Job Description
The Chief Counsel, APAC is a leader within ADM's Legal function, serving as principal deputy and operational lead for the APAC legal team. Reporting to the General Counsel, APAC LARC (Legal affairs, Regulatory and Compliance), the role oversees Business Unit counsels and country counsels across the region, ensures consistency of legal standards across all APAC jurisdictions and business units, and provides senior-level legal counsel to APAC leadership. The Chief Counsel assumes full responsibility for the APAC legal function in the absence of the APAC GC.
Your Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop the APAC legal team comprising associate general counsels, senior counsels, counsels and paralegals across multiple jurisdictions.
- Drive team cohesion, knowledge sharing, performance management, and succession planning across the APAC legal function.
- Manage internal and external legal resources and budgets to meet business objectives.
Strategic Legal Counsel
- Provide senior-level legal counsel to the APAC President, regional business leaders, and APAC Executive Council members on high-impact strategic matters.
- Develop and execute legal strategies aligned to ADM's corporate goals and APAC business priorities across all Business Units (AS&O, Nutrition, Carbohydrate Solutions, ADM Investor Services).
- Advise on and oversee complex legal matters across APAC jurisdictions, including organic growth, commercial contracts, M&A and JV transactions, regulatory compliance, litigation, and corporate governance.
- Proactively integrate legal strategy into business planning; collaborate with global Legal domain leads (M&A, Litigation, Regulatory, Employment, IP) for consistent regional execution.
Legal Risk Management
- Identify, assess, and mitigate enterprise-level legal risks across APAC, including regulatory, litigation, contractual, and reputational risks.
- Ensure the APAC legal function provides timely and accurate advice on applicable laws and regulations across all jurisdictions in which ADM operates.
- Respond swiftly and effectively to legal challenges, government investigations, and enforcement actions to protect ADM's interests.
- Oversee contentious matters including litigation, arbitration, and regulatory proceedings; manage outside counsel and related budgets effectively.
Governance & Operations
- Establish and enforce legal operational frameworks, playbooks, policies, and best practices across the APAC legal function.
- Drive digitalization and efficiency initiatives within the legal function, leveraging legal technology and process improvement.
- Oversee corporate governance and legal operations across APAC, including representation in regional and global Legal forums.
- Demonstrate ADM's Mission, Vision, and Values through day-to-day behavior and job performance.
Stakeholder & External Relations
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with the APAC and global business leaders, APAC EC members and Global Legal and LARC colleagues.
- Manage relationships with external counsel across APAC, including panel law firm management and outside counsel spend oversight.
- Interface with regulators, government bodies, and external stakeholders as required.
City
Singapore
State
Singapore
Location Country
Singapore
Your Profile
Qualifications & Experience
- LLB or LLM from a reputable law school; admitted to practice in at least one APAC jurisdiction.
- Minimum 18 years PQE combining international law firm and in-house MNC experience.
- Demonstrated experience leading multi-jurisdictional legal matters and managing geographically dispersed legal teams.
- Significant cross-border transaction experience (M&A, JVs, commercial contracts) across multiple APAC jurisdictions including but not limited to China, Korea, India, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Australia.
- Proven track record advising C-suite and EC-level stakeholders; experience managing complex litigation and regulatory/government enforcement matters.
Competencies & Skills
- Strategic mindset with strong business and financial acumen; ability to translate legal risk into commercially sound, actionable advice.
- Exceptional leadership, negotiation, drafting, and interpersonal communication skills (written and oral).
- Highly motivated, proactive, and collaborative; strong stakeholder management and delegation skills.
- Committed to ADM values: integrity, respect, excellence, resourcefulness, teamwork, and responsibility.
- Fluency in English required; proficiency in one or more APAC region languages is an advantage.
About ADM
At ADM, we unlock the power of nature to provide access to nutrition worldwide. With industry-advancing innovations, a complete portfolio of ingredients and solutions to meet any taste, and a commitment to sustainability, we give customers an edge in solving the nutritional challenges of today and tomorrow. We’re a global leader in human and animal nutrition and the world’s premier agricultural origination and processing company. Our breadth, depth, insights, facilities and logistical expertise give us unparalleled capabilities to meet needs for food, beverages, health and wellness, and more. From the seed of the idea to the outcome of the solution, we enrich the quality of life the world over. Learn more at www.adm.com.
