Director Legal & Compliance

The Director Legal & Compliance leads the Legal & Compliance function for Türkiye and sits on the Türkiye Senior Leadership Team, acting as a strategic business partner to the market organisation. The role provides proactive legal and compliance guidance to enable business objectives, support sustainable growth and protect adidas' assets and interests, in alignment with Global and Emerging Markets Legal & Compliance standards, policies and principles. It also serves as Compliance Officer, with responsibility for all compliance aspects within the market, and provides general legal services including advice, contractual support and training to client groups.

• Lead the Legal & Compliance function with full responsibility for Türkiye.
• Proactively provide concise legal advice to all areas of the business, supported by robust risk profiling and active risk mitigation measures to ensure sustainable growth in line with company targets.
• Adopt a business partner approach, demonstrating a strong understanding of core business requirements and commercial priorities.
• Maintain expertise in relevant legal and regulatory risk areas, together with a thorough understanding of business activities in the market, to deliver legal counsel that addresses both commercial and legal needs.
• Act as the legal lead on critical and crisis matters across Türkiye, actively participating in crisis preparedness and management.
• Actively participate in and support the implementation of initiatives, identifying opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Legal & Compliance processes in close alignment with the wider Global Legal & Compliance team and the business.
• Provide legal support for transformation initiatives, outsourcing and insourcing service projects, and other strategic business projects.
• Provide legal services to the market, including training and counselling, legal advice, contract review, drafting, negotiation, transaction structuring, risk assessment and dispute avoidance.
• Manage the day-to-day legal needs of adidas in Türkiye, including acting as the liaison with the Group Intellectual Property team.
• Take responsibility for corporate and commercial law matters and act as a key legal contact for the General Manager and senior management in Türkiye.
• Support corporate recordkeeping requirements for the market and act in accordance with the directions of adidas' corporate legal team.
• Support adidas corporate transactions, including joint ventures, acquisitions and mergers.
• Support the negotiation and resolution of legal and business disputes for client groups in Türkiye.
• Ensure effective and appropriate supervision and management of legal services delivered by external counsel, with a focus on quality, efficiency and cost effectiveness.
• Develop and deliver educational programmes and materials for clients in Türkiye, as appropriate, covering relevant legal areas.
• Ensure compliance-related matters are appropriately managed, including communication, education and facilitation of the compliance programme within the market.
• Support corporate governance, litigation and other legal matters arising within the company.

• A law degree is required.
• At least 15 years of post-qualification experience in a law firm and/or as corporate counsel, including experience in general corporate, transactional and commercial law.
• Very strong interpersonal skills, including communication and negotiation, and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to make practical evaluations of legal and commercial risk.
• Strong background in commercial and corporate law, negotiation and business counselling.
• Ability to drive change and transformation and create clarity in new and ambiguous environments.
• Proven leadership and managerial skills.
• Strong methodological skills, including business planning and strategic development.
• Ability to identify and develop opportunities and demonstrate strategic thinking.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability, with ambition and commitment to shared goals.
• Extensive knowledge of the retail business and significant relevant industry experience.
• Ability to translate business priorities and market dynamics into practical legal strategies and effective risk management solutions.
• Experience leading strategic initiatives in legal and compliance, developing processes and driving continuous improvement.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including the ability to balance legal risks with business objectives and effectively manage external legal counsel and related budgets.
• Ability to build strong cross-functional partnerships and provide strategic legal and compliance advice that supports sustainable business growth and protects the organisation's interests.

• Postgraduate qualifications in business, management or a relevant field are an advantage.

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