In-House Legal Counsel

<p><strong>aCommerce Inc. </strong>is looking for a commercially minded In-House Counsel to join our legal team and support our operations in the Philippines. This is a mid-level role based in our Manila office, reporting directly to the Group Head of Legal with a dotted line to the Country CEO. The role offers broad exposure across commercial, regulatory, and employment matters in a fast-paced e-commerce environment operating across Southeast Asia.</p> <p><strong>Job description:&nbsp;</strong></p> <ul> <li> <div id="page-1" class="_kqswh2mm _bfhku67f _18u01wug _2hwx1wug" data-testid="page-0">Contracts &amp; Commercial</div> <ul> <li>Review, draft, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements including client contracts, vendor agreements, partnership arrangements, and service agreements.</li> <li> <div class="_kqswh2mm _bfhku67f _18u01wug _2hwx1wug" data-testid="page-0">Maintain and improve standard contract templates and playbooks.</div> </li> <li> <div class="_kqswh2mm _bfhku67f _18u01wug _2hwx1wug" data-testid="page-0">Advise internal stakeholders on contractual rights, obligations, and risk.</div> </li> </ul> </li> <li>Regulatory &amp; Licensing <ul> <li>Manage and maintain all corporate and operational licenses and permits required for the company’s business activities in the Philippines.</li> <li>Monitor regulatory developments and advise the business on compliance requirements and obligations.</li> <li>Liaise with relevant government agencies and regulatory bodies as required.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Compliance <ul> <li>Develop, implement, and maintain compliance policies and procedures in line with applicable Philippine laws and regulations.</li> <li>Support data privacy compliance obligations under the Data Privacy Act and coordinate with the Data Protection Officer where applicable.</li> <li>Conduct compliance training and awareness initiatives for internal teams.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Taxation <ul> <li>Provide first-level legal advice on tax-related matters including VAT, withholding tax, and other statutory obligations.</li> <li>Liaise with external tax advisors and the BIR on assessments, disputes, and routine compliance matters.</li> <li>Review contracts and transactions from a tax risk perspective.</li> </ul> </li> <li> <div id="page-1" class="_kqswh2mm _bfhku67f _18u01wug _2hwx1wug" data-testid="page-0">Litigation &amp; Dispute Resolution</div> <ul> <li>Manage pre-litigation disputes and coordinate with external counsel on litigation matters.</li> <li>Maintain litigation registers and provide regular updates to management on case status and exposure.</li> <li>Draft demand letters, legal notices, and other formal correspondence.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Labour &amp; Employment <ul> <li>Advise on all employment-related matters including hiring, separation, disciplinary proceedings, and employee relations.</li> <li>Represent or coordinate representation of the company before the NLRC, DOLE, and other labour tribunals.</li> <li>Draft and review employment contracts, HR policies, and related documentation.</li> <li>Keep the business updated on developments in Philippine labour law.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Qualifications &amp; Requirements </strong></p> <p style="padding-left: 40px;">• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.) from a Philippine law school; must be a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in good standing.&nbsp;<br>• Minimum 5 years of post-admission experience in a law firm, in-house legal team, or a combination of both. <br>• Must be Filipino, with legal education and professional experience obtained in the Philippines. <br>• Strong working knowledge of Philippine corporate, commercial, labour, and regulatory law. <br>• Experience in e-commerce, technology, retail, or a regional business environment is an advantage. <br>• Comfortable working independently and managing multiple priorities across a lean team. <br>• Strong drafting, negotiation, and communication skills in both English and Filipino. <br>• Commercially pragmatic — able to provide clear, practical legal advice rather than purely theoretical guidance.</p> <p><strong>What We Offer </strong></p> <ul> <li>A high-visibility regional role with direct access to senior leadership.&nbsp;</li> <li>Exposure to cross-border legal matters across aCommerce’s Southeast Asian markets.&nbsp;</li> <li>A collaborative, fast-moving environment where legal is a genuine business partner.&nbsp;</li> <li>Competitive compensation commensurate with experience.</li> </ul>