General Counsel, MGS Philippines

General Description

The General Counsel MGS - Philippines is the senior legal leader for Manulife Global Solutions in the Philippines. The role is accountable for the legal and corporate governance agenda for MGS Philippines provides strategic counsel to senior management and relevant Boards and governance committees and supports effective compliance oversight in partnership with the Compliance function.

The role operates with significant independence and accountability for complex legal matters governance standards risk decisions and leadership of the Legal function in the Philippines.

The General Counsel partners closely with local regional and global leaders to enable business objectives while protecting the company maintaining high ethical standards and supporting compliance with applicable Philippine laws regulations codes and internal policies.

The role also provides strategic leadership and oversight for the MGS Legal Shared Services function based in the Philippines supporting the delivery of efficient scalable and high-quality legal services to global Legal teams while advancing operational excellence capability development and enterprise Legal priorities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Legal Advisory and Business Strategy

Provide accurate timely and practical legal advice to senior management relevant Boards and governance committees on corporate governance contracts employment and labor law data privacy regulatory compliance and other legal matters affecting MGS Philippines.

Develop and implement legal strategies that support MGS Philippines business priorities transformation initiatives and sustainable growth.

Draft review and negotiate complex contracts deeds legal documents and business communications to protect MGS Philippines interests and legal rights.

Apply effective risk management techniques and provide proactive advice on emerging or potential legal issues.

Manage litigation disputes investigations and other contentious matters including developing appropriate defense and resolution strategies.

Engage and manage external counsel where needed and appropriately approved including selection scope performance cost and direction.

2. Compliance Oversight and Partnership

Monitor the effectiveness of compliance support for MGS Philippines and advise senior management on significant compliance risks and required actions.

Partner with the relevant Compliance teams on compliance reviews testing risk assessments investigations and remediation while respecting established functional accountabilities and reporting lines.

Support the implementation and enforcement of policies procedures training and governance practices that promote lawful ethical and responsible conduct.

3. Risk Management and Governance

Identify assess and communicate material legal and compliance risks affecting MGS Philippines and support appropriate mitigation escalation and monitoring.

Integrate legal and compliance considerations into business planning projects operating decisions and change initiatives.

Provide legal advice on compliance controls and support business units and Compliance partners in implementing applicable obligations and remediation actions.

Prepare review and present legal and compliance reports issues and materials for senior leadership and governance committees.

Coordinate reporting of material legal and compliance matters to appropriate local regional and global stakeholders.

4. Corporate Governance and Company Secretarial Support

Lead or oversee corporate secretarial and entity governance requirements for MGS legal entities in the Philippines as assigned.

Organize and support Board committee and general meetings including agendas papers minutes resolutions and follow-up actions.

Maintain accurate corporate records statutory registers Board and shareholder resolutions and related governance documentation.

Ensure compliance with statutory requirements internal governance standards and corporate governance best practices.

Liaise with Board members shareholders and Regional or Global Subsidiary Governance teams on governance matters.

5. Legal Shared Services Leadership

Lead the Legal Shared Services function based within MGS Philippines ensuring the delivery of efficient high-quality legal support services to global Legal teams.

Drive operational excellence through process improvement technology enablement service governance and performance management.

Partner with Legal leaders to enhance service delivery build organizational capability and support enterprise Legal priorities.

6. Data Protection and Information Governance

Oversee data protection privacy and information governance for MGS Philippines and serve as the Data Protection Officer for the MGS Philippines entities.

Lead and coordinate privacy risk assessments regulatory engagement incident response compliance monitoring and awareness in partnership with relevant stakeholders.

Advise senior management and relevant governance committees on material privacy and data protection risks issues and remediation.

7. Team and Function Leadership

Lead coach and develop the Legal team and Legal Shared Services function fostering collaboration accountability sound judgment high performance and continuous improvement.

Set priorities allocate resources and manage the function budget effectively.

Build strong partnerships with business and functional leaders including Compliance while maintaining the independence and constructive challenge expected of Legal.

Ensure appropriate capability succession and professional development plans are in place for the team.

Collaborate closely with Group and Asia Legal and Compliance teams to manage enterprise risks and deliver consistent standards.

Knowledge Skills Competencies and Education

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.) from a recognized university.

Admission to the Philippine Bar and in good standing.

Advanced legal education such as an LL.M. is an advantage but not required.

Minimum of 15 years of relevant legal experience including substantial experience in a senior legal leadership role and meaningful exposure to compliance and data protection matters.

Experience across a law firm and/or financial services environment with meaningful exposure to business process outsourcing shared services or a comparable complex operating environment.

Demonstrated expertise in corporate contract employment and labor law compliance corporate governance data privacy and legal risk management.

Exposure to shared services legal operations centers of excellence or other large-scale service delivery organizations including process optimization technology enablement and operational transformation is an advantage but not essential.

Strong strategic judgment commercial acumen and ability to balance business enablement with appropriate legal and compliance risk management.

Excellent written and verbal communication negotiation stakeholder management and influencing skills.

Leadership Expectations and Cultural Fit

Role models ethics integrity and courageous independent advice.

Develops inspires and motivates others and builds a culture of respect and inclusion.

Acts as an effective change leader who can navigate ambiguity and influence across organizational boundaries.

Builds trusted relationships with senior leaders Boards and cross-functional stakeholders.

Works collaboratively while preserving the professional independence of the Legal function.

Demonstrates commitment to excellent service sound governance and proportionate risk management.

This Position Description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed in this role. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities duties and skills required for the position.

When you join our team:

Well empower you to learn and grow the career you want.

Well recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.

As part of our global team well support you in shaping the future you want to see.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us visit is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment retention advancement and compensation and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race ancestry place of origin colour ethnic origin citizenship religion or religious beliefs creed sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions) sexual orientation genetic characteristics veteran status gender identity gender expression age marital status family status disability or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process contact .