ABOUT AXA

Whatever their stage of life, we provide over 108 million customers with the products and services they need to progress. From insurance to personal protection, and savings to wealth management, no matter the need we’re always there for them. And we’re always there for our employees. In 50 countries, we work hard to inspire pride and a sense of belonging in our people. To provide opportunities that challenge them, inspire them, and reward them. And to create a culture that’s open, supportive, and empowering. Because we know that’s the real secret to success – and the best way for us to keep building a better world for both our customers and the talented people who put them first.

Your work environment:

The headquarters of the AXA Group (GIE AXA) brings together our corporate activities. It provides guidance and support to subsidiaries around the world, to ensure the coordination and monitoring of the Group's global strategy, the application of its standards, the consistency of commercial approaches and the sharing of best practices. The headquarters gathers approximately 1000 employees and is distinguished by its strong international culture (45 nationalities), which makes it a rich and stimulating place to work. 

Within the Group, you will join the Group Legal department. The Group Legal team is a small team made up of highly qualified lawyers many of whom have international backgrounds. The Group General Counsel heads the team and is a member of the AXA Executive Committee and the AXA SA Board. The Group Legal team won the Financial Times Sustainability and ESG 2021 Award, the Trophée du Droit Insurance and Bank In house team award 2020 and Transaction of the Year Award 2018 for its work on the XL public takeover (€12.4billion) and the IPO of AXA’s US life company, AXA Equitable, which was the largest US IPO in 2018. Within this Department, you will be part of the Group M&A legal team. 

Your job and daily missions:

JOB PURPOSE

This role will involve working on major international and transversal projects, partnerships and reorganisations, including M&A, corporate, regulatory matters and new technologies, as part of the AXA Group’s Unlock the Future Strategy. The role involves working in close collaboration with the Group’s specialist corporate finance team and other group departments such as tax, HR, risk and investor relations.

DIMENSION

AXA’s M&A projects are international covering: buying or selling companies/businesses, either as private negotiated deals or public takeovers; initial public offers for sales via listing on stock exchanges; establishing major long-term partnerships and joint ventures; and major distribution deals with upfront capital commitments. The Group M&A team executes any deals over €20 million value, with oversight of delegated deals to local teams below that value. Recent work includes the proposed c. €5 billion sale of AXA Investment Management to BNP Paribas and the acquisition of the Italian insurer, Gruppo Nobis. The team also works on strategic internal reorganisations such as the transformation of AXA SA into an internal reinsurer.

CONTEXT AND MAJOR CHALLENGES 

The role involves advising AXA Group senior management and ultimately the AXA SA Board on evolving strategic and sensitive issues in a high-pressure, time-critical environment. Trustworthiness is key due to dealing with confidential and price sensitive information on a regular basis. No deal has a “tick-a-box” approach for legal risks, terms or documentation and deals are multijurisdictional involving deal partners and law firms across the world. The role requires agility to become expert and advise on new topics quickly on a regular basis in a fast-evolving highly complex, highly regulated international context. 

The role can involve international travel, often with short notice.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

The role reports directly to the Group Legal Head of M&A who in turn reports into the Group General Counsel.

Key advisor on M&A transactions, internal reorganisations, integrations, and other strategic projects.

• Requires considerable judgement on significant and sensitive issues, such as execution risk and potential post-deal liability, with escalation on key legal and reputational risks up to the Head of M&A Legal, Group General Counsel, the Group CFO, the Deputy CEOs, the Group Management Committee and ultimately up to the AXA Board.
• Preparing and participating in internal governance, including being the legal representative on deal Steering Committees composed of the Deputy CEO(s) and the Group CFO and preparing presentations and memos for these committees, the Board and Board Committees (as well as those for operating subsidiaries).

Transaction Management. 

• Ensuring smooth co-ordination with the internal AXA teams (corporate development, DCFG, PBRC, communications, investor relations, HR, tax) and local operating entity CEO/CFO/GC, plus external advisors (external counsel, bankers, accountants, actuaries) and their respective teams.
• External Counsel Selection: choosing external legal counsel, negotiating fee structure, and monitoring fees, ensuring timely delivery of services.
• Ensuring that the structuring, drafting and/ or reviewing transaction documents is high quality in line with internal and market standards (e.g., term sheets, share purchase agreements, shareholders’ agreement, exclusive long-term distribution agreements).
• Negotiation: direct engagement with counterparties (who can be management, external or internal legal counsel, other professional advisers).

Providing Pragmatic Legal Advice and Solutions.

• Analysing legal risks to provide pragmatic, tailored and business-friendly advice that meets both commercial objectives and compliance with legal and regulatory environment, as well as considering reputational issues for AXA as a leading high-profile global company.
• Taking decisions on how to deal with, and mitigate, legal risks in light of the external legal advice received and challenging that advice where necessary.
• Seeking practical solutions to legal issues with the legal team being seen as a deal maker rather than a deal blocker. 
• Strategic thinking and challenging the status quo to enable AXA to move ahead with its strategic transactions to deliver on the Unlock the Future Strategy.
• Keeping up to date with legal developments in relation to M&A transaction issues, AXA’s business lines, innovation.
• Networking with legal and other market players to keep up to date with evolving legal environment and market trends and horizon-scanning on emerging legal issues/risk.

You will join:

• A company with an inclusive culture and a diverse workforce, committed to attract, develop, advance, and retain the most diverse talents, while creating an inclusive culture where everyone can bring their full selves to work and can reach their highest potential.
• A company with strong values.
• A company promoting internal mobility and the training of its employees.
• A company offering many benefits (learn more here: Reward & Benefits | AXA Group).
• A flexible company, allowing hybrid work, in the office and from home.
• A responsible company, towards people, including its employees and customers, and towards the planet.

Let’s talk about you:

• Seasoned senior qualified lawyer with a minimum of 8 years of experience post-qualification, trained at a top tier international law firm, ready to bring transformative impact to AXA into a high performing in-house counsel.
• Extensive experience in corporate, international M&A and commercial law.
• Fluent in English and ideally highly proficient in French.
• Driven and highly motivated, excelling under pressure while maintaining unwavering high standards.
• Possesses gravitas with strong leadership skills and executive presence; dares to challenge and be challenged.
• A team player with the ability to influence and unite across departments/the Group, demonstrating strong communication skills, while also capable of independent work.
• Embraces the challenges of multicultural and inclusive work environment.