Who We Are:
Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.
JOB MISSION:
The Associate Legal Counsel is a key part of the EMEA Legal Team, offering support across a wide range of legal areas, most particularly regulatory/compliance matters and commercial. You will have key responsibilities over discrete legal matters relating to New Balance’s European wholesale and direct-to-consumer business, with areas of responsibility for legal work across the region. We are a lead team so ideal candidates will come from a general legal background and be open to supporting all legal requests from across the 55 European countries they support.
We offer hybrid working and a flexibility to working hours to accommodate for a healthy work life balance.
MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:
- Responsibility for providing legal advice on New Balance’s compliance with applicable worldwide legal developments in areas including sustainability & corporate responsibility, trade & customs, digitization, product safety and competition law and any other matters relevant to the Sporting Goods Industry
- Attend cross industry groups (FESI, WFSGI) and seminars delivered by external counsel/industry specialists to ascertain best practice on key regulatory and compliance matters
- Provide training where necessary (using insight gained from the above) to disseminate information to the EMEA business teams, most particularly the Operations and Logistics teams, on the key regulatory and compliance matters set out above.
- Draft and provide legal/commercial assistance in relation to a broad range of commercial and operational agreements and dealing with the administration related to the New Balance contractual portfolio
- Support the Senior Legal Counsel in the provision of day to day legal support across the European based business functions including but not limited to: Retail; Ecom; IT; Operations; Finance/Corporate; Marketing; HR; and Customer Services.
- Review and amend standard terms and conditions used by New Balance with external customers/retailers
- Support the Senior Legal Counsel in advising the European Senior Leadership Team (SLT), providing legal insight and expertise across a broad range of other ad hoc matters
- Liaise with external counsel on specific matters, where necessary
REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS:
- Previous experience as a Solicitor or Barrister – ideally 3 years+ post qualification experience within industry
- Knowledge of the worldwide regulatory and compliance developments affecting the European retail and/or sporting goods industry
- Good knowledge of commercial law, ideally in a retail environment, with the ability to draft contracts with minimal supervision
- Experience of advising on a broad range of legal issues to either clients or in an in-house environment
- Able to manage a varied workload across multiple areas of law
- Able to work independently and in a team, with strong organisational skills
- Experience of advising brands in the retail/ecommerce sector
- Able to research tasks and provide independent advice (orally and in writing) on technical matters
- Strong communication and influencing skills
- Excellent relationship management skills
BENEFITS:
- Discretionary Bonus Opportunity
- Private Medical Insurance
- Dental Scheme
- Pension Scheme
- Flexible Working Hours
- Hybrid working (3 days on-site)
- 25 days Annual Leave per year
- Life Insurance
- On Site Gym
- Employee Discount
- Employee Referral Scheme
- Volunteering Opportunities via NB GivesBack
- Learning & Development Opportunities
- Flexibility to work 20 days from anywhere each year
- Travel Assistance and Insurance when working abroad
- Wellbeing and Mental Health Benefit (24/7 Employment Assistance Program & Support)
Equal Opportunity Employer:
New Balance is committed to equality of opportunity for all current and prospective associates regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership and gender reassignment. We are an equal opportunity employer and support a culture of diversity and inclusion.
If you have not already done so, please let us know if you require any support so we can make the right adjustments and considerations should they be required.