Legal Business Partner

He aha te mahi? What's the role?

Based in Antwerp, the Legal Business Partner provides strategic, practical and commercially focused legal advice to an assigned business or regional portfolio. Partnering with leaders and teams, the role supports the delivery of Zespri’s strategy through sound decision-making, legal and regulatory compliance, ethical conduct and effective risk management.

As part of a global Legal Business Partnering team, the role delivers consistent, efficient and value-adding legal support across Zespri. By developing a deep understanding of the portfolio, the Legal Business Partner anticipates legal risks and opportunities and translates complex legal issues into clear, actionable business solutions.

Key Accountabilities

Legal Business Partnering

• Develop a strong understanding of the assigned portfolio, its strategic objectives, operating environment and links to the broader business.
• Provide timely, practical and commercially focused legal advice that enables business outcomes within legal, ethical and risk parameters.
• Identify legal and commercial considerations, communicate options and trade-offs, and support informed decision-making.
• Act as a trusted adviser to stakeholders, anticipating needs and escalating significant or complex matters when required.

Strategic Initiatives and Commercial Delivery

• Act as legal lead or advisor on strategic initiatives, projects, transactions and business change relevant to the assigned portfolio.
• Identify legal requirements and risks across current and future operating models and manage related legal workstreams.
• Advise on contracts, commercial arrangements and other legal matters, engaging specialists where necessary.
• Improve legal service delivery through standardised frameworks, tools and guidance, while building legal capability across the business.

Risk, Disputes and Compliance

• Proactively monitor emerging legal, regulatory and industry developments impacting the portfolio or business.
• Partner with stakeholders to assess and mitigate legal risks in line with strategic objectives and risk appetite.
• Support disputes, litigation, investigations and other contentious matters, balancing legal, commercial, financial and reputational considerations.
• Promote ethical conduct, effective governance, compliance and sound risk management.

Governance, Regulatory and External Relationships

• Support governance, entity management and corporate secretarial requirements in partnership with relevant teams.
• Assist engagement with regulators, government bodies and external stakeholders.
• Manage external legal advisers to ensure quality, value and effective delivery.
• Build strong relationships across Legal, Risk, Compliance and business teams.

Collective Accountability and Behaviours

• Contribute positively to the Legal and wider Risk, Assurance & Legal functions.
• Collaborate across teams and regions to deliver consistent outcomes.
• Maintain confidentiality and demonstrate integrity, professionalism and sound judgement.
• Role model company values, customer focus, high performance and constructive challenge.

Ko wai koe? Who are you?

We're looking for a team player with 7 years experience in post-qualification legal experience, and strong commercial legal expertise across areas such as corporate, commercial contracts, intellectual property, international trade, regulatory matters and dispute resolution. You will also fulfill the following:

Qualifications & Experience

• Law degree and current practising certificate (or eligibility to obtain one).
• In-house experience within a global or multinational organisation preferred, ideally in FMCG, agribusiness, the primary sector or other consumer-focused industries.
• Experience working across jurisdictions, cultures and complex stakeholder environments is advantageous.

Skills & Attributes

• Ability to analyse complex or ambiguous issues and translate them into practical business solutions.
• Proven ability to influence and collaborate with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong judgement, with confidence to provide constructive challenge while maintaining trusted relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor advice to different audiences.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work ind