East Asia Region General Counsel

A career at Arup offers you the chance to make a positive difference in the world. Independently owned, Arup is the creative force at the heart of many of the world’s most prominent projects in the built environment and across industry. Working in more than 140 countries, the firm’s designers, engineers, architects, planners, consultants and technical specialists work with our clients on innovative projects of the highest quality and impact. Our East Asia offices employ approximately 3,000 staff and are engaged in prestigious multidisciplinary projects covering buildings, infrastructure, advisory services, planning and technical consulting areas.

We have flexible arrangements in place to create a more inclusive way of working that supports our diversity and the wellbeing of our people. We are committed to applying our expertise, diversity of thinking and independence in the quest for a safe, sustainable and resilient future for all. This is how we shape a better world. Currently we are looking for a capable and independent individual for the East Asia Region General Counsel position.

The Region currently comprises Hong Kong, Macau, mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines and Vietnam. The RGC is expected to be based in Hong Kong.

The RGC will be expected to provide high quality and business focused legal and commercial advice to the East Asia Region Board and to continue to drive the strategy for the legal function whilst contributing to the region’s alignment to the overall Arup strategy.  The RGC will develop and implement best business practice and will be expected to align to the structure implemented through the regional organisation changes and the newly established structure in the global legal team. 

A qualified lawyer in Hong Kong or equivalent jurisdiction, the RGC will have a track-record of achievement gained either in-house or in private practice. A good understanding of professional services firms, with awareness of issues relating to the built environment such as construction, design, engineering, advisory, architecture, sustainability, and project management, would be advantageous. Relevant candidates should have significant multi-cultural awareness. A seasoned people-manager, the RGC will be well-versed in recruiting, retaining, and developing team members.

The successful candidate will be both strategic and operational in their approach, able to be conceptual but also ‘hands on’ and have natural tact, flexibility, and versatility when dealing with others. They will be intellectually and emotionally robust, and will have high levels of energy, drive, and business acumen. Additionally, the individual will be sensitive to the demands and pressures of work within a highly competitive sector undergoing substantial change. 

Arup is a complex business which is highly dependent on the motivation and performance of senior professionals operating within multiple offices across a wide range of service lines and sectors. The RGC should be able to demonstrate an ability to deliver effective leadership within a diverse but fundamentally non-hierarchical and collaborative culture.

Legal know-how will ideally include a strong appreciation of, or ability/willingness to quickly grasp, commercial contracts, disputes (including construction and professional negligence claims), corporate structures, health & safety, construction law, sanctions, ethics, compliance, insurance, privacy, IP, tax, and employment law.

Role Responsibilities/Accountabilities

The role’s key objectives are to:

·       Lead the overall Arup strategy and approach to legal, commercial and risk matters in the region

·       Ensure the framework for management of risk continues to evolve in line with legislative requirements and leading market practice

·       Educate/inform and advise the Region Board and Management Executive of emerging risks and/or exposures, legal & commercial risks and opportunities that should be considered

·       Define and develop internal legal governance policies and frameworks in region, ensuring regulatory compliance in market

·       Lead regional risk assessment processes to identify and manage key risks facing the firm and ensure risk management considers legal and regulatory compliance and interfaces with commercial project experiences

·       Have oversight of commercial transactions, technology law and IP, litigation, risk, alternative dispute resolution, compliance, and governance in the East Asia Region

·       Lead contract negotiations on major/complex projects and ensure strategic risk management on key projects, contributing to a lasting positive impact of those projects

·       Reduce Arup’s risk exposure on contracts and in the project environment

·       Upskill the region project leaders in contract requirements and negotiation strategies (generating a support network outside of the legal team).

