Legal, Counsel (France and EU)

Description and Requirements

Lenovo is seeking an experienced Legal Counsel – Commercial Contracts (France & EU) to join its EU-META Global Contracts Team (GCT), based in France. This position reports directly to the Legal Director, Global Contracts Team – EU-META and AP.

The role will primarily support Lenovo's commercial business in France, acting as the lead legal counsel for commercial contracts with French private sector and public sector customers. In addition, the successful candidate will provide legal support to selected commercial transactions in Belgium, Luxembourg and, where required, other countries within the European Union.

As part of the EU and META Global Contracts Team, you will collaborate closely with legal colleagues across Europe and other regions, supporting Lenovo's global contracting function while serving as the primary commercial contracts counsel for France.

As a French-speaking, French- or Belgian-qualified lawyer with excellent drafting and negotiation skills in both French and English, you will negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements across Lenovo's business groups, including the Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG), Intelligent Devices Group (IDG), and Solutions & Services Group (SSG).

You will be a trusted legal advisor to the business, providing pragmatic, commercially focused legal guidance while supporting strategic customer engagements, channel partnerships and public sector opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the primary legal advisor for commercial contracts supporting Lenovo's business in France.
• Draft, review and negotiate complex commercial agreements with French private sector customers and public sector entities.
• Lead the negotiation of annual commercial agreements with French distributors, resellers and channel partners.
• Advise the business on French public procurement matters and support responses to public tenders.
• Provide contractual support for commercial transactions in Belgium, Luxembourg and, where required, other EU countries.
• Negotiate agreements relating to hardware, software, SaaS, cloud, managed services and professional services.
• Review and negotiate purchasing, subcontracting, licensing, reseller and channel partner agreements.
• Provide pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice and communicate legal and commercial risks in a clear and practical manner.
• Build strong partnerships with Sales, Channel, Bid Management, Procurement, Services, Finance and other business stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with legal colleagues across the EU and globally to ensure a consistent contracting approach and share best practices.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Lenovo's contracting processes, templates and legal operations.

Qualifications

Experience

• Qualified lawyer in France or Belgium (admission to the French or Belgian Bar preferred).
• Minimum of 8 years of post-qualification experience in commercial contracting, preferably gained within an international technology company and/or a leading law firm.
• Extensive experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
• Strong expertise in French commercial law is required, including hands-on experience drafting and negotiating distribution, reseller and channel partner agreements and leading annual commercial negotiations with French distributors and retailers in compliance with the French Commercial Code and the Egalim legislation.
• Experience advising on French public procurement (Code de la Commande Publique) is considered a strong asset.
• Native or near-native proficiency in French is required, together with excellent drafting and negotiation skills in French. Professional proficiency in English is also required.

Professional Skills

• Strong commercial mindset with the ability to balance legal risk and business objectives.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex matters simultaneously while meeting business deadlines.
• Pragmatic, solution-oriented and able to work independently.
• Collaborative team player who thrives in an international and multicultural environment.

Location

Rueil-Malmaison, France (Hybrid - 3 days onsite / 2 days remote)

What We Offer

• Medical Insurance
• Pension/ Retirement Plan
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Lenovo and Motorola Product Discounts
• Internal E-learning Development Platform Available for Employees
• Employee Assistance Program, for health, legal & financial consultancy
• 75% reimbursement of the public transportation cost (Paris area - Rueil Malmaison)
• Profit share scheme