Sephora Senior Legal Counsel, Business Law

About Sephora

Sephora is a global prestige beauty leader, renowned for redefining the retail experience through creativity, inclusivity, and expert service. Founded in France and now part of LVMH, the company brings together an exceptional portfolio of beauty brands with a distinctive culture of discovery and innovation. As an employer, Sephora offers a dynamic, customer-centered environment where talent is encouraged to learn, experiment, and grow across retail, digital, merchandising, operations, and corporate functions. Its teams are united by a passion for beauty, entrepreneurship, and belonging, making Sephora a compelling workplace for professionals seeking impact within a fast-moving international brand.

Role & Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a high-performing legal team of 1 Legal Counsel and 1 Assistant Legal Counsel, fostering professional development and ensuring seamless delivery of legal services
• Serve as strategic legal business partner to the General Counsel, contributing to overall legal strategy and comprehensive risk management framework for Sephora Greater China
• Provide comprehensive legal support for merchandising and brand expansion, managing all legal issues, contract negotiation, and internal SOP development for 100+ brands across selective, exclusive, incubation, and Chinese beauty categories, with full life-cycle legal support for house brands
• Deliver pragmatic legal support to retail operations and real estate, with focus on lease negotiation and legal guidance across 300+ stores
• Provide comprehensive legal support for Finance and Operations, including logistics, warehouse management, finance, and internal procurement
• Lead advertising and content compliance initiatives by formulating legal guidance, conducting training, developing robust SOPs and digital approval systems, and strategically managing external law firm resources
• Oversee dispute resolution, customer complaints, and alternative dispute resolution cases across all legal capabilities
• Act as dedicated legal correspondent for Hong Kong market, coordinating with external HK lawyers to provide efficient cross-border legal support
• Serve as local intellectual property correspondent and strategist, partnering with the Global Legal IP team for portfolio management, enforcement, and strategic initiatives
• Participate in global IP projects, advise on Greater China legal landscape, and localize global IP guidelines into toolkits and SOPs for implementation across the region
• Partner with the Global Legal IP team for local infringement case handling and developing brand protection strategies
• Serve as local contact window for all routine corporate governance issues for Greater China
• Support the General Counsel in strategic corporate law projects

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree from a top-tier PRC law school with PRC Bar qualification
• LL.M. from a reputable overseas institution (preferred)
• Minimum 8 years of progressive legal professional experience with proven track record of delivering impactful results
• Deep and specialized expertise within retail and cosmetics industries, ideally gained within multinational enterprises operating in Greater China
• Fluency in both English and Mandarin with exceptional ability to draft, review, and negotiate complex legal documents
• Ability to translate legal complexities into clear, actionable business advice
• Demonstrated integrity and commitment to highest ethical standards
• Natural leader with excellent communication and interpersonal skills capable of mentoring a legal team
• Strong ability to build collaborative relationships across diverse stakeholder groups
• Detail-oriented with keen commercial awareness and practical, results-driven mindset
• Highly adaptable, eager to learn quickly, and resilient in evolving regulatory and commercial landscapes

Skills

Experience

Minimum 8 years of progressive legal professional experience in a multinational enterprise operating in Greater China, with specialized expertise in retail and cosmetics industries. Proven track record of delivering impactful legal results across commercial transactions, real estate, intellectual property, and corporate governance matters.

Education

Undergraduate degree from a top-tier People's Republic of China law school with valid PRC Bar qualification. LL.M. from a reputable overseas institution is highly desirable and demonstrates international legal perspective.

Workplace

Culture

Sephora fosters a dynamic, inclusive workplace where creativity, curiosity, and a passion for beauty are encouraged at every level. As an employer, it is distinguished by its focus on empowerment, continuous learning, and a collaborative retail culture that celebrates individuality and client-centric innovation.

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.