·       Identify opportunities to overcome cashflow problems and leverage fee recovery, advising on legal/commercial strategy and engaging senior leadership at the earliest stage

·       Partner with business leaders to improve understanding of the key contractual and legal risks for individual projects

·       Lead strategic approach to problems and disputes to minimise negative impact on Arup and where necessary personally leading the negotiations for settlement

·       Oversee problems from an early stage on live projects to avoid/minimize the impact of subsequent disputes

·       Share lessons learned and lead training initiatives

·       Increase fee revenue through formal fee recovery where necessary / appropriate

·       Assist in the development of project mechanisms before disputes emerge

·       Lead and develop the Region legal team, its skills-set and ensure there is appropriate in-house expertise across the team, providing support to enhance the learning environment across the team that ensures robust regional support and delivering strong performance from the function

·       Collaborate with Arup’s Group General Counsel and global legal team on global areas pertaining to the legal team and with the aim of strengthening the region legal support to the business

·       Work closely with our leaders in centres of excellence -  including in areas of  Insurance, Dispute Resolution, Ventures, IP and Digital, Data Privacy and Business Integrity.

·       Collaborate with and provide strategic legal guidance to teams across the region on complex, significant matters that cut across relevant portfolios

·       Build external stakeholder relationships, influencing project collaboration and industry initiatives and reform;

·       Develop a network of external counsel and experts to secure the best advice and representation for Arup;

·       Enable the reduction of external legal spend and bring other added value benefits

·       Provide legal services in relation to intellectual property portfolio including protection for new intellectual property assets and alignment with the Ventures strategy both regionally and globally

·       Develop legal solutions from concept through to implementation stage

·       Deliver strategic initiatives aligned with region and global strategic plans

·       Provide bespoke training to project teams including lessons learned

·       Ensure the effective monitoring and delivery of commercial/legal training for the Region

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

·       15 years PQE desired, experience leading construction and/or professional negligence litigation and/or commercial transactions as well as risk management. Will consider upwards of 10 years PQE depending on experience.

·       Proficiency in both Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin) and English

·       Strategic thinker with proven experience of developing and implementing creative and successful solutions

·       Exceptional communication, negotiation, influencing and presentation skills

·       A strongly collegiate team player who is proactive and driven to achieve results

·       In-depth knowledge of construction law and the construction industry

·       Experience of developing strategy and oversight of Risk, Governance and Compliance

·       Commercial dispute resolution, including contractual disputes, IP, fee claims and insurance law

·       Detailed and up-to-date knowledge and experience of alternative methods of dispute resolution

·       Ability to communicate with people at all levels in both technical and non-technical environments

·       Degree qualified and have achieved professional qualification – must be qualified to practice in Hong Kong

·       Experience of bringing professionalism and strategic input to a range of operational issues (e.g. financial and business reporting, operational risk management, People, Finance, IT etc);

·       Track record of attracting, motivating, and developing a team which enables the business to run smoothly and profitably

·       Experience delivering effective processes which have enabled the recruitment, retention, and development of staff with appropriate levels of skills and experience

·       Experience contributing at senior management level across a diverse range of legal issues

·       Experienced in delivering better value from a significant operational budget with proper monitoring of overhead costs

·       Sound networks amongst the relevant market and a significant reputation in the required area of expertise

·       A strong track record in management and legal development, with exceptional relationship building skills

·       Credibility, stature, and personal presence to lead support to the Region and operate effectively as a key member of the executive team

Personal Skills and Attributes

·       Specific strength in building strong client relationships and ability to influence key decision makers

·       Non-hierarchical, with the ability to engage and communicate with people at all levels in both technical and non-technical environments

·       Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach to getting things done

·       Ability to maintain personal effectiveness particularly during periods of higher-than-normal workload

·       Ability to remain positively motivated and foster team spirit at times of significant pressure, including assisting others to meet deadlines

·       Fosters team collaboration, embraces diversity and inclusion and actively seeks out diverse perspectives

·       Ability to relate to, lead and support a geographically dispersed team

·       Self-aware, understands role as a senior leader and takes responsibility for own actions

·       Brings excellent judgment, highest levels of integrity along with personal qualities of humility, self-awareness, and a sense of humour

·       Commitment to quality and excellence - looking for ways to improve and step-up quality and level of service from the function

·       Willingness to travel in order to effectively deliver role

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. 

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.  

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts. 

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