Legal Counsel

About Robert Walters

Robert Walters is a world-leading specialist professional recruitment consultancy, established in 1985 and operating across the globe. Robert Walters Japan was established in 2000 and has become one of the leading recruitment businesses in the market. The legal team in Japan serves as a key hub supporting Northeast Asia and works closely with colleagues across APAC, Europe, and Africa.

We are seeking a commercially minded Legal Counsel to join our Tokyo office. This is an excellent opportunity for a legal professional looking to gain broad exposure across commercial contracts, legal advisory, compliance, and business partnering within a dynamic international organization.

About the Role

As Legal Counsel, you will work closely with stakeholders across the business to provide practical legal support and help manage legal risk. The role will focus heavily on the review, drafting, and negotiation of commercial contracts while supporting a broad range of legal and compliance matters across the Northeast Asia business.

Key Responsibilities

• Review, draft, revise, and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts and agreements.
• Advise the business on contractual matters, disputes, and legal risks.
• Support the assessment of new business initiatives and service offerings by providing practical legal guidance.
• Review and advise on legal, regulatory, and commercial documentation.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and other corporate functions on legal matters as required.
• Conduct legal research and support compliance and regulatory projects.
• Assist with drafting corporate documents, internal policies, and legal communications.
• Translate and review documents in English and Japanese when required.
• Provide day-to-day legal support to stakeholders across the Northeast Asia business.

Requirements

Essential

• Legally trained with a Law degree, LLB, JD, or equivalent legal qualification.
• 3-4 years of legal experience gained in-house or in private practice.
• Strong commercial contract review, drafting, and negotiation experience.
• Fluent English communication skills, both written and spoken.
• Excellent legal research and analytical skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication abilities.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and able to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Able to work independently while collaborating within a global team environment.

Preferred

• Japanese language capability is highly beneficial but not essential.
• Experience supporting commercial businesses in a fast-paced environment.
• Exposure to employment law, compliance, or regulatory matters would be advantageous.

Why Join Robert Walters?

• Join a truly global organization with operations across multiple regions.
• Work within a diverse, collaborative, and multicultural environment.
• Gain exposure to a broad range of legal and commercial matters across Northeast Asia.
• Partner closely with senior stakeholders and business leaders.
• Be part of a company that values integrity, teamwork, continuous learning, and professional growth.

If you are an English-fluent legal professional with strong contract review expertise and are looking to develop your career in a global business, we would welcome your application.