In-House Legal Counsel

aCommerce Inc. is looking for a commercially minded In-House Counsel to join our legal team and support our operations in the Philippines. This is a mid-level role based in our Manila office, reporting directly to the Group Head of Legal with a dotted line to the Country CEO. The role offers broad exposure across commercial, regulatory, and employment matters in a fast-paced e-commerce environment operating across Southeast Asia.

Job description:

• Contracts & Commercial
  • Review, draft, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements including client contracts, vendor agreements, partnership arrangements, and service agreements.
  • Maintain and improve standard contract templates and playbooks.
  • Advise internal stakeholders on contractual rights, obligations, and risk.
• Regulatory & Licensing
  • Manage and maintain all corporate and operational licenses and permits required for the company’s business activities in the Philippines.
  • Monitor regulatory developments and advise the business on compliance requirements and obligations.
  • Liaise with relevant government agencies and regulatory bodies as required.
• Compliance
  • Develop, implement, and maintain compliance policies and procedures in line with applicable Philippine laws and regulations.
  • Support data privacy compliance obligations under the Data Privacy Act and coordinate with the Data Protection Officer where applicable.
  • Conduct compliance training and awareness initiatives for internal teams.
• Taxation
  • Provide first-level legal advice on tax-related matters including VAT, withholding tax, and other statutory obligations.
  • Liaise with external tax advisors and the BIR on assessments, disputes, and routine compliance matters.
  • Review contracts and transactions from a tax risk perspective.
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution
  • Manage pre-litigation disputes and coordinate with external counsel on litigation matters.
  • Maintain litigation registers and provide regular updates to management on case status and exposure.
  • Draft demand letters, legal notices, and other formal correspondence.
• Labour & Employment
  • Advise on all employment-related matters including hiring, separation, disciplinary proceedings, and employee relations.
  • Represent or coordinate representation of the company before the NLRC, DOLE, and other labour tribunals.
  • Draft and review employment contracts, HR policies, and related documentation.
  • Keep the business updated on developments in Philippine labour law.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.) from a Philippine law school; must be a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in good standing.
• Minimum 5 years of post-admission experience in a law firm, in-house legal team, or a combination of both.
• Must be Filipino, with legal education and professional experience obtained in the Philippines.
• Strong working knowledge of Philippine corporate, commercial, labour, and regulatory law.
• Experience in e-commerce, technology, retail, or a regional business environment is an advantage.
• Comfortable working independently and managing multiple priorities across a lean team.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and communication skills in both English and Filipino.
• Commercially pragmatic — able to provide clear, practical legal advice rather than purely theoretical guidance.

What We Offer

• A high-visibility regional role with direct access to senior leadership.
• Exposure to cross-border legal matters across aCommerce’s Southeast Asian markets.
• A collaborative, fast-moving environment where legal is a genuine business partner.
• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience.