in coordination with the Group IP department.

o Lead operational anti-counterfeiting actions, monitor infringement channels, and manage local external counsel for enforcement proceedings.

· Cross-Border Risk & External Counsel Management

o Provide first-line legal analysis on multi-jurisdictional regulatory overlaps, trade compliance, and commercial disputes.

o Manage regional external law firms: oversee matter scoping, budget control, quality review, and knowledge transfer to internal teams.

· China-International Synergy & Legal Process Optimization

o Maintain structured collaboration with the China legal team on cross-border data flows, global brand guideline alignment, and shared compliance initiatives.

o Develop and maintain legal playbooks, standard contract templates, SOPs, and internal training materials to drive consistency and efficiency across markets.

Qualifications & Skills:

· Legal Credentials: Fully qualified German Lawyer (Volljurist) or equivalent international legal qualification. Solid foundation in both Civil Law and Common Law systems.

· Experience: 5–8 years PQE (Post-Qualification Experience) in a reputable law firm or multinational in-house legal department. Prior experience in premium retail, apparel, lifestyle, or e-commerce is highly preferred.

· Technical Expertise: Strong drafting and negotiation skills; hands-on experience with commercial contracts, consumer protection, advertising compliance, GDPR/data privacy, and supply chain/ESG regulations.

· Cross-Cultural Agility: Proven ability to navigate matrixed, international organizations. Fluent in German and English (native-level written and spoken). Familiarity with Chinese business practices or Mandarin is a strong plus.

· Mindset & Soft Skills: Business-enabler mentality with a pragmatic, detail-oriented approach. Able to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced retail environment. Strong integrity, professional independence, and excellent stakeholder management skills.

· Tech & Tools: Proficient in Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) systems, legal research databases, and standard office/productivity suites.

Opportunity Highlights:

• Permanent employment contract
• Strong long-term career development opportunities
• International and dynamic working environment
• Attractive employee benefits and flexible working culture