About this role
Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization: As a member of the Türkiye Senior Leadership Team, act as a strategic business partner to the Türkiye organization, providing proactive legal and compliance guidance to enable business objectives, support sustainable growth, and protect adidas’ assets and interests. Ensure alignment with Global and Emerging Markets Legal & Compliance standards, policies, and principles. Provide general legal services to the market, including general legal advice, contractual support, and training to client groups. The role also serves as the Compliance Officer and is responsible for all compliance aspects within the market.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the Legal & Compliance function with full responsibility for Türkiye.
- Proactively provide concise legal advice to all areas of the business, supported by robust risk profiling and active risk mitigation measures to ensure sustainable growth in line with company targets.
- Adopt a business partner approach, demonstrating a strong understanding of core business requirements and commercial priorities.
- Maintain expertise in relevant legal and regulatory risk areas, together with a thorough understanding of business activities in the market, to deliver legal counsel that addresses both commercial and legal needs.
- Act as the legal lead on critical and crisis matters across Türkiye, actively participating in crisis preparedness and management.
- Actively participate in and support the implementation of initiatives, identifying opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Legal & Compliance processes in close alignment with the wider Global Legal & Compliance team and the business.
- Provide legal support for transformation initiatives, outsourcing and insourcing service projects, and other strategic business projects.
- Provide legal services to the market, including training and counselling, legal advice, contract review, drafting, negotiation, transaction structuring, risk assessment, and dispute avoidance.
- Manage the day-to-day legal needs of the adidas in Türkiye, including acting as the liaison with the Group Intellectual Property team.
- Take responsibility for corporate and commercial law matters and act as a key legal contact for the General Manager and senior management in Türkiye.
- Support corporate recordkeeping requirements for the market and act in accordance with the directions of adidas’s corporate legal team.
- Support adidas corporate transactions, including joint ventures, acquisitions, and mergers.
- Support the negotiation and resolution of legal and business disputes for client groups in Turkiye.
- Ensure effective and appropriate supervision and management of legal services delivered by external counsel, with a focus on quality, efficiency, and cost effectiveness.
- Develop and deliver educational programs and materials for clients in Türkiye, as appropriate, covering relevant legal areas.
- Ensure compliance-related matters are appropriately managed, including communication, education, and facilitation of the compliance program within the market.
- Support corporate governance, litigation, and other legal matters arising within the company.
- Key Relationships: Internal General Manager and Senior Leadership Team, Türkiye Emerging Markets and Global Legal & Compliance teams Relevant Global Legal & Compliance functions, including Intellectual Property, Compliance, and Group Corporate Relevant cross-functional stakeholders across the Türkiye organization External External legal counsel and other relevant professional advisors External partners, as required in connection with legal and compliance matters Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Very strong interpersonal skills, including communication and negotiation, and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
- Strong business acumen and the ability to make practical evaluations of legal and commercial risk.
- Strong background in commercial and corporate law, negotiation, and business counselling.
- Ability to drive change and transformation and create clarity in new and ambiguous environments.
- Proven leadership and managerial skills.
- Strong methodological skills, including business planning and strategic development.
- Ability to identify and develop opportunities and demonstrate strategic thinking.
- Strong sense of ownership and accountability, with ambition and commitment to shared goals.
- Extensive knowledge of the retail business and significant relevant industry experience.
- Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum
Qualifications
- A law degree is required.
- Postgraduate qualifications in business, management, or a relevant field are an advantage.
- At least 15 years of post-qualification experience in a law firm and/or as corporate counsel, including experience in general corporate, transactional, and commercial law.
- Ability to translate business priorities and market dynamics into practical legal strategies and effective risk management solutions.
- Experience leading strategic initiatives in legal and compliance, developing processes, and driving continuous improvement.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, including the ability to balance legal risks with business objectives and effectively manage external legal counsel and related budgets.
Ability to build strong cross-functional partnerships and provide strategic legal and compliance advice that supports sustainable business growth and protects the organization’s interests. Ability to influence senior executives and regional and global stakeholders effectively, supported by strong communication, negotiation, and influencing skills. Fluent in written and spoken English.