In-House Legal Counsel

aCommerce Inc. 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.

Job description: 

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  Contracts & Commercial
  
  
  
  
  • Review, draft, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements including client contracts, vendor agreements, partnership arrangements, and service agreements.
  
  
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    Maintain and improve standard contract templates and playbooks.
    
    
  
  
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    Advise internal stakeholders on contractual rights, obligations, and risk.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Regulatory & Licensing
  
  
  
  • Manage and maintain all corporate and operational licenses and permits required for the company’s business activities in the Philippines.
  
  
  • Monitor regulatory developments and advise the business on compliance requirements and obligations.
  
  
  • Liaise with relevant government agencies and regulatory bodies as required.
  
  
  
  


• Compliance
  
  
  
  • Develop, implement, and maintain compliance policies and procedures in line with applicable Philippine laws and regulations.
  
  
  • Support data privacy compliance obligations under the Data Privacy Act and coordinate with the Data Protection Officer where applicable.
  
  
  • Conduct compliance training and awareness initiatives for internal teams.
  
  
  
  


• Taxation
  
  
  
  • Provide first-level legal advice on tax-related matters including VAT, withholding tax, and other statutory obligations.
  
  
  • Liaise with external tax advisors and the BIR on assessments, disputes, and routine compliance matters.
  
  
  • Review contracts and transactions from a tax risk perspective.
  
  
  
  


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  Litigation & Dispute Resolution
  
  
  
  
  • Manage pre-litigation disputes and coordinate with external counsel on litigation matters.
  
  
  • Maintain litigation registers and provide regular updates to management on case status and exposure.
  
  
  • Draft demand letters, legal notices, and other formal correspondence.
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Labour & Employment
  
  
  
  • Advise on all employment-related matters including hiring, separation, disciplinary proceedings, and employee relations.
  
  
  • Represent or coordinate representation of the company before the NLRC, DOLE, and other labour tribunals.
  
  
  • Draft and review employment contracts, HR policies, and related documentation.
  
  
  • Keep the business updated on developments in Philippine labour law.
  
  
  
  

Qualifications & Requirements

• 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. 
• Minimum 5 years of post-admission experience in a law firm, in-house legal team, or a combination of both.
• Must be Filipino, with legal education and professional experience obtained in the Philippines.
• Strong working knowledge of Philippine corporate, commercial, labour, and regulatory law.
• Experience in e-commerce, technology, retail, or a regional business environment is an advantage.
• Comfortable working independently and managing multiple priorities across a lean team.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and communication skills in both English and Filipino.
• Commercially pragmatic — able to provide clear, practical legal advice rather than purely theoretical guidance.

What We Offer

• A high-visibility regional role with direct access to senior leadership. 


• Exposure to cross-border legal matters across aCommerce’s Southeast Asian markets. 


• A collaborative, fast-moving environment where legal is a genuine business partner. 


• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience.