Assistant Legal Counsel - Manila, PH

Balsam Brands is a global eCommerce retailer with roots in holiday and home décor. Our flagship brand is Balsam Hill™, the world’s leading retailer of artificial Christmas trees and holiday décor. We strive for excellence in everything we do and present a unique opportunity for those seeking to have an impact in a people-first company that values relationship-building, authenticity, and doing the right thing. We have steadily growing teams in Boise, the Bay Area, Canada, Ireland, and the Philippines. 

The company's mission is to create joy together. We empower our team and partners to love what they do, provide products and experiences that inspire meaningful moments with family and friends, and give back to our communities. When you join Balsam Brands, you’ll find a culture of caring people doing challenging work while building a welcoming workplace.

• Balsam Brands on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/balsam-brands/
• Balsam Brands on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balsam_brands/
• Balsam Brands in Forbes: https://bit.ly/balsambrandsforbes

At Balsam Brands, we like to think of our people-first culture as more than just a tagline. It's the heart of our company. In fact, our Philippine ROHQ being recognized as one of the Philippine’s Best Work Places by the prestigious Great Place To Work organization is a testament to this. 

We know that you need to feel comfortable in your work environment, so we make sure that everyone in the team is supported and cared for. Team Manila has been working from home since 2010, with occasional in-person meet-ups and events to help build relationships and foster camaraderie. 

Team Manila represents nearly every function in the company—from Marketing to Operations and everything in between. Everyone gets to enjoy company-issued laptops and full employee benefits, including HMO coverage, mental health support, paid time off, 13th-month pay, and many more. The company trips, wellness benefits, and other perks are just the cherry on top of our permanent work-from-home setup.

• Balsam International on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BalsamInternationalPH
• Balsam International on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/balsam-international-unlimited

At Balsam International, we strive to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team to fulfill our purpose to create joy together. Balsam International is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage people from all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and experiences to apply. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, citizenship, marital or family status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or caregiver status, or any other legally protected status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application and interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

We’re looking for an Assistant Legal Counsel to join our team and help navigate the exciting legal landscape of our growing business! In this role, you’ll partner with teams across the company, providing sound legal guidance, reviewing contracts, conducting legal research, ensuring compliance, and helping mitigate risks—all while keeping things clear, practical, and business-friendly. If you love tackling complex legal challenges, have a sharp eye for detail, and enjoy collaborating in a dynamic and supportive environment, we’d love to hear from you!

What you’ll be doing:  

Contract Review and Drafting

• Assists in the review and drafting of contracts, with input from the Senior Counsel and General Counsel.  

• Identifies risks/issues, legal implications, and interpretation of legal documents.  

• Assists in the negotiation of contracts and legal documents. 

• Responds to contract-related inquiries.  

Legal Research and Knowledge Sharing

• Performs legal research on regulations (US and non-US), monitors global regulatory changes impacting the business and its activities, presents findings with an analysis of their impact on the business, and responds to various queries from team members. 

• Provides insight into best practices by benchmarking similar businesses or reviewing regulations (US and non-US) concerning, among others, consumer protection, data privacy, pricing, competition, marketing, and advertising. 

• Participate in training and knowledge-sharing initiatives. 

Regulatory Compliance

• Assists in the review of contracts and data processing agreements with vendors to track new data handling processes in compliance with data privacy regulations. 

• Monitors updates on global regulatory requirements and advises the legal team and Balsam Brands management of any legal issues or developments relevant to the company and its affiliates.  

• Assists in the planning of any changes that need to be made in response to legal developments.  

• Assists in the drafting and review of internal policies and processes as needed to ensure compliance or help mitigate compliance vulnerabilities and prevent potential future regulatory and privacy risks. 

General Functions

• Assists in corporate housekeeping and manages corporate governance documents of the company and its affiliates.  

• Assists in KYC requirements of the company and its affiliates. 

• Provides labor relations support. 

• Manages sensitive and confidential matters like contractual relationships, corporate structure, internal legal matters, and organizational changes. 

• Assists and provides efficient day-to-day operation of the company’s legal functions. 

Performs other duties that may be assigned from time to time. 

What we’re looking for:  

• Bachelor’s degree in law (LLB or Juris Doctor)  

• Active member and in good standing of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines 

• Minimum 3 years of legal experience, either as in-house counsel or with a reputable law firm  

• Minimum 2 years experience in contract review and drafting of a wide range of contracts (e.g., SaaS Agreements, Marketing Agreements, MSAs) 

• Excellent skills in legal research skills; willing to conduct non-PH-related legal research  

• Prior experience in corporate housekeeping 

• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English 

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively 

Nice to have: 

• Experience in handling employment law matters  

• Experience in regulatory compliance and data privacy, particularly in the US, Canada, Australia, UK, and/or EU

Location: The Assistant Legal Counsel position is a remote working position for Balsam International Unlimited Company - Philippine ROHQ in Manila. Team members in the Philippines are located within Metro Manila, Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, Rizal, and Tarlac areas only.

Our must-haves: 

• Must attend occasional in-person meetings. 

• Must have a fast, reliable DSL, Fiber, or Broadband connection (not mobile or broadband stick) as the primary internet connection with a minimum actual speed of 50MBPS. 

Note: An online assessment will also be part of the recruitment process. 

Status: This is a full-time, permanent position with benefits. 

Hardware Provision: Company-issued Laptop will be provided on your first day.

At Balsam International, we strive to offer a competitive compensation and benefits package. For permanent, full-time team members, this includes:

• Government-mandated Benefits (SSS, PAG-IBIG, PhilHealth)
• 13th Month Pay
• Paid Leaves. We use time off to rest, go on vacation, or just sleep in! Our paid time off is flexible to our needs.
• Internet Subsidy. With internet allowance, we are set up for success.
• Healthcare Coverage (+ 2 dependents). We worry less about rising medical costs with flexible, quality healthcare benefits.
• Maternity, Paternity, and Solo Parent Benefit. We make sure parents are supported while they navigate work and family life.
• Continuous Learning and Professional Development Benefit. Our professional and personal development are fully supported. Whether it be online courses, workshops, or books!
• Mental Health Support. We manage work and life's challenges through Mental Health Day breaks, 24/7 professional counseling, and curated webinars.
• Company Incentive. An additional cash-based perk for all our Brandits based on the company's performance.
• Meeting & Team Building Allowance. Happy tummies make our meetings more fun and productive!
• Shutdown Week. We can spend more time on things that matter with an additional one-week paid time off on top of paid leaves.
• Volunteer Time Off. With two paid days off, we are able to volunteer for advocacies we believe in.
• Bereavement Leave. We get additional paid leaves when a loved one passes to grieve and provide immediate support to our families.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.