Pre-Legal Collections Counsel at Maersk October, 2024

Opportunity

We are looking for a Pre-Legal Collections Counsel to serve as the key legal liaison between the Accounts Receivables (AR) department and Maersk’s various entities across multiple regions. The role involves resolving payment disputes, negotiating settlements, and managing external legal partners when necessary. You will employ Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to resolve cases before they escalate to litigation and will oversee all aspects of debt collection, from issuing demand letters to recommending litigation when required. This is a critical position aimed at maintaining healthy financial processes while minimizing legal risks for Maersk.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the internal legal advisor for the Accounts Receivables (AR) department, overseeing collections across several countries and Maersk subsidiaries.
• Negotiate payment plans, waivers, and settlements with customers, employing ADR techniques to avoid litigation wherever possible.
• Issue demand letters to customers, outlining outstanding debts, and ensure effective follow-up to secure payments.
• Coordinate with in-country and GSC collections teams to gather supporting documentation and status updates on collection actions.
• Collaborate with finance, legal, and AR teams to ensure that all payments are correctly applied and reported.
• Manage customer checks through private investigators, debt collection agencies, or other means to trace non-responsive clients and identify attachable assets.
• Recommend cases for litigation, instruct external legal partners, and provide them with the necessary documentation for court proceedings.
• Oversee the progress of litigation, maintain a diary of court dates, and ensure timely updates from external lawyers.
• Vet and process invoices from external legal partners and collection agencies, ensuring they align with agreed fee structures.
• Communicate regularly with private investigators and collection agencies to ensure effective tracing and debt recovery efforts.
• Develop and implement AR Collection Processes, ensuring compliance across teams and regions.
• Conduct periodic reviews of AR legal cases, making recommendations for improvements and process enhancements.
• Provide regular reports on collections progress to key stakeholders, including finance, legal, and AR departments.
• Review cases recommended for write-off, particularly those involving bankrupt or untraceable clients, and make recommendations for final action.
• Visit customer premises when necessary to follow up on overdue invoices and encourage payment.
• Coordinate with country and regional teams to gather alternative contacts or arrange visits to customers who are unresponsive.
• Ensure all legal processes and documentation are in line with Maersk’s policy on pre-legal collections.
• Prepare, review, and update internal policies relating to pre-legal collections to improve efficiency and compliance.
• Monitor the performance of external vendors (private investigators, collection agencies) and ensure they meet contractual obligations.
• Work cross-functionally with other departments to drive continuous improvement in the pre-legal collections process.

Requirements:

• Law degree from a recognized institution, preferably with litigation experience.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in a similar role or in a law firm.
• Proven experience in debt collection processes.
• Strong negotiation skills with the ability to resolve disputes professionally and efficiently.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a multicultural, international environment across different time zones and legal systems.
• Ability to manage high-pressure situations, ensuring consistent delivery of results.
• Experience working with financial systems and legal documentation related to AR