Legal Counsel Europe – Contracts and IP

Trivium Packaging is a global sustainability leader in metal packaging with more than 60 locations worldwide, nearly 8,000 employees, and an annual revenue of approximately €3.0 billion. Trivium serves a diverse range of customers in a variety of end markets such as food, seafood, pet food, nutrition, beauty and personal care, household care, and premium beverages.

Trivium wants to shape the industry and has embarked on an ambitious transformation journey. In the near term, focus is on building & upskilling the team, deciding where to play & how to win, and increasing financial performance by executing the Trivium Business System (commercial, operational, and supply chain excellence). Sustainability is embedded in our materials and in our actions. Trivium has ambitious sustainability targets and focuses exclusively on products that are infinitely recyclable. Our company sustainability journey has been awarded with a Platinum medal by EcoVadis, the world’s leading rating agent who allocated this award only to the top 1% of the >75000 companies reviewed. Sustainability is embedded in each and every function at Trivium, it‘s in our DNA. The global head office is at Amsterdam Airport; however, many people work in virtual teams from different countries. Our culture is results-driven, entrepreneurial, informal, and highly multicultural. Our people have a high degree of responsibility. 

The Opportunity

To execute the global TLC strategy and ensure the prompt delivery of accurate legal advice in the fields of (commercial and procurement) contract law, IP law, corporate law and compliance in countries of responsibility. 

Key responsibilities

Execute global TLC strategy and deliver prompt and accurate legal advice in the fields of contract, general commercial/procurement, IP and corporate law, as well as compliance in certain identified jurisdictions. This includes:

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating major international agreements (sales, distribution and supply, (co-) development, M&A, finance and loan, services and consultancy agreements);
• Being the main point of contact for legal matters in relevant countries;
• Providing support with governance and decision making of local legal entities;
• Support with reorganizations and, if required, matters regarding works councils and labor unions;
• Providing compliance trainings to businesses and functions, as required; and
• Assisting in local compliance investigations.
• Responsible for drafting, reviewing and negotiating the group’s key commercial and procurement contracts. This includes:
• Implementation and continuous improvement of the group’s core legal principles in all commercial and procurement agreements, including the preparation, negotiation and review of global framework agreements;
• Implementation of General Terms and Conditions and ongoing update, where required; and 
• Ongoing training to the commercial teams of the group on contract law and the group’s contracting and compliance policies.
• Ensure the prompt and accurate delivery of legal advice in the field of intellectual property. This includes:
• Providing advice to the business and R&D teams on patents, trademarks and other IP related matters, with the aim of achieving a competitive advantage with our IP rights – if needed with the assistance of outside counsel;
• Maintaining and pruning, where needed, the patents and trademarks portfolio; and 
• Managing the outside counsels on IP matters and control cost.

Assessment standards TLC

• People: Is a trustworthy team-player that drives the transformation and embodies the Trivium values and culture;
• Strategy: Is dedicated to executing the strategy to deliver efficient and effective legal advice, supporting the business, functions and the transformation of Trivium;
• Financial results: Is focused on continuous control of TLC internal and external spend; 
• Safety: Acts as role model; 
• Production: Contributes to smooth production processes through fit for purpose contracts and legal & compliance support to production locations;
• Customers: Internal customers satisfied with quality and time for the rendered legal advice;
• Quality: Contributes to a do-it-right-first-time quality culture, and for continuous improvement of the quality of the legal advice rendered by TLC; and
• Sustainability: Is an internal champion for sustainability, contributing to the broader sustainability agenda.

Nature and size of the job area

The job requires an expert on commercial & procurement contract law, with a solid background in corporate law and intellectual property law. The job requires a pragmatic and experienced generalist who is able to provide legal advice in various jurisdictions on a broad area of different fields of law. 

The position in its organizational context

The position reports to the Director Legal Europe (who reports to the Chief Legal Officer).

Business contacts

• Sales and procurement teams; 
• Management and operational teams;
• Functional teams (TLC, Tax, R&D, Treasury, HR, Sustainability etc);
• External lawyers; and
• Representatives of customers and their internal and external advisers.

Flexibility and decision making

The level of autonomy in this role is high. (S)he provides legal services to the businesses and functions while building a strong relationship with leaders and developing and maintaining a high quality of services. Contributes to and executes the TLC strategy and standards and educates and trains business colleagues on various legal and compliance matters in Europe. The Legal Counsel Europe – Contracts and IP must always comply with Trivium’s policies and procedures on delegation of authority.

Education/Experience

• European qualified lawyer.
• 5 to 8 years of relevant work experience at a law firm of international reputation and/or at a legal department of a Fortune 500 (or comparable) company.

Competencies

• Excellent general legal knowledge;
• Capacity to adapt quickly to new fields of law/jurisdictions; 
• Expertise in commercial and procurement contract law in the major jurisdictions in which the company operates;
• Solid command of competition laws and regulations in the EU;
• Solid understanding of intellectual property regulations;
• Sound legal and ethical judgment;
• Ability to identify legal and compliance risks, to define strategies and mitigating actions, to plan and to execute actions;
• Excellent English language skills, spoken and written;
• Advanced in drafting and strategic writing;
• Strong intercultural competences; and
• Top-level analytical, counseling, negotiating, communication and interpersonal skills, with sound legal and ethical judgment

BRINGING YOUR TRUE SELF TO WORK

To reach our goals, we know we need colleagues at all levels who are truly diverse in every way. That’s why we are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. Our customers come from a wide range of backgrounds, and so do our people and It’s business critical for us to ensure all our people have what they need to perform at their best and can be their true selves at work.

Read Full Description