Mgr & Counsel Legal Mexico

The Hershey Company is seeking a highly competent, detail-oriented attorney with at least five years of corporate/commercial experience to serve as Counsel –Commercial.  This attorney will act as a corporate generalist and will support Hershey’s commercial functions in Mexico. The Counsel –Commercial will be responsible for providing legal advice and counseling on a wide variety of commercial and corporate matters, including enterprise-wide global agreements, distribution relationships and agreements, commercial disputes, sales and marketing issues, regulatory and intellectual property matters, import/export, supply arrangements and agreements, employment and labour issues,  tax matters and general commercial contracts.  The position will also be responsible for assisting with litigation and pre-litigation activities in responsible jurisdictions.  The ideal candidate will have substantial in-house experience providing legal advice and counseling on general corporate and commercial matters.

This position is  located in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Commercial General – Serve as primary advisor, manager and negotiator of enterprise-wide global commercial agreements and contracts with suppliers, distributors, retailers and other third parties

• Provide legal advice and counseling to global business partners
• Develop and implement strategies to ensure legally-compliant global commercial relationships
• Manage commercial disputes and assist with arbitration and litigation matters
• Partner with other Hershey attorneys to provide “one voice to the business” on a wide-range of corporate and commercial-related matters, including intellectual property, ethics and compliance, corporate governance, regulatory, import/export, tax and procurement
• Assist Hershey’s Global Ethics & Compliance Department to manage distributor due diligence matters throughout responsible jurisdictions
• Manage outside counsel support to ensure effective, business-focused legal advice is provided in a cost-effective manner

Emerging Legal Issues and Trends – Identify and help manage emerging legal trends and proactively develop strategies and tools that will help the business benefit from, and manage new risks associated with, such emerging trends and developments

• Stayed informed of significant economic, political, regulatory and consumer/customer developments in responsible jurisdictions and communicate regularly with other members of the Law Department to ensure awareness and appropriate management of such developments and their potential impact on the business
• Partner with Hershey’s government relations and corporate social responsibility teams to build and maintain appropriate relationships with government and other regulatory bodies

Experience

• Minimum 7 years’ experience in a law firm or corporate department, which includes at least 5 years of substantial business counseling to clients
• Experience advising on general commercial matters, including customer agreements, distribution matters, marketing support and procurement
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements for food labeling, claims and customs preferred
• Experience drafting, negotiating and advising clients on commercial contracts (vendor, supply and distribution agreements)

Knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities: 

• Fluent written and spoken Spanish and English language skills.  Additional languages a plus, but not required.
• Strong commercial law skills.  Additional experience in consumer products, operations, regulatory, import/export and/or compliance is preferred.  Law firm and in-house candidates will be considered.
• Process-oriented team player with a strong focus on integrity and sharing capabilities.
• Bright, client-service oriented with the ability to create effective working relationships cross-functionally, including interfacing confidently with internal and external stakeholders on legal and business matters.
• Ability to work under pressure, handle multiple competing priorities, provide practical legal advice, and adapt to the external environment as organization evolves and grows.
• Possess strong writing, analytical, negotiating and communication skills.
• Ability to analyze advanced and complex transactions and propose innovative, creative and workable solutions.
• Ability to exercise independent informed and considered judgment with minimal supervision.
• Knowledge of and experience working under regulatory and legal requirements for a global U.S. multinational company (CPG or manufacturing preferred but not required) or similar relevant experience preferred.
• Experience working with Serengeti or similar e-billing/matter management systems preferred, but not required
• Experience working in a matrix structure a plus

Education

• Law Degree admitted to practice in Mexico

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