AVP, Head of Legal, Asia Regional Office

You are as unique as your background, experience and point of view. Here, you’ll be encouraged, empowered and challenged to be your best self. You'll work with dynamic colleagues - experts in their fields - who are eager to share their knowledge with you. Your leaders will inspire and help you reach your potential and soar to new heights. Every day, you'll have new and exciting opportunities to make life brighter for our Clients - who are at the heart of everything we do. Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

Job Description:

Job description (heading) /  Description du poste (titre)

• Lead the Sun Life Regional Office Legal team providing proactive, strategic, and business-oriented legal advice on M&A, corporate commercial, governance matters and legal operations. This role will partner with senior leadership and the General Counsel to support strategic business initiatives, manage risk and enable growth in a dynamic, highly regulated environment. This role will lead the legal operations function for the Asia legal team and champion the use of GenAI in legal processes and foster a high-performing, agile team culture.

Preferred skills (heading) / Compétences particulières (titre)

• Solid M&A experience – preferably in financial services.

• Solid experience in contract drafting, negotiation, and dispute management.  

• Strong grasp of corporate governance.  

• Understanding of insurance products and distribution.  

• Ability to advise on cross-border legal matters across Asia.

• Skilled at clear communication with business colleagues and senior leaders.  

• Familiarity with GenAI tools to improve legal processes.  

• Strategic thinking with strong business acumen.  

• Solution oriented.

• Ability to synthesize complex legal issues into clear, concise and actionable insights.  

• Ability to assess legal issues and apply legal and risk mitigation strategies tailored appropriately to our business environments and provide proactive, timely and strategic legal solutions.

• Spot and manage legal risks while supporting business growth.  

• Resolve complex disputes and regulatory issues with practical solutions.  

• Use GenAI and technology to streamline work and anticipate risks.  

• Make sound decisions quickly in fast-paced, high-stakes situations.  

• Collaborate across teams and regions to align legal advice with business needs.  

• Build a team culture that tackles problems with agility and accountability.

Qualifications (heading) / Compétences (titre)

• Qualified lawyer in Hong Kong or a common law jurisdiction.  

• 10+ years of post-qualification experience, with strong exposure to insurance or financial services.  

• Proven track record in leading legal teams and advising senior leadership.  

• Experience in M&A, corporate governance, cross-border legal matters and legal operations.  

• Familiarity with GenAI applications in legal practice and a passion for digital transformation.  

Responsibilities (heading) / Responsabilités (titre)

• Strategic Legal Leadership

  - Be lead internal counsel on M&A transactions, including banca, agency and JV and other investments.

  - Provide timely, pragmatic and solutions oriented legal advice to the Regional Office and operating businesses, balancing risk management with commercial priorities.  

  - Advise on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, insurance-specific laws, and cross-border transactions.  

  - Lead legal operations for the Asia legal team.

  - Partner with the General Counsel on strategic initiatives and special projects.  

• Regulatory & Risk Management

  -  Ensure compliance with Sun Life’s subsidiary governance policy in Asia.

  - Develop policies and frameworks to strengthen compliance and mitigate legal risks across the Asia business.  

  - Ensure adherence to corporate governance standards and board-level reporting requirements.  

• Transaction & Contract Management

  - Lead and manage M&A, joint ventures, and other strategic transactions with legal due diligence, agreement drafting and structuring advice.  

  - Draft, review, and negotiate complex contracts, including distribution agreements, outsourcing arrangements, and vendor contracts.  

  - Establish contract management processes leveraging GenAI for efficiency and accuracy.  

• GenAI & Legal Innovation

  - Drive adoption of GenAI tools to enhance contract review, regulatory monitoring, and legal research efficiency.  

  - Establish governance frameworks for responsible AI use in legal workflows, ensuring compliance with data privacy and ethical standards.  

  - Identify opportunities to leverage technology for streamlined legal operations. 

• Team Leadership & High Performing Caring Culture

  - Build and lead a high-performing legal team, fostering agility, accountability, and collaboration.  

  - Mentor and develop team members, driving professional growth and succession readiness.  

  - Promote a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and ethical integrity within the legal function. 

• Stakeholder Engagement

  - Act as a trusted advisor to senior executives, balancing legal risk with business objectives.  

  - Communicate complex legal issues in clear, executive-ready language.  

  - Represent the company in external forums, regulatory discussions, and industry associations.  

Job Category:

Legal

Posting End Date:

26/04/2026