Swatch Group Legal Counsel – Business & Commercial Law (Tissot)
Swatch Group/Tissot seeks a full‑time Legal Counsel in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland to advise on commercial and business law matters.
Overview
The Swatch Group is the leading Swiss watch industry conglomerate, comprising a portfolio of prominent maisons including Tissot. Headquartered in Biel/Bienne, the Group integrates design, manufacture and global distribution across multiple price segments and maintains extensive Swiss production facilities. Known for engineering-driven innovation, craftsmanship and a growing emphasis on sustainability, Swatch Group offers a multinational environment within a network of independent brands.
Role & Responsibilities
- Provide pragmatic, day-to-day legal advice to the Tissot brand across the full spectrum of business and commercial law matters.
- Draft, negotiate and review commercial contracts including supplier, distribution, licensing, sponsorship and marketing agreements.
- Ensure compliance with applicable Swiss and international regulations relevant to products, distribution and marketing activities.
- Support cross-functional projects and international initiatives, advising stakeholders in product, sales, marketing and finance.
- Manage outside counsel for litigation, arbitration and specialised legal matters; coordinate case strategy and budgets.
- Prepare and review internal policies and contract templates; contribute to risk mitigation and contract governance.
- Deliver targeted legal training and guidance to internal teams to reduce legal exposure and accelerate project delivery.
Qualifications
- University degree in law (Master/LL.M. or equivalent); admission to the Swiss bar or equivalent legal qualification preferred.
- Several years of professional experience in commercial/business law, ideally in-house or in a reputable law firm advising corporate clients.
- Proven track record drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts.
- Solid knowledge of Swiss commercial and contract law and familiarity with cross-border legal issues.
- Strong stakeholder management, pragmatic commercial judgment and the ability to work collaboratively across functions.
- High ethical standards, discretion handling confidential matters and experience managing external counsel.
Skills
Experience
Several years (typically 3–6) of progressive legal experience in commercial and corporate law, with practical experience advising business units on contracts, compliance and cross-border matters. Prior in-house exposure within the luxury goods, manufacturing or consumer goods sectors is an advantage.
Education
Master's degree in Law (or equivalent). Admission to the Swiss bar (advantageous).
Workplace
This position is based in Biel/Bienne, Bern, Switzerland, within easy reach of Bern.
Culture
The Swatch Group combines Swiss watchmaking heritage with an entrepreneurial, brand-driven culture. Employees operate in a collaborative, fast-paced international environment where technical excellence, innovation and sustainability are valued across autonomous maisons such as Tissot.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Swatch Group, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Corporate Counsel – Commercial Law», «In-house Counsel, Business Law», «Legal Advisor – Commercial & Corporate», «Commercial Contracts Counsel», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.