Legal Counsel, Commercial

The Company

SUSE, a pioneer in open-source software, provides reliable, interoperable Linux, cloud infrastructure and storage solutions that give enterprises greater control and flexibility.

SUSE has over 25 years of engineering excellence. Its exceptional service and unrivalled partner ecosystem are used to power the products and support that, in turn, help SUSE's customers to manage complexity, reduce cost, and confidently deliver mission-critical services. SUSE is also an active member of many open-source communities, such as the openSUSE Project, OpenStack, Ceph, OpenNFV, OpenHPC, and more, which all form part of a global drive to help solve some of the world's most challenging technology issues.

The Role

SUSE Legal is seeking to engage a Legal Counsel (Commercial & Tech) to join the APAC legal commercial team covering a wide range of commercial, IP and IT matters and all types of commercial contracts. Work has typically included sales contracts, collaboration agreements, software contracts, IP licences and service and support agreements, as well as the provision of advice and support on procurement, disputes, HR and employment, data privacy and cybersecurity, export controls and regulatory compliance matters.

The role will report to the Regional General Counsel for APAC in Singapore but will be required to liaise with stakeholders at all levels across APAC.

About You

• Solicitor, around 7-10 years PQE, preferably qualified in Singapore, China or England & Wales, but other jurisdictions considered.
• Fluent in English, with additional fluency in Mandarin and/or Japanese being helpful but not a necessity.
• Strong IT/Technology background, preferably from having worked in-house at a technology/software company.
• Strong drafting, research and negotiation skills coupled with rounded IP knowledge.
• Works well under pressure and to tight deadlines with well developed prioritisation skills and an ability to multi-task/handle numerous projects simultaneously.
• Experience of working within an Enterprise Software enviroment
• Experienced in managing large complext software deals
• Strong preference for knowledge of open source subscription deals.
• A customer-focussed and detail-oriented team player with the ability to work autonomously/with minimal supervision and with the capacity to take initiatives and be proactive in addressing any challenges.
• A strong cultural awareness and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across different jurisdictions.
• Good sense of humour with the ability to collaborate with colleagues across teams and jurisdictions.
• Business focussed and solutions oriented with strong communication skills and an ability to explain complex matters in clear, accessible language.

The Role

You will be part of the APAC commercial legal team operating out of Singapore. The team supports all areas of APAC (South-East Asia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan) and is responsible for all legal matters with regards to customer, partner and vendor contracts as well as dealing with general legal issues covering IP and technology, procurement, disputes, employment, data privacy and cybersecurity, export controls and regulatory compliance.

The work you will undertake include the following:

• Providing advice on information technology, IP and commercial contracts, especially open-source software and licence agreements
• Drafting, marking up, negotiating and providing advice on a broad spectrum of commercial agreements involving our customers, suppliers and strategic partners, including services and supply agreements, distribution agreements, SAAS, PAAS, cloud and more
• Providing support and advice on the management of disputes, HR and employment issues, data privacy and cybersecurity, export controls and regulatory compliance
• Developing and delivering training to the business and supporting functions covering matters such as contract processes, the meaning of various contractual provisions, negotiation skills, legal compliance and group policies
• Supporting and leading legal team strategy initiatives and
• Briefing and managing external legal counsel on a variety of matters.

Location: The role is located in Singapore and is hybrid (the team works flexibly, which includes home working and a minimum of 2 weekly days in the office).