MOSTAFