The Chief Counsel, Marsh & Mercer South East Asia, will be based in Singapore and will report to the Deputy General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Asia, with dotted line to the CEO of Marsh & Mercer South East Asia. This role is responsible for managing and coordinating the Legal, Compliance and Public Affairs (“LCPA”) team in South-East Asia. The Chief Counsel will also collaborate with the Marsh & Mercer South East Asia CEO and business leadership to understand the regional and global business environment and strategy to advise and provide guidance on potential risks. The Chief Counsel will engage as necessary with regulators and ensure compliance of relevant Marsh & Mercer businesses with applicable law/ regulation. He/she will also implement Marsh & Mercer legal and compliance strategy, processes and goals in the Marsh & Mercer operations across South East Asia. The role will also have certain pan-Asian responsibilities and may support other operating companies in the Marsh McLennan group of companies.
What is in it for you?
This is an exciting opportunity for those who are seeking to join a leading global professional services organization. At Marsh McLennan, you will have the chance to work in a dynamic and experienced Legal, Risk & Compliance team. We also offer access to internal resources that provide mentorship and development opportunities.
We will count on you to:
- Manage the LCPA team across South East Asia (incorporating Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam).
- Provide analysis and counsel on a range of legal issues, including corporate issues, business structures and models, M&A, property related issues, employment issues, insurance, and reinsurance under relevant law and regulation.
- Oversee the drafting, review and negotiation of complex contracts and related documents for the procurement or provision of goods and services, confidentiality of proprietary information, employment, leases of space and equipment, and software licenses.
- Assist with regulatory advisory work under relevant law.
- Anticipate and identify legal issues in South East Asia of concern to the regional and global management team and develop legal strategies and solutions, often in situations of high risk with limited time for assessing alternatives.
- Analyse a broad range of laws and regulations both affecting the operations of the Marsh and Mercer businesses across South East Asia including those arising from corporate structures and business models.
- Engage outside counsel on complex legal issues and supervise and coordinate relevant work sent to external law firms.
- Supervise implementation, training and monitoring of colleague compliance in the areas of anti-competition, gifts and entertainment, anti-money laundering, sanctions, Client First Principles, client service agreements, errors & omissions (E&O) and other legal/ compliance policies and topics.
- Supervise/ assist with and review Third Party Provider (TPP) submissions, renewals and payments for compliance with Marsh/Mercer policy and procedure.
- Review all regulations/ directives and global/ regional policies and explain their requirements and applicability to the Marsh & Mercer South East Asia colleagues and operations.
- Develop procedures, processes and policies to support the legal and compliance function, in conjunction with all internal and external standards and regulations. Support with training, communications, and monitoring.
- Manage internal investigations until conclusion and make related recommendations to the relevant committees for consequences of potential non-compliance based on facts identified through the investigation process.
- Ensure effective processes exist to address E&O prevention and mitigation. Triage, investigate, mitigate, and close E&O claims as well as assisting in reviewing claims history, identifying trends and developing awareness education to avoid repeatable incidents.
- Advise the Marsh & Mercer South East Asia CEO and leadership teams on the status of compliance, transparency and overall professional liability performance of colleagues.
- Work closely with leaders in finance, human resources, and other internal functions in relation to reviewing business practices/ corporate structures, developing and maintaining compliance controls, training and investigations.
- Support and implement global/ regional legal and compliance efforts for Marsh & Mercer and promote an ethical and legally compliant business culture. Partner with senior management and regional teams to achieve desired compliance results.
- Oversee management of the Risk Management function of the businesses across South East Asia.
- Actively participate on appropriate executive, leadership and/ or operating committees.
What you need to have:
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree (or equivalent) from a reputable institution and admitted to practice in one or more jurisdictions.
- A minimum of 10 years of post-qualification experience in a law firm or in-house legal role, with at least 2 years of specialization in the relevant area.
- Demonstrated experience in effectively managing a geographically dispersed team. On-the-ground Singapore/ South East Asia markets experience is a nice to have.
- Good judgment, the ability to comprehend and analyze complex matters, confidentiality, cultural sensitivity, a high level of diligence and the ability to work well collaboratively, knowing when to escalate matters.
- A proven track record of working in-house with a multinational company or a reputable law firm, with responsibilities covering review, drafting and negotiation of legal documentation. Experience handling employment and litigation matters.
- Deep understanding of regulations, contracts, employment law and relevant industry standards/ practices. Prior experience of regulatory advisory work, preferably in insurance or financial services sectors.
- Demonstrated expertise in implementing, enforcing, training and monitoring compliance policies.
- High levels of integrity and professionalism with ability to balance compliance with business objectives.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Meticulous attention to detail and the ability to work to tight deadlines, pressure and manage time critical issues effectively and efficiently.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
