CBS Legal Counsel - Contract & Advisory

The opportunity Join EY Malaysia’s Core Business Services Legal team within the General Counsel’s Office (GCO), where you will provide practical, commercially grounded legal support to the Malaysian firm. In this role, you will work closely with service lines and enabling functions to review and negotiate contracts, advise on legal and regulatory risk, and support responsible business decisions in a fast-moving professional services environment. You will be part of a small, high-impact local legal team supporting a broad range of stakeholders and matters. The role offers exposure to contracts, commercial arrangements, risk management, internal advisory work and cross-functional collaboration, while contributing to EY’s commitment to quality, trust and long-term value. Your key responsibilities Contracts and commercial advisory

Review, draft and negotiate a broad range of contracts, engagement terms, non-disclosure agreements, procurement documents and other legal or commercial arrangements. Advise stakeholders on contract risk, including liability, indemnities, confidentiality, data, termination, scope, commercial positions and compliance with EY policies. Support business teams in balancing commercial objectives with appropriate legal, regulatory and risk safeguards.

Legal risk management and governance

Provide timely legal advice on Malaysian legal and regulatory considerations relevant to EY’s business operations and client-serving activities. Identify, assess and escalate legal risks appropriately, including matters requiring input from regional or global legal, risk management or other specialist teams. Support consistent application of internal legal, risk and contracting protocols across the firm.

Business partnering and stakeholder support

Partner with service lines, Finance, Talent, Procurement, Risk Management, Independence and other enabling functions to support business objectives and operational priorities. Build trusted relationships with Partners, Directors and business teams by providing clear, practical and solution-oriented legal advice. Promote early legal engagement by helping stakeholders understand key legal risks and required approval pathways.

Disputes, reviews and internal advisory support

Support internal reviews, fact-finding exercises and investigations from a legal advisory perspective, including document review, risk assessment and preparation of advice. Assist with legal research, internal briefings, documentation and coordination on matters requiring legal input or escalation. Help preserve confidentiality, privilege and appropriate documentation standards in sensitive matters.

External counsel and matter management

Coordinate with external counsel where required, including preparing instructions, managing timelines and monitoring quality, scope and cost. Maintain appropriate records of legal advice, matter status, key decisions and follow-up actions. Contribute to improvement of legal templates, playbooks, processes and knowledge-sharing materials.

Skills and attributes for success

Strong legal drafting, contract review and negotiation skills, with the ability to identify issues and propose practical solutions. Sound judgement, analytical thinking and attention to detail, particularly when navigating legal risk, commercial pressure and stakeholder expectations. Ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly and concisely to non-legal stakeholders. Strong stakeholder management skills, with confidence engaging senior business leaders and cross-functional teams. Ability to manage multiple matters concurrently, prioritise effectively and work within tight timelines. Collaborative, proactive and agile working style, with a strong sense of accountability, confidentiality and professionalism. Excellent written and spoken English and Bahasa Malaysia.

To qualify for the role, you must have

A recognised law degree and professional legal