Legal Counsel (Hybrid)

About Our Client

Our client is a well-established global medical technology company with a strong presence across Asia Pacific and a long-standing presence in Malaysia and Singapore. The organisation is a leading provider of medical technology solutions, with its business focused on areas including endoscopy, therapeutic solutions and other healthcare technologies.

As part of its continued growth and development of its APAC legal function, our client is seeking a Legal Counsel to be based in Malaysia. This is a newly established Legal Counsel position in Malaysia, providing an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded lawyer to play a key role in building and developing the local legal function while supporting the wider APAC business.

The Role

As Legal Counsel, you will serve as a legal advisor to the Malaysia and Singapore businesses and their distribution network within Southeast Asia. The role will cover approximately 50% Malaysia and 50% Singapore, with responsibility for a broad range of legal matters supporting the company’s medical and corporate businesses.

This is a highly visible, individual contributor role that requires a strong balance of legal expertise, commercial acumen, independent judgment and stakeholder engagement.

As the first Legal Counsel based in Malaysia, you will have the opportunity to contribute significantly towards building the local legal function, implementing legal processes and best practices, and supporting the APAC Legal Department’s broader objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise senior management and business unit colleagues on legal risks and best practices relating to commercial transactions and corporate matters.
• Review, draft and negotiate a wide range of commercial and business agreements, ensuring that contracts accurately reflect agreed business terms and are consistent with the Company’s risk profile.
• Develop and implement contract templates, processes and best practices to facilitate efficient and effective delivery of legal services.
• Support the development and establishment of the Malaysia legal function in line with APAC Legal Department standards and best practices.
• Provide legal advice on applicable laws and regulations affecting the Company’s business and operations in Malaysia and Singapore.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and internal corporate policies, working closely with Business, HR, Finance, Medical Affairs and Compliance colleagues to maintain a strong control environment.
• Provide legal support on a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, including corporate governance, intellectual property, antitrust / competition, healthcare, labour and employment, regulatory, privacy and data protection, litigation and other legal matters.
• Manage and coordinate with external legal counsel to ensure high-quality and cost-effective legal support.
• Assist in facilitating and monitoring litigation matters, coordinating with the APAC Legal Department, legal management and external counsel, and providing appropriate updates to management.
• Conduct legal research and prepare recommendations, including memoranda of advice, for legal management and relevant business stakeholders.
• Conduct or coordinate training and education on key legal risk areas, including antitrust, privacy and data protection, corporate policies and standard operating procedures.
• Monitor and communicate significant developments in laws and regulations affecting the Company’s operations to relevant business units and functional stakeholders.
• Perform specific legal workstreams and projects across APAC, with potential opportunities to develop regional expertise or an APAC Centre of Excellence in a specific legal area.
• Participate in APAC and global legal projects and initiatives.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by legal management.

Requirements

• Malaysian law qualified.
• Minimum 5 years of legal experience, combining law firm and in-house experience.
• At least 2–3 years of in-house legal experience within a multinational company, preferably in a matrix reporting environment.
• Experience in reviewing, drafting and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Strong knowledge of commercial law and regulatory frameworks in Malaysia; knowledge of Singapore law and regulatory requirements would be advantageous.
• Experience in the medical device, pharmaceutical, healthcare or other highly regulated industries is preferred.
• Broad generalist legal experience covering areas such as commercial contracts, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, employment, healthcare, privacy / data protection, competition, intellectual property and litigation.
• General understanding of the legal and regulatory environment across the Asia Pacific region.
• Fluency in English, with at least conversational proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia.
• Strong ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and exercise sound commercial and legal judgment.
• Self-motivated, proactive and comfortable working in a lean, business-facing environment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at different levels and across multiple functions.
• Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and drive positive change across an organisation.
• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice.

Work Arrangement

• Malaysia-based position.
• The role will support both Malaysia and Singapore, with approximately 50% Malaysia / 50% Singapore scope.
• Minimum 3 days per week in the office.
• Individual contributor role reporting to the Senior Legal Counsel in Singapore and working closely with the wider APAC Legal team.

Application

Interested candidates may submit their resume, PQE level, current salary and expected salary for consideration.

Please be informed that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For further discussion, kindly contact Mr. Kwa via WhatsApp at +6016-216 1772 or email khengsun.kwa@peoplelake.asia