Senior Legal Counsel

at  Dentsu Aegis Network

Job Title:
Senior Legal Counsel
Job Description:
Join our team at Dentsu as an ambitious and experienced Senior legal professional, ready to embrace new challenges and contribute to shaping our success here in Finland and the Baltics. This role is tailor-made for individuals with a keen commercial outlook and comfortable providing professional and strategic support to our Finnish and the Baltics leadership and organization. Be a part of our journey to excellence!

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Provides legal advice to Dentsu at all levels, ensuring compliance with laws and safeguarding business interests.
• Drafts, negotiates, and advises on complex commercial agreements.
• Supports commercial teams in negotiations for favourable legal and business terms.
• Assists the executive team in strategic legal matters.
• Regularly reviews project progress and takes corrective actions.
• Drives and implements best practices in compliance, contracts, IP, data protection, IT, litigation, and M&A.
• Assesses functional performance to (i) identify areas for employee development or (ii) explore changes that can better meet internal client needs or utilize team members’ skills.
• Leads legal and compliance projects, including potentially acting as DPO for specific markets.
• Understands business needs while ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.
• Results-driven, commercially minded “Business Partner” to Dentsu’s leadership in Finland and the Baltics.
• Proactively engages with the market leadership team.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS:

• Around 5-8 years of post-qualification experience, ideally with some law firm experience.
• Qualified to practice law in Finland.
• Proven leadership in handling complex transactions.
• Significant experience and knowledge of key legal principles relating to commercial law, contract management, intellectual property, IT, data protection, and compliance. Employment law knowledge is a plus.
• Skilled in risk management, compliance programs, policy drafting, and training.
• Experience in leading internal investigations and working with regulators.
• Familiarity with financial principles and corporate governance for multinational companies.
• Effective senior management communication and presentation abilities.
• High integrity and emotional intelligence (EQ).
• Fluent in both Finnish and English.
• Knowledge/experience of working with the Baltic countries is a plus.

The Senior Legal Counsel for Finland and the Baltics oversees legal matters at an executive level in Dentsu Finland and Dentsu Baltics. We are looking for a commercial legal executive with experience in fast-paced, customer-focused settings. You should possess experience in industries such as Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT), consumer markets, or other dynamically changing fields. International exposure and a broad legal skill set encompassing commercial law, contract management, IP, IT, data protection, and compliance are crucial. While optional, DPO capabilities are beneficial, and HR-law knowledge is a plus.
The ideal candidate is proactive, hands-on, and solution oriented. They build strong relationships with local leadership, brands, and networks. People leadership skills are vital, and adaptability in an innovative, fast-paced environment is key. A business mindset aligning with company needs is essential. Reporting primarily to the EMEA Deputy General Counsel and secondarily to the CEO in Finland, the position is based in Helsinki. This is a new position for the Finnish and Baltic markets, and we expect the person to be both hands-on and strategic in their approach.