Job Summary and Mission

This role is for a strategic legal leader and business contributor to lead a workstream that will be critical to the future success of the EMEA legal and EMEA and global business operations. The role provides critical corporate, governance and commercial legal advice and counsel to EMEA management and partners. The chosen candidate shall model and act in accordance with Starbucks guiding principles.

Summary of Key Responsibilities    

General - Leads on all matters relating to Corporate, Governance M&A, litigation, restructuring Legal strategy / processes and US support specifically to Corp Development and Corporate Securities. Also, to be EMEA legal point of contact for our Channel development team on strategic partnerships matter as needed (otherwise managed globally not in EMEA). 

This role is a leadership position providing critical advice to the business and key functional areas within remit. They will provide strategic and business focused advice cross functionally working with partners across EMEA and SSC. In particular, this person will lead on all corporate, governance and similar projects (in some cases proactively starting them) and leading on advising on all risk and opportunities associated with relevant areas of the business. 

Operates as lead legal business partner to EMEA functional leads and the leadership team in the following core areas:

• Business strategy
• Corporate governance, including subsidiary management and intercompany transactions and relationships and other Company Secretarial tasks
• Finance, tax and treasury
• Corporate Reporting
• Corporate and M&A
• Competition Law (reviews and filing)
• Litigation
• Legal strategy / processes 
• US support specifically to Corporate Securities Group (incl Corporate Reporting), Corp Development and governance

Leadership - Setting goals for the work group, developing organizational capability, and modelling how we work together today and setting the strategy for the future:

• Identifies and communicates key responsibilities and practices to ensure the immediate team of direct reports promotes a successful attitude, confidence in leadership, and teamwork to achieve business results.
• Supports continuous improvements initiatives including strategic review of Company programs, methods and practices to promote strong governance and implement robust procedures in Starbucks to better operational management, protecting our license to operate and ultimately achieving a competitive advantage.
• Directs and delegates work to legal professionals, including attorneys, paralegals, other functional partners and administrative support.
• May directly supervise attorneys, paralegals and/ or support staff.

Business Requirements - Providing functional expertise and executing functional responsibilities:

• Effectively manages outside counsel’s work product and costs including working with the associate general counsel and legal operational manager (and where appropriate SSC) on continuous review of panel, rates with firms and value adds.
• Ensures that Starbucks complies with regulatory requirements and filings and with commercial and contractual obligations. Manages the implementation of ongoing company compliance programs related to the functional & legal areas covered by the role.
• Participates on cross-functional teams with business unit/ department clients to enhance the experience for Starbucks partners and customers and increase profitability, including identifying, planning, and executing opportunities for business growth and expansion.
• Provides clients with advice, counsel and training regarding legal requirements, best practices, and strategies for managing risk in order to mitigate legal exposure while helping to advance the Company's business objectives.

Partner Development & Team Building - Providing partners with coaching, feedback, and developmental opportunities and building effective teams:

• Challenges and inspires partners to achieve successful change to ways of working resulting in strong governance and strong business results.
• Conducts and ensures the completion of performance reviews of any direct reports.
• Ensures partners adhere to legal and operational compliance requirements.
• Oversees training and development of partners directly and indirectly managed and makes effective staffing decisions.
• Provides coaching, direction and leadership support to team members in order to achieve partner, business and customer results.

Planning and Execution - Developing strategic and operational plans for the work group, managing execution, and measuring results:

• Continuously improves practice group operations within the legal department to meet company objectives for operational excellence. 
• Identifies, plans and executes areas for improvement to ensure consistent legendary service to customers.
• Contributes to departments strategic and business planning, including operating plan and budget.
• Coordinates work with outside counsel and internal clients and manages associated costs.
• Leads and participates on department committees and project teams to deliver initiatives to support Starbucks business objectives.
• Plans and manages business unit and department processes and practices to ensure that programs are aligned with company business goals and objectives.
• Prepares, communicates and educates client groups and team on changes in policies and practices within the organization.

Knowledge, Education, Skills and Experience:

• License to practice law in pertinent jurisdiction(s) required – UK needed ideally if both in US and UK
• Trained at established corporate and commercial law firm (ideally)
• Significant relevant post-qualification experience 
• In–house experience required (both corporate and commercial in house teams)
• Organisation and planning skills 
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; good presentation skills
• Ability to influence cross-functionally and at all levels of seniority – internally and externally
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Demonstrate highest ethical standards 

This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the role and is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible responsibilities, tasks, and duties that may be required. Management reserves the right to amend the responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the jobholder as dictated by business requirements.