Legal Counsel

About the Function

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.

Role Responsibilities

• Act as strategic advisor to Commercial teams and Provide clear and strategic legal guidance across competition law, marketing compliance, alcohol legislation, data privacy, and corporate governance
• Lead and manage all legal disputes, litigation strategies, and external counsel, ensuring strong alignment with business priorities.
• Oversee competition law compliance, including investigations, commitment decision follow-ups, annual reporting, and end-to-end management of compliance programs.
• Support marketing and commercial teams by assessing regulatory risks, especially in dark market environments, brand activations, promotions, and content approvals.
• Manage contractual processes: draft, review, and negotiate agreements across functions (commercial, HR, supply, marketing, distributorships).
• Drive corporate governance agenda
• Lead compliance activities: annual compliance agenda, ABC/AML frameworks, KYBP processes, and implementation of global compliance tools.
• Conduct and oversee Speak-Up and internal investigations (primarily competition).
• Provide regional legal support for International Business Unit operations, including export markets and market-entry compliance.

Experience / skills required

• Law degree and valid attorney license.
• Minimum 10 years of professional legal experience, ideally including at least 6 years in corporate/in-house roles.
• Solid expertise in competition law, marketing compliance, corporate and commercial law, labor law, tax, and data privacy.
• Experience in FMCG companies and/or working in highly regulated industries is preferred.
• Experience in compliance programs and implementations (especially competition compliance, Speak-Up investigations) are preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic legal advice and influence senior stakeholders across multiple functions.
• Experience managing external counsel, complex investigations, and cross-border legal matters.
• Strong understanding of governance processes, Board resolutions, and contract lifecycle management.
• Strong leadership capabilities and ability to drive cross-functional initiatives.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills; results-driven mindset.
• Strong communication skills in English; proficient in Microsoft Office and digital legal tools.
• Collaborative team player with high integrity, resilience, and strong planning/organizational skills.
• This role is a 6-month fixed-term contract

Flexible Working Statement

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.

Diversity statement

Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and that they can belong, is a crucial part of this.

We embrace diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you'll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You'll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more.

Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to the next level and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world.

Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you. If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you capture this information when you submit your application.

Client-provided location(s): Istanbul, Turkey

Job ID: Diageo-JR1123034

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

Posted: 2026-02-19T19:01:31