Role Introduction
Reports to: Associate General Counsel
The Group Legal and Compliance is responsible for providing high quality legal services to the Cathay Group in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. It is now seeking a high caliber employment and/or litigation lawyer to join its Employment and Dispute Resolution practice group as Legal Counsel. This is an excellent opportunity to build an in-house career with a leading and iconic Hong Kong company and work in a fast-changing and interesting industry.
Key Responsibilities
Employment & Dispute Resolution
- Handle all types of contentious legal matters across the Cathay Group and provide non-contentious employment and strategy advice to the internal businesses. Your scope covers Hong Kong and various overseas jurisdictions in which we operate and a wide range of disputes and claims such as Labour Tribunal claims and Labour Department complaints, investigations by the Equal Opportunities Commission, commercial and contractual disputes and passenger claims as well as settlements and alternative dispute resolution
- Manage legal actions in Hong Kong and overseas at all levels, including drafting and reviewing court documents (pleadings, witness statements and settlement agreements etc) and attending conciliation, mediation, arbitration and court hearings
- Liaise with Hong Kong or overseas authorities and regulators (such as the Police, Customs and Excise Department, Immigration Department, Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Securities and Futures Commission) and handle investigations and requests for assistance from them
- Conduct focused legal research, including via AI tools and on overseas legal issues
General
- Be a good team player who is able to work effectively with the business and be seen as a trusted advisor; you will need to have a good understanding of the business (including understanding their strategic and operational objectives and aims) and be able to identify and assess legal risk and provide sound and pragmatic legal advice that is both business and solution-oriented while effectively and simultaneously managing legal risk
- Able to work with all levels across the organization and know when to escalate issues and advise and report up to director level on difficult and complex legal issues. You will also need to have an understanding of corporate governance and decision-making process in the organization
- Instruct external law firms and monitoring their cost-effectiveness and quality. You will also help manage the Cathay Group’s legal budget and external legal spend including by preparing regular legal forecast and budget reports
- Assist Group Legal and Compliance generally across all areas on an as-needed basis including departmental projects and initiatives. You will also prepare and deliver training and briefings on legal topics to the business and to keep Group Legal and Compliance, the business and management abreast of legal developments that may impact the Cathay Group
Requirements
- 4-6 years Post-Qualified Experience (PQE) in employment and/or Prior In-house experience is an advantage but is not required
- Fluent in spoken and written Good command of both spoken and written Chinese and Mandarin is an advantage. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with people at all levels and work in a multi-cultural work environment
- Experience in engaging with regulators is an advantage
- High attention to detail, and able to see and understand the bigger picture Extremely well organized and good at planning and managing your time as well as others
- Mature and has a high sense of responsibility and accountability for your work
- Excellent commercial acumen. Comfortable outside your comfort zone
- Able to work proactively and independently with minimum supervision, advising autonomously using common sense and logic, and to drive forward internal matters under tight timescales whilst positively managing internal relationships.
- High work standards and a willingness to learn. Curiosity is an asset.Efficient and able to prioritise workload, multi-task and work under time pressure
- Highly developed influencing and conflict resolution skills
- High proficiency in office applications (including Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Sharepoint). Experience using AI solutions when practically applied to solutions-based and pragmatic advice
Personal & Application Information
Cathay Pacific is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Personal data provided by job applicants will be used strictly in accordance with our Applicant Personal Information Collection Statement and for recruitment purposes only. Candidates not notified within eight weeks may consider their application unsuccessful. We keep records of your data for no longer than is necessary for the purpose for which we obtained them and any other permitted linked purposes. If your application is unsuccessful, we will keep your details on file for as long as is necessary to process your application or for the purposes of further job opportunities if you agree to such longer periods.
