Legal Director North Asia – South Korea and Japan

Job Description:

About us

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, Diageo is home to some of the world’s most iconic drinks. From Johnnie Walker and Guinness to Tanqueray, Smirnoff and Don Julio, we craft brands chosen for life’s moments — from everyday connections to landmark celebrations.

Bring your talent, curiosity and ambition, and strive for your personal best alongside people who challenge, support and learn from each other. Together, as one outstanding team, we keep learning, improving and raising the bar for our brands, our business and each other.

Join us and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more.

Join our Legal Team

We’re legal experts, understanding the complex laws that surround our business and our much-loved brands. Our Legal team are responsible for a range of legal challenges, from Corporate and Intellectual Property to Merger & Acquisitions and Compliance.

We’re always seeking new and creative ways to take on the evolving challenges that today’s commercial world presents. Our talented colleagues around the world are not just outstanding lawyers but also brilliant communicators and advisors. Whatever your skill as a lawyer, your distinct and valuable perspective will be celebrated and nurtured in our inclusive culture.

You will be responsible for:

• Lead provision of pro-active and fit for purpose legal leadership, advice and support to North Asia Executive teams, driving simplicity, clarity and focus solely on critical priorities
• Embrace technology, artificial intelligence and the use of shared services to ensure North Asia teams are equipped with the most efficient and cutting-edge tools for the creative provision of legal advice
• Drive great governance and effective compliance and risk management across North Asia, including pro-active input into preventative actions to address business risks, managing issues to mitigate impact and risk by early involvement, guiding resolution of issues and proactively creating an environment where appropriate risks are taken, and protecting reputation
• Ensure that the right people with the right capabilities are in place to deliver our Ambition. Cultivate talent in North Asia to build and support an engaged function, committed to personal growth and capability building, aligned behind / accountable for business performance, creating an inclusive environment
• Ensure delivery of cost-effective legal support in context of business objectives and current risk environment; responsible for end-to-end legal spend and seek to eliminate unnecessary costs by optimising use of internal and external legal resources

Key Competency required:

• Commercial Legal Experience: Proven track record of managing complex legal issues and dealing effectively with external legal service partners; extensive experience of complex legal issues. Display excellence in provision of legal leadership, ensuring that complex legal issues and risks are appropriately communicated to the business and proven ability to work within the commercial environment and to identify business critical issues and prioritise workload to align with business needs.
• Professional and Interpersonal Skills: Excellent analytical, drafting and negotiating skills, strong commercial and pragmatic approach - applies extensive knowledge of the law and understanding of the business, with proven ability to generate respect from both the business and colleagues for judgement, approach & commitment; Excellent interpersonal / communication skills; significant experience of effective engagement at a senior level.
• Management Capabilities: Excellent professionalism, commitment and integrity; Passion for and experience of inspiring and leading people; Confident in and sensitive to different styles.

Working with Us

Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you’re supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.

Our purpose is crafting iconic drinks chosen for life’s moments. And it’s our people, with their different experiences, perspectives and talents, who make that possible.

We value diversity in its broadest sense and want everyone to feel they can belong, contribute and strive for their personal best. You’ll work alongside people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives — challenging, supporting and learning from one another as one outstanding team.

Together, we’re constantly learning and improving, combining the strength of our people, capabilities and iconic brands to raise the bar, grow and win. Wherever you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute, make an impact and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more.

Ready to bring your best? This could be your opportunity.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you capture this information when you submit your application.

Recruitment Scam Warning

Protecting candidates is very important to us. All communications regarding your application will come from an email address ending in @diageo.com. In our recruitment process, we'll never ask for money.

Worker Type:

Regular

Primary Location:

Seoul Office

Additional Locations:

Tokyo

Job Posting Start Date:

2026-09-02