Property Senior Specialist, Legal Counsel

Overview

Pandora is looking for a new Legal Counsel Senior Specialist. You will report to the SEMEA Head of Legal and will be based in Milan. You will become part of a global legal team with colleagues in Denmark, United States, Brazil, France, UK, Spain, Australia, China and Thailand. As Property Legal Counsel you will provide legal advice predominantly to the Property and Network team supporting operations in Italy and other markets of the SEMEA cluster (such as Turkey, Greece, South Africa, UAE), and work closely with the local management team and key staff functions.

Responsibilities

• Drafting and negotiation of lease agreements for the stores (contracts for lease of commercial real estate properties and going concerns and related renewals/amendments) ensuring their alignment to Pandora’s Group policies
• Drafting and/or managing of contracts and other documents ancillary to leases (e.g. bank guarantees, insurance policies)
• Drafting of minutes of board resolutions and powers of attorney for the approval and execution of lease agreements and opening of the stores
• Arranging appointments and all related formalities for the execution of lease agreements before the notaries
• Providing reports on the status of lease agreements of the network (ongoing negotiations of leases and renewals, break options, etc.)
• Providing advice to the Property and Network team on real estate law and lease agreements provisions
• Providing support to the Property and Network team on the drafting of various correspondence with landlords (concerning termination notices, fit out works, claims about maintenance issues and payments, etc.)
• Managing incidents related to the stores, including contact with landlords and insurance brokers
• Managing disputes with landlords and/or other tenants and respond to alleged violations of rules, regulations, policies, procedures
• Drafting and negotiation of works and services agreements related to the business operations
• Providing legal support in the management and obtaining of licenses and authorizations required for the operation of the business
• Assisting with M&A activities (stores acquisitions)
• Interact with external legal counsels

Qualifications – Skills Required

• The ideal candidate will be a mid-level experienced lawyer with demonstrated experience in real estate, especially in the drafting, reviewing and negotiation of lease agreements and managing all related issues. A background that incorporates a mixture of law firm and in-house experience is ideal. A strong background in all facets of real estate/lease law is required, and a background in retail and/or shopping mall company and in multinational and multi-jurisdictional contexts is preferred.
• This role requires a confident mid-level experienced candidate who is comfortable in a fast paced environment and who can quickly synthesize and advise the business. Superior communication and people management/relationship building skills are critical. The candidate must be comfortable interacting with various levels in the organization, including senior level management.
• This role is expected to develop strategic business relationships with both suppliers and internal business leaders and stakeholders, assist with contract negotiations, support cost savings initiatives, and provide legal advice and support on transactions supporting the day-to-day operations.

Professional qualifications

• Legal background, preferably a mixture of law firm and in-house experience.
• Minimum 5 years practical professional experience with a strong background within real estate law.
• Proven negotiation, drafting, and analytical skills for lease agreements.
• Experience within legal project management.
• Demonstrated ability to work efficiently and independently, prioritize workflow, meet demanding deadlines, and manage multi-faceted projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong business acumen.
• Very good communication skills in Italian and English, written and verbal.

Personal qualifications

• Sound risk assessment capabilities.
• Detail oriented, organized, reliable, resourceful with a focus on servicing the business.
• Ability to learn quickly, take initiative, work proactively, be resourceful, take on additional responsibility, and prioritize under pressure.
• Excellent consultative and communication skills and the ability to work cross-functionally and with all levels of the organization.
• Ability to work cross-border.
• Comfortable interfacing with senior leadership.
• Ability to make informed objective decisions and exercise sound legal and business judgment