Legal and Compliance Officer

Client Industry: Leading global real estate and investment advisory firm

Location: EXSIM Tower, Millerz Square Kuala Lumpur

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in the review, drafting, structuring, and negotiation of commercial contracts, including NDAs, service agreements, leases, and other legal documents, ensuring alignment with company objectives and timelines.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders and clients to coordinate and support contract negotiations and clarify legal terms or concerns.
• Provide timely and practical legal advice to the business on issues arising from day-to-day operations, including dispute matters and commercial risk.
• Support the implementation and maintenance of a contracts management process to improve efficiency and ensure compliance with legal standards.
• Assist in conducting legal research and monitoring regulatory updates affecting business operations, particularly within the recruitment and real estate sectors.
• Advise on matters related to intellectual property, employment law, data privacy, anti-money laundering (AML), cybersecurity, and other regulatory areas.
• Contribute to the company’s compliance programs, including drafting and reviewing internal compliance policies and procedures to ensure alignment with applicable local and international regulations.
• Perform due diligence and compliance checks, including customer onboarding review, transaction monitoring, and periodic KYC reviews in accordance with AML/CFT requirements.
• Conduct customer screening, enhanced due diligence, and investigate suspicious activities, escalating non-compliance matters as needed.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (legal, compliance, audit, and operations) to ensure business practices and policies remain in line with evolving legal and regulatory expectations.
• Provide basic in-house legal and compliance training sessions when required, helping to raise awareness and promote a strong culture of compliance.
• Assist with the preparation and coordination of required internal and external compliance reporting and ensure proper documentation and audit readiness.
• Participate in the legal assessment of new business opportunities, identifying legal risks and offering sound recommendations to support strategic growth.
• Undertake any additional tasks or responsibilities as may be reasonably assigned from time to time.

Requirements:
• Possess a Bachelor of Laws degree and have been admitted to the bar.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of relevant post-qualification experience in legal, compliance, or regulatory roles, preferably within the real estate, financial services, or multinational corporate environment.
• Professional accreditation or certification in Anti-Money Laundering / Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) is an added advantage.
• Prior experience as a legal assistant, executive, and/or associate, with in-house experience and exposure to litigation as an added advantage.
• Strong command of English, Malay, and Mandarin, both written and spoken. Fluency in Mandarin is essential for reviewing and interpreting legal and regulatory materials and for effective communication with stakeholders based in China.