Assistant Legal Counsel at British American Tobacco (BAT)

British American Tobacco has an exciting opportunity for 2 new colleagues to join our team as Assistant Legal Counsel - Marketing and Assistant Legal Counsel - Operations and Commercial.

The roles report to the Legal Counsel, and the main focus is to ensure proactive timely delivery of legal counselling to BAT’s operations within ECAA and to successfully implement and execute the LEX Functional strategy and objectives.

The new colleagues will take responsibility in advising BAT entities in ECAA on all legal matters pertaining to Marketing, Commercial and Operational sides of the business while representing the Legal department on the Functional Leadership Teams.

Principal Accountabilities

Operational/Professional/Business

• Contribute to the development and execution of the LEX functional strategy.
• Monitor and interpret the ECAA legislative environment in which the business operates, to ensure that the business understands and meets its legal obligations.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of regulatory issues and the regulatory framework in which the business operates and take responsibility for the development of informed solutions enabling the business to respond to and deal with regulatory constraints.
• Management of any litigation instituted by or against the business as allocated by the Legal Counsel within ECAA, including devising and executing case strategy. Assist the Legal Counsel to ensure cost effective management of External Counsel.
• Contribute to the development and execution of the LEX functional strategy.
• Monitor and interpret the ECAA legislative environment in which the business operates, particularly in terms of its marketing activities, to ensure understanding and compliance with its legal obligations.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of regulatory issues and the regulatory framework in which the business operates, specifically in relation to the marketing of its products, and develop informed solutions enabling the business to respond to and deal with regulatory constraints.
• Support effective management of any regulatory litigation instituted by or against the business as allocated by the Marketing & Regulations Counsel, including devising and executing case strategy.

Management

• Participate and contribute to cross functional business projects and initiatives to assess, monitor and anticipate potential threats to minimize legal risks and ensure achievement of business objectives.
• Monitor and interpret the legislative environment to ensure that proactive legal advice and support is provided on manufacturer’s statutory obligations, labour laws, health and safety at work regulations and leaf growing marketing legislation.
• Draft, negotiate and review contractual documentation and develop as appropriate standard formats to optimise efficiencies within the Legal sub-function.
• Execute relevant administrative activities in the Function to ensure the availability of resources, continuous flow of information and updated records.
• Ensure an improved control environment in Legal in line with the business strategy.
• Identify and take steps in conjunction with management to minimise commercial risks.
• Render timely legal advice to the business on Anti-Illicit Trade (AIT), Competition Law, Intellectual Property law (including trademark protection and management) and regulatory engagements.
  
  

Leadership Capabilities

• Support, implement and achieve the strategic plans and objectives of the Legal sub-function in line with the business strategy.
• Powerful and effective communication to the business on the relevance and strategic business importance of the area of responsibility of this role.
• Identify new initiatives and proposals in line with the business strategy and values to ensure legal operates at the heart of the business and as effective risk managers and business partners.
• Continuously develop technical and managerial skills as identified and agreed in personal development plan.
• Build and maintain good relationships with experts in the legal field.
• Map out internal and external stakeholders pertinent to areas of responsibility and build those relationships to optimise effectiveness of legal actions.
• Continually optimise and build improved systems and work process to drive efficiency and reduce costs.

Functional Competencies

• A recognized legal qualification through a reputable academic institution and competence in providing legal advice to internal stakeholders.
• 5-6 years of experience, with at least 2-3 years’ experience in a private legal practice and 1-3 years’ experience in a corporate environment.
• Thorough knowledge of local substantive and procedural laws relevant to areas of responsibility
• Strong negotiation, written and verbal communications skills
• Ability to apply strong strategic, analytical skills and good judgment.
• Ability to act on his or her own initiative, lead others and work well with peers and senior management.