Tuesday, 10 January 2012

General Counsel

Job Description

The Vice President Legal (or General Counsel of Legal) is responsible for all legal and contractual support of Irdeto’s global business.

Primary responsibilities:
  • Structure and manage the global legal and contractual staff and process(es), to ensure Irdeto’s goals can be achieved
  • Provide analysis and counsel on legal, policy and commercial issues to include: proposed new products, protecting intellectual property, mergers & acquisitions, compliance issues, non-disclosure agreements, master services agreements, license and royalty agreements
  • Develop and recommend company policy and position on legal issues, closely aligned with MIH and Naspers legal counsel.
  • Support critical contract negotiations, commercial deals, suppliers etc
  • Write and administer complex vendor and client contracts
  • Provide legal counsel on issues arising from actuals or anticipated lawsuits
  • Anticipate and guard against legal risks facing the company
  • Represent the company or its officials in various legal proceedings
  • Manage the relationships with external law firms using them for external advice when appropriate
Manage the company’s internal legal team:
  • Two Legal Business Partners for the Online and Digital-TV divisions 
  • One Legal Shared Services manager responsible for the back-office legal support (maintaining company standards, contract management, compliance)

Additional responsibilities:

  • As part of the CFO leadership team, the General Counsel (or Vice President Legal) has an overall responsibility within the team to support and constructively support, but also where appropriate challenge all key projects and initiatives
  • Specifically the General Counsel (or Vice President Legal) has a role supporting Irdeto’s Directors in their fiduciary duties and being one of the custodians of the integrity of the business
  • If required the General Counsel (or Vice President Legal) will also participate in projects outside of his direct area of responsibility

Interfaces and Authorities:

Internal
  • All Irdeto departments, Irdeto Group Companies, (relevant) Naspers contacts
  • Responsible for global contract managers and contract admin
  • Working closely with the business owners, sales and the business support teams
  • (MIH/Naspers) Working closely with the group legal council
External
  • External partners (vendors, partners, customers), law firms

Working conditions:

  • This position can be based in either the Netherlands or the US (Carlsbad or San Francisco). It shall depend on were the selected candidate comes from.
  • Frequent travelling may be required
  • As part of a global organisation with a global team, working hours require flexibility
  • Used to be working under strict deadlines
  • Visibility requires maintaining a professional appearance and positive company image towards external stakeholders

Knowledge and Skills requirements:

  • Fully aligned with the business’ goals and understands the strategy in order to constructively support the business realizing its goals whilst being able to constructively challenge to protect the business’ interests from many stakeholder perspectives
  • Good understanding of key business drivers in the IT Services industry
  • Experience in negotiating commercial deals in the IT Services industry
  • Intellectual Property management, licensing, contracting etc knowledge and experience
  • Good base understanding of international commercial law, preferably with experience in North America, Europe and/or AsiaPacific
  • Good managerial skills as the Legal team will be based in various countries, cultures and time zones.
  • Experience with (re)structuring a global legal team,
  • Modesty to know when to seek external advice to supplement knowledge on a matter or to fill a knowledge/experience gap;
  • Excellent in English specifically in report writing and presentations
  • Relevant law degree and professional experience
  • Experience in a similar position for a global company or in an advisory function for a law firm
  • Highly trustworthy as the position will require a high level of confidentiality

Desired Skills & Experience


  • Fully aligned with the business’ goals and understands the strategy in order to constructively support the business realizing its goals whilst being able to constructively challenge to protect the business’ interests from many stakeholder perspectives
  • Good understanding of key business drivers in the IT Services industry
  • Experience in negotiating commercial deals in the IT Services industry
  • Intellectual Property management, licensing, contracting etc knowledge and experience
  • Good base understanding of international commercial law, preferably with experience in North America, Europe and/or AsiaPacific
  • Good managerial skills as the Legal team will be based in various countries, cultures and time zones.
  • Experience with (re)structuring a global legal team,
  • Modesty to know when to seek external advice to supplement knowledge on a matter or to fill a knowledge/experience gap;
  • Excellent in English specifically in report writing and presentations
  • Relevant law degree and professional experience
  • Experience in a similar position for a global company or in an advisory function for a law firm
  • Highly trustworthy as the position will require a high level of confidentiality

Company Description

Irdeto is the most innovative software security and media technology company in the world. Through its dynamic monetization and security technologies, the company allows new forms of distribution for broadcast, broadband and mobile entertainment, as well as for the world’s most popular apps, eStores and consumer devices. Co-headquartered in Amsterdam and Beijing, the company employs more than 1,000 people in 25 locations around the world. Irdeto is a subsidiary of multinational media group Naspers (JSE: NPN). Please visit Irdeto at www.irdeto.com.

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