Temporary Associate General Counsel, Maternity Cover

The role

This lawyer will lead the Legal Department in Paris to support core business and commercial activity in France, Belgium and Monaco. The role involves drafting and negotiating contracts, providing legal advice to various teams, and managing compliance and litigation matters.

What you will do

• Provide support to the business in France, Belgium and Monaco in general commercial practice.
• Draft and negotiate contracts for auction, private sales, marketing, vendor and procurement.
• Provide general commercial advice on corporate matters, licensing, digital activities and new initiatives.
• Advise all levels of the Company on deal structure and legal and reputational risk.
• Advise on local claims and disputes, including restitution matters.
• Update template contracts, conditions of business and client facing documentation.
• Assist the business in France, Belgium and Monaco to deal with non-standard legal and commercial matters.
• Draft and maintain compliance policies and procedures.
• Provide relevant training and coaching for employee groups in France, Belgium and Monaco.
• Supervise outside law firms and manage external legal budget.

Required qualifications

• French qualified lawyer
• Approximately 8-10 years of post-qualification experience
• Confident about working across multiple time zones and jurisdictions
• Commercially pragmatic
• Strong work ethic and ability to multitask, prioritize and manage numerous projects and demanding deadlines
• Strong attention to detail and quality of work product
• Exceptional drafting, communication, analytical and interpersonal skills
• Excellent business judgment
• Practical approach to legal drafting and problem solving
• Team player
• Ability to work effectively with individuals at all organizational levels
• Must demonstrate the highest degree of integrity, ethical judgment and professionalism

Nice to have

• Art industry experience
• In-house experience
• One or more European languages in addition to English and French

About the company

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s promotes access and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions, private sales and retail. The company has a global network of specialists spanning 40 countries.