Deputy Director, Legal/ Senior Legal Counsel

Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is founded in 2000 by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. As Hong Kong’s largest government-funded research and development centre, ASTRI is a key force and super‑connector driving innovation and technology advancement in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and the global innovation ecosystem.

This role is strengthened through its merger with Nano and Advanced Materials Institute (NAMI).

Committed to bringing high‑impact research from lab to market, ASTRI advances interdisciplinary, market‑driven R&D that delivers practical innovations for industry and meaningful benefits for society.

Its technological strengths and capabilities enable AI‑powered, cross‑disciplinary ICT and advanced materials solutions across Smart City, Financial Technologies, Digital Health and Life Sciences, New Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and Advanced Electronics, New Energy and Energy Storage, and Green and ESG Technologies.

Over the years, ASTRI has cultivated a strong pool of I&T talent and earned numerous international awards for its pioneering innovations and contributions to industry and the community. Following the merger with NAMI, ASTRI’s cumulative global patent portfolio has grown to over 1,500, with more than 2,200 technologies successfully transferred to industry.

With enhanced scale and capabilities, ASTRI is uniquely positioned to elevate Hong Kong’s innovation capacity, accelerate technology commercialisation, and drive societal and economic progress through world‑class applied research.

To support our constant endeavour to position Hong Kong as a world-class smart city and an international hub of innovation and technology, we are seeking qualified professionals to fill the following position(s):

Job Responsibilities

We are seeking a highly qualified senior counsel to join our legal team. This role will provide strategic and pragmatic legal advice across a broad range of areas, including general commercial, intellectual property, technology licensing, data privacy, and employment matters. The successful candidate will support business operations, manage risk, and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial agreements (including technology licensing agreements, service agreements, leases and licences of premises, assignment and novation agreements), non-disclosure agreements and memorandum of understanding.
• Manage pre-dispute and dispute matters, including claims, litigation strategy, evidence coordination, case assessment, settlement support, and oversight of external counsel.
• Support employment-related legal matters, including employee documentation, workplace issues, investigations, disciplinary matters, exits, and coordination with HR and external counsel where required.
• Providing counsel relating to the operations of ASTRI, including export controls, data privacy, and anti-discrimination.
• Providing clear, robust, and pragmatic legal advice to senior stakeholders.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver business-oriented solutions.
• Administering and conducting internal training to ASTRI’s staff on company’s policies and standards.

Job Requirements

• Holder of LLB or LLM degree from Hong Kong or another common law jurisdiction.
• Admission to practise law in Hong Kong or a recognized common law jurisdiction.
• At least 8 years of post-qualification experience (PQE). Candidate with less experience may be considered for the post of Senior Legal Counsel.
• Prior in-house experience, or a combination of private practice and in-house roles.
• Experience in the technology sector is an advantage.
• Proven ability to handle employment disputes is an advantage.
• Detail-oriented, high level of professionalism and integrity.
• Proactive, self-driven, good time management and able to manage priorities and complex issues independently.
• Strong business sense and capable of delivering robust and pragmatic advice, with effective communication and stakeholder management skills, including engagement with senior management as well as peers.
• Proficiency in written and oral English and Chinese (including Cantonese and Mandarin).
• Live the ASTRI values.

The appointment will be on renewable contract terms with a competitive salary and performance-linked variable pay. Fringe benefits include paid leave, medical, insurance coverage and contribution to MPF. The incumbent will normally work a five-day week.

For interested parties, please submit your application with detailed CV within two weeks of the post date. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible. The review of applications will continue until the post is filled.

The resume should not include any sensitive personal information such as ID card no. or travel document number, etc.

Position offer is subject to the applicant’s experience and academic qualification. Only short-listed candidates will be notified. ASTRI reserves the right not to fill the position.

ASTRI is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Personal data provided by job applicants will be used exclusively for recruitment only. For details, please refer to ASTRI Privacy Policy Statement.