The Junior Corporate Legal Counsel for Litigation and Contract Management plays a pivotal role in managing the company’s involvement in litigation and other legal disputes, and is responsible for preparing, negotiating and closing commercial contracts across the business.

He/she will also handle land acquisition due diligence and title transfer work, and is expected to provide support for Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) compliance.  

Job Requirements:

• Education Level: Bachelor’s Degree – Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws.
• With a minimum of 5 years of combined relevant experience from a law firm and in a similar in-house counsel position in another real estate development company.
• Eligibility: Member of the Philippine Bar Association in good standing.
• Knowledge of land acquisition and title transfer processes.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Able to report to the office and willing to travel to different project locations from time to time.

Job Responsibilities:

Litigation, Dispute Resolution & Remedial Action:

• Develop strategic plans for managing current and anticipated litigation, including risk analysis, resource allocation and mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate with external legal counsels and manage relationships with law firms handling litigation, ensuring cost-effective legal representation.
• Prepare, draft and review demand letters, pleadings and other legal documents, ensuring they meet legal standards and align with business objectives.
• Draft and issue demand letters to lessees with outstanding accountabilities, ensuring legal enforceability and compliance with contractual obligations.
• Implement appropriate remedial measures (padlocking, cutting-off utilities, and re-possession of leased properties) in cases of default, including coordination with other internal departments and external legal counsels to explore legal and business strategies for recovery.
• Travel to project sites as needed for resolution of boundary issues, ejectment of illegal occupants, settlement negotiations, fact-finding on adverse claims and other matters requiring remedial action.
• Ensure and protect the welfare of the business and the representatives of the company in any court litigation or dispute resolution matters.
• Appear in court or before any quasi-judicial body on behalf of the business, if necessary.

Contract Management:

• Draft, evaluate, revise and negotiate a variety of contracts including but not limited to lease contracts, non-disclosure agreements, contracts with utility service providers, renewals and extension agreements.
• Ensure that the terms of the contracts are written in plain language that is legally binding and in accordance with business objectives and in compliance with the law, company policies and applicable regulations.
• Track deviations from standard contract templates.
• Proactively identify, analyze and suggest solutions for contract-related problems that arise internally or with other parties.
• Manage and track contract approval process and document execution.  

Land Acquisition and Title Transfer:

• Conduct pre-acquisition due diligence on the target property to be acquired to verify that the land is legally available for acquisition, the land title is clear and there are no legal disputes or encumbrances (e.g., mortgages or claims) that may affect the transaction.
• Structure the transaction and prepare the Deed of Sale and/or other implementing documents for the acquisition of the target lot.
• Finalize the transaction with the transfer of ownership, ensuring that legal title passes from the seller to the company.
• Conduct post-acquisition checking of legal requirements for title transfer and propose appropriate remedial action for flagged risks, lacking documents and other requirements.
• Manage, oversee and track the timely submission of dockets to the BIR, The Register of Deeds and the City Assessor’s Office.   

AMLA Compliance:

• Assist in the development, implementation, and maintenance of the Company’s AML Compliance Program.
• Support the preparation, review and submission of Suspicious Transaction Reports and Covered Transaction Reports.
• Collaborate with internal departments to ensure AML compliance in customer due diligence, risk assessments and investigations.
• Serve as the back-up contact person for AML-related inquiries and communications.

Special Projects:

• Perform analogous tasks as may be assigned from time to time.

Interested candidates may forward their comprehensive & updated CV to careers@dpdiph.com and use the subject line: Career Page Application