Job Description
Legal Associate Client Contracting
The Legal Associate role is a fulltime position in TMF Group’s Global Client Contracting Team. The role will be based in Toronto.
Job purpose
The Legal Associate will be responsible for drafting, negotiating and providing legal advice and support on complex contract negotiations for TMF Group’s global business services, particularly for international (multi-country) commercial contracts.
The Legal Counsel will be part of the Client Contracting Team that forms part of the Group Legal function and has an additional reporting line into the Global Solutions division within TMF Group. The Legal Counsel will report into the Client Contracting Team’s Senior Legal Counsel for US/LATAM.
Key responsibilities
- Leading and managing contracts negotations, including drafting, negotiating, providing advice and supporting contract closure in collaboration with TMF Group’s Global Sales and Operations Teams on a range of bespoke, complex and standard commercial contracts, including international (multi-country) commercial agreements, non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements and other agreements relevant to the transaction in line with the uniform TMF Group templates and TMF Group policies and guidance;
- Working with TMF Group’s Global Sales Team, Client Relationship Managers and Implementation Team to support international (multi-country) services contract negotiations and their end to end success;
- Provide concise legal advice, support and recommendations in relation to existing client contracts, including amendments, complaints and disputes, termination and debt collection and assist to respond to ad-hoc commercial contract queries;
- Provide support and act as point of escalation for local offices/counsels across the NA/LATAM region;
- Assist and provide legal support on special projects within TMF Group;
- Assisting in the development and implementation of uniform general contract terms and conditions, contract templates, data and details concerning requests for particulars/information;
- Supporting the Global Head of Client Contracting in setting up and contributing to the goals and projects of the Client Contracting Team and Group Legal function;
- Assist in developing training materials and provide training to the Global Sales Team, Service Lines, local offices and local inhouse counsels on relevant topics;
- Ensure consistent contract management by following the internal approval/ commercial transactions procedures and processes;
- Understand the business needs and assist in translating this into relevant contract provisions;
- Exercise independent judgement within generally defined practices and policies to balance commercial and TMF Group’s interests. Offer pragmatic solutions in contract negotiations, which achieve the closure of the deal whilst protecting TMF Group’s legal position;
- Updating and contributing to the enhancement of the Client Contracting SharePoint Site.
Key requirements
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Law or local equivalent;
- Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in commercial contracting;
- Excellent knowledge of English language is mandatory;
- Significant experience in drafting and negotiating professional services contracts in an international company and previous experience working in law firm would be considered an advantage;
- Understanding of contracts concerning outsourcing services would be considered as an advantage;
- Good understanding of international data privacy law would be considered as an advantage;
- Strong inter-personal and negotiation skills;
- Excellent communication skills;