Senior Legal Head / Country Legal Head

Our client is a large international manufacturing group with established operations in Uzbekistan, including fertilizer and textile production facilities.

The company operates through four legal entities in the country and is seeking a highly experienced Country Legal Head to lead and standardize the legal and compliance function across all entities.

The role is based in Tashkent and reports directly to the Country CFO, Uzbekistan.

Role Purpose

The Country Legal Head will oversee and harmonize legal and compliance frameworks across all four operating companies in Uzbekistan. The role ensures alignment with corporate governance standards, risk management principles, and regulatory requirements, while acting as the primary legal advisor to executive leadership.

This position requires a legal leader capable of strengthening governance standards, enhancing legal controls, and aligning local operations with international corporate practices.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Strategy & Governance
• Develop and implement unified legal policies, procedures, and governance frameworks across all OpCos
• Standardize legal processes and documentation across entities
• Ensure alignment with international corporate governance standards

Regulatory & Compliance Oversight
• Ensure adherence to Uzbek legislation, including foreign investment, tax (VAT, income tax, property tax, land tax), commercial and industry-specific regulations
• Proactively monitor regulatory changes and assess business impact
• Ensure timely compliance reporting and tracking across all entities

Contract Management
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, MoUs, procurement contracts, partnerships, and joint ventures
• Ensure legal safeguards in all key commercial transactions

Litigation & Dispute Resolution
• Oversee litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution matters
• Coordinate representation in civil, economic, administrative, and criminal courts
• Manage relationships with external legal counsel

Government & Regulatory Liaison
• Engage with governmental and regulatory authorities
• Ensure proactive risk mitigation in interactions with state bodies

Legal Risk Management
• Identify and mitigate legal risks affecting the group’s operations
• Implement preventive legal controls across business units

Leadership & Team Management
• Lead and mentor Legal Heads of all four OpCos (4–5 direct reports; total team under 10)
• Drive legal excellence, accountability, and uniform standards
• Strengthen the overall capability of the legal function

M&A and Business Expansion
• Provide legal due diligence and transactional support for acquisitions and new investments
• Support strategic initiatives and protect business interests in expansion projects

Corporate Governance & Ethics
• Support board and shareholder matters
• Contribute to compliance programs and internal legal audits
• Promote high ethical standards and professional integrity

Candidate Profile

Experience
• 10–15 years of corporate legal experience
• At least 5 years in a leadership role managing multiple legal entities or business units
• Experience within large industrial, manufacturing, agro, oil & gas, or chemical production environments will be considered a strong advantage

Expertise
• Corporate law
• Commercial and contract law
• Regulatory compliance
• Litigation and arbitration
• Corporate governance

Competencies
• Strong strategic legal advisory skills
• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management capabilities
• High level of integrity and professional maturity
• Strong analytical and risk-management mindset
• Ability to operate effectively in a cross-functional and multicultural environment

Education & Certifications
• LLB / LLM from a recognized university
• Licensed Advocate or in-house legal certification preferred
• Strong command of legal information systems (Norma, Pravo, Lex.uz or similar tools)

Languages
• Fluent English and Uzbek – mandatory
• Russian – advantageous

Terms:

· Office-based (no remote, no hybrid)
· 5/2 work schedule
· Annual bonus subject to KPI achievement
· Business trips required