Publiée 26 juillet 2026
Legal Director EMEA
Ceva Santé Animale
Libourne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine 33500, France
CDI
Legal Director EMEA
The success of a company depends on the passionate people we partner with.
Together, let's share our talents.
As a global leader in animal health, Ceva Animal Health believes our success is linked to our passionate people researching, developing , producing and supplying innovative health solutions for all animals, which contributes to the future of our diverse planet.
We are committed to ensuring the highest possible level of care and well-being for farm animals (poultry, pigs, ruminants), companion animals (dogs and cats) and wildlife.
Indeed, Our "Together, Beyond Animal Health" vision emphasizes that the health and wellbeing of people, animals and our planet are totally interlinked. More than ever, Ceva is committed to a "One Health" approach.
As part of our "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion" policy, Ceva Animal Heath is committed to the employment of people with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodations throughout the interview process to ensure an inclusive and accessible experience for all applicants. To request an accommodation, please contact a member of the Ceva Talent Acquisition team.
Yourmissions :
We are seeking an experienced and business-oriented EMEA Legal Director to lead legal support across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Based at our global headquarters in Libourne, France, the EMEA Legal Director will manage a team of 7 professionals located in Paris and Libourne, supported by several legal trainees. The role combines strong people leadership with hands-on management of complex strategic matters, including litigation, intellectual property licensing, business development transactions, and high-value commercial negotiations.
The successful candidate will act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and business stakeholders while ensuring effective legal risk management and supporting Ceva's growth strategy across the region.
Key Responsibilities :
Legal Strategy & Risk Management
- Partner with the Group General Counsel to implement the legal strategy across the EMEA region.
- Identify, assess, prioritize, and mitigate legal and compliance risks impacting the business.
- Ensure consistent and pragmatic risk management aligned with business objectives.
- Support strategic initiatives, acquisitions, partnerships, product launches, and business expansion activities.
- Communicate legal risks and recommendations effectively to senior management.
Business Partnership
- Serve as a trusted legal advisor to regional and global leadership teams.
- Provide timely, practical, and commercially focused legal advice across all business functions.
- Support key stakeholders in achieving strategic business objectives while maintaining legal and regulatory compliance.
- Foster strong relationships with business leaders across multiple countries and cultures.
Commercial Transactions & Contracting
- Lead negotiations and drafting of complex commercial agreements.
- Support a broad range of transactions including:
Distribution agreements
Manufacturing and supply agreements
Strategic partnerships
R&D collaborations
Licensing and technology transfer agreements
Business development transactions
- Provide advice relating to competition law, commercial law, and intellectual property matters.
Intellectual Property & Licensing
- Lead negotiations involving patents, technologies, know-how, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights.
- Advise business teams on the protection, exploitation, and enforcement of intellectual property assets.
- Develop legal strategies supporting innovation and product development activities.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
- Directly manage complex litigation and contentious matters across the EMEA region.
- Coordinate external counsel and legal budgets where necessary.
- Develop dispute resolution strategies aligned with business objectives.
- Anticipate and mitigate potential legal disputes before escalation.
Legal Expertise & Continuous Improvement
- Maintain expert knowledge of relevant legal developments and regulatory trends.
- Promote legal best practices and knowledge sharing within the legal team.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the Legal Department.
- Contribute to the ongoing digital transformation of legal operations, including Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) systems and Artificial Intelligence solutions.
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of legal professionals across multiple locations.
- Foster a high-performance and collaborative team culture.
- Support professional development and succession planning.
- Allocate work and resources effectively to ensure high-quality legal support.
- Promote engagement, inclusion, and knowledge sharing within the team.
Legal Culture & Governance
- Encourage a culture of integrity, compliance, and ethical decision-making.
- Partner with internal stakeholders to enhance legal awareness across the organization.
- Support implementation of legal processes, policies, and governance frameworks.
- Promote efficiency, consistency, and innovation within legal operations.
Yourprofile :
Required Qualifications:
Education
Master's Degree (Bac+5 or equivalent) in Business Law, Competition & Distribution Law, Intellectual Property Law
or a related legal discipline
Experience
- Minimum 12 years of post-qualification legal experience gained within a multinational corporation, a leading international law firm, or a combination of both.
- Proven experience in a senior legal leadership role within an international environment.
- Strong people management experience with demonstrated success leading and developing legal teams.
- Significant experience negotiating and drafting complex intellectual property licensing agreements involving patents, technology, and know-how.
- Proven litigation management experience.
Technical Competencies
- Deep expertise in commercial law, intellectual property law, and competition law.
- Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills.
- Ability to manage complex legal projects and cross-border transactions.
- Experience coordinating external counsel and legal budgets.
- Familiarity with legal technology solutions, including CLM platforms and AI-enabled legal tools.
Languages
Fluent English (written and spoken) is essential.
The success of a company depends on the passionate people we partner with.
Together, let's share our talents.
As a global leader in animal health, Ceva Animal Health believes our success is linked to our passionate people researching, developing , producing and supplying innovative health solutions for all animals, which contributes to the future of our diverse planet.
We are committed to ensuring the highest possible level of care and well-being for farm animals (poultry, pigs, ruminants), companion animals (dogs and cats) and wildlife.
Indeed, Our "Together, Beyond Animal Health" vision emphasizes that the health and wellbeing of people, animals and our planet are totally interlinked. More than ever, Ceva is committed to a "One Health" approach.
As part of our "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion" policy, Ceva Animal Heath is committed to the employment of people with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodations throughout the interview process to ensure an inclusive and accessible experience for all applicants. To request an accommodation, please contact a member of the Ceva Talent Acquisition team.
Yourmissions :
We are seeking an experienced and business-oriented EMEA Legal Director to lead legal support across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Based at our global headquarters in Libourne, France, the EMEA Legal Director will manage a team of 7 professionals located in Paris and Libourne, supported by several legal trainees. The role combines strong people leadership with hands-on management of complex strategic matters, including litigation, intellectual property licensing, business development transactions, and high-value commercial negotiations.
The successful candidate will act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and business stakeholders while ensuring effective legal risk management and supporting Ceva's growth strategy across the region.
Key Responsibilities :
Legal Strategy & Risk Management
- Partner with the Group General Counsel to implement the legal strategy across the EMEA region.
- Identify, assess, prioritize, and mitigate legal and compliance risks impacting the business.
- Ensure consistent and pragmatic risk management aligned with business objectives.
- Support strategic initiatives, acquisitions, partnerships, product launches, and business expansion activities.
- Communicate legal risks and recommendations effectively to senior management.
Business Partnership
- Serve as a trusted legal advisor to regional and global leadership teams.
- Provide timely, practical, and commercially focused legal advice across all business functions.
- Support key stakeholders in achieving strategic business objectives while maintaining legal and regulatory compliance.
- Foster strong relationships with business leaders across multiple countries and cultures.
Commercial Transactions & Contracting
- Lead negotiations and drafting of complex commercial agreements.
- Support a broad range of transactions including:
Distribution agreements
Manufacturing and supply agreements
Strategic partnerships
R&D collaborations
Licensing and technology transfer agreements
Business development transactions
- Provide advice relating to competition law, commercial law, and intellectual property matters.
Intellectual Property & Licensing
- Lead negotiations involving patents, technologies, know-how, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights.
- Advise business teams on the protection, exploitation, and enforcement of intellectual property assets.
- Develop legal strategies supporting innovation and product development activities.
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
- Directly manage complex litigation and contentious matters across the EMEA region.
- Coordinate external counsel and legal budgets where necessary.
- Develop dispute resolution strategies aligned with business objectives.
- Anticipate and mitigate potential legal disputes before escalation.
Legal Expertise & Continuous Improvement
- Maintain expert knowledge of relevant legal developments and regulatory trends.
- Promote legal best practices and knowledge sharing within the legal team.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the Legal Department.
- Contribute to the ongoing digital transformation of legal operations, including Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) systems and Artificial Intelligence solutions.
Leadership & Team Management
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of legal professionals across multiple locations.
- Foster a high-performance and collaborative team culture.
- Support professional development and succession planning.
- Allocate work and resources effectively to ensure high-quality legal support.
- Promote engagement, inclusion, and knowledge sharing within the team.
Legal Culture & Governance
- Encourage a culture of integrity, compliance, and ethical decision-making.
- Partner with internal stakeholders to enhance legal awareness across the organization.
- Support implementation of legal processes, policies, and governance frameworks.
- Promote efficiency, consistency, and innovation within legal operations.
Yourprofile :
Required Qualifications:
Education
Master's Degree (Bac+5 or equivalent) in Business Law, Competition & Distribution Law, Intellectual Property Law
or a related legal discipline
Experience
- Minimum 12 years of post-qualification legal experience gained within a multinational corporation, a leading international law firm, or a combination of both.
- Proven experience in a senior legal leadership role within an international environment.
- Strong people management experience with demonstrated success leading and developing legal teams.
- Significant experience negotiating and drafting complex intellectual property licensing agreements involving patents, technology, and know-how.
- Proven litigation management experience.
Technical Competencies
- Deep expertise in commercial law, intellectual property law, and competition law.
- Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills.
- Ability to manage complex legal projects and cross-border transactions.
- Experience coordinating external counsel and legal budgets.
- Familiarity with legal technology solutions, including CLM platforms and AI-enabled legal tools.
Languages
Fluent English (written and spoken) is essential.
