Chanel Senior Legal Counsel – Legal Operations

About Chanel

Chanel is one of the world’s most revered luxury houses, founded by Gabrielle Chanel and distinguished by an enduring vision of elegance, freedom, and modernity. As an employer, the House brings together métiers ranging from haute couture, fashion and leather goods to fragrance, beauty, watches, and fine jewelry, offering employees the opportunity to contribute to a legacy defined by exceptional craftsmanship and creative audacity. Chanel values excellence, discretion, collaboration, and long-term development, fostering an environment where talent is nurtured and heritage is continually reinterpreted for contemporary clients. Its teams are united by a commitment to quality, innovation, and the timeless spirit of the brand.

Role & Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate a portfolio of strategic legal operations projects in collaboration with the Legal Leadership Team, spanning external counsel management, legal support functions, and in-house teams
• Act as the central point of contact for tracking, prioritizing, and orchestrating all cross-functional projects and department-wide initiatives
• Identify process improvements and implement best practices to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of legal service delivery, supported by defined KPIs and metrics
• Leverage AI, technology, and automation to streamline workflows and reduce turnaround times
• Lead strategic projects and portfolios that require launches, changes, and implementation across different geographies
• Actively contribute to defining and executing the Legal Function and Legal Operations strategy in alignment with broader Chanel Business Strategy
• Partner closely with the Head of Legal Operations to co-design and independently drive the rollout of transformation initiatives over a multi-year horizon
• Collaborate with the Legal Leadership Team, IT partners, métiers teams, and cross-functional stakeholders to drive change management and stakeholder engagement
• Prepare and deliver high-quality strategic presentations for top management
• Draft governance documents, reports, speeches, and key communications on behalf of the Legal Operations team and the Global Chief Legal Officer
• Translate complex operational data and project outcomes into clear, compelling narratives for senior stakeholders
• Animate and develop a global Legal Operations community to foster synergies, share best practices, and drive consistency in legal ops projects across regions
• Champion the professionalisation of Legal Operations and its positive impact on Legal service delivery for internal clients
• Organize and deliver legal events and team engagement initiatives that strengthen global Legal team culture
• Track, analyze, and report on key legal performance metrics, building dashboards and regular reporting for legal leadership
• Monitor operational efficiency indicators and proactively identify areas for improvement
• Work with the Legal Operations Team and Legal IT to oversee the legal technology ecosystem, including implementation, review, and management of legal tech tools globally

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with 8–10 years of post-qualification experience
• Substantial in-house experience within a global or multinational company
• Proven track record in legal operations, legal project management, or legal transformation
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Strong understanding of agentic AI, including its potential, capabilities, legal use cases, and responsible AI usage
• Genuine interest in AI, legal technology, and hands-on experience using or implementing relevant tools
• Strong understanding of how global legal teams operate within complex, matrixed organizations
• Data analytics experience and comfort working with data, building dashboards, and turning metrics into actionable insights

Skills

Experience

8–10 years of post-qualification legal experience, including substantial in-house experience within a global or multinational organization. Proven track record in legal operations, legal project management, or legal transformation initiatives.

Education

Qualified lawyer (eligible to practice law in a relevant jurisdiction).

Workplace

Culture

Chanel fosters a culture of timeless creativity, exacting craftsmanship, and quiet excellence, where employees are encouraged to uphold the house’s heritage while contributing to its continued innovation. The workplace environment is refined, collaborative, and deeply committed to quality, offering professionals the opportunity to grow within a globally respected maison that values discretion, artistry, and long-term vision.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.