Legal Counsel

Position Purpose To provide comprehensive, pragmatic, and risk-aware legal support tothe Group’s shipping and trading operations across China, Southeast Asia, andinternational markets. As the sole in-house legal advisor, this role acts as atrusted business partner to the CEO and functional heads, ensuring legalcompliance, contractual robustness, and effective resolution of disputes—withparticular emphasis on maritime & trade law and employment-relatedlitigation. The role balances commercial agility with legal integrity in afast-paced, cross-border environment. Key Responsibilities 1. Shipping & Trade Legal Support • Review a wide range of commercial contracts, including new building contracts, ship sale and purchase agreements, ship management agreements, charter parties, bills of lading, cargo contracts, letters of credit, and trade finance documents etc. • Monitor and ensure compliance with international trade regulations, sanctions, customs, and export control regimes affecting the Group’s multi-jurisdictional operations. • Provide legal risk assessments on new business models, routes, and counterparty exposures. 2. Insurance & Claims Management • Oversee and review marine insurance policies, including H&M, P&I entries, FDD and ancillary war risk or cyber covers • Manage complex maritime claims from inception to resolution, coordinating closely with P&I clubs, average adjusters and external counsel globally • Iiaise with flag states, national authorities and international legal networks during maritime casualties or emergency response operations 3. Employment & LitigationManagement • Handle employment-related legal matters, including contract drafting, policy review, disciplinary actions, termination, and workplace investigations across China and Southeast Asian jurisdictions. • Act as the primary in-house lead for labour dispute resolution, including administrative mediation, arbitration, and court litigation, working closely with external counsel when required. • Develop and maintain internal HR policies and employee handbooks that align with local labour laws and Group standards. • Manage other civil and commercial litigation or pre-litigation disputes involving the Company or its subsidiaries. 4. Corporate Governance & Compliance • Ensure proper corporate governance for all group entities (China, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam), including board resolutions, statutory filings, and power of attorney management. • Advise on data privacy, anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, and competition law compliance. • Conduct internal training sessions for business teams on key legal risks and contract management best practices. 5. External Counsel Management &Budget Control • Select, instruct, and manage external law firms across jurisdictions, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality legal services. • Track legal costs and provide regular reporting to the CEO on material cases and exposures. 6. Strategic Advisory • Participate in M&A, joint venture, or new entity setup projects as the legal lead. • Provide timely, clear, and commercially sensible legal opinions to the CEO and senior management on strategic decisions. Qualifications &Experience • Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or above from a recognised university; PRC Bar qualification is a must. • Minimum 10 years of post-qualification experience, with at least 5 years in-house within the shipping, commodities, or international trading industry. • Proven track record in handling maritime disputes (charter party, cargo claims, bills of lading) ， employment litigation (labour arbitration and court proceedings). • Strong working knowledge of English and Chinese (written and spoken) – able to draft and negotiate contracts in English and communicate with headquarters in Chinese. • Solid understanding of cross-border legal frameworks, including sanctions, customs, and foreign exchange controls. • Experience managing external counsel across multiple jurisdictions (SE Asia experience highly preferred). Key Leadership Competencies • Commercial Pragmatism – Translates complex legal issues into actionable business advice, balancing risk and opportunity pragmatically. • Cross-Cultural Communication – Bridges legal and business teams across China and SEA, adapting style to diverse stakeholders. • Problem-Solving & Proactivity – Anticipates risks early and designs preventive solutions, not just reactive responses. • Integrity & Confidentiality – Maintains the highest ethical standards, handling sensitive information with discretion. • Agility & Adaptability – Thrives in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and ambiguity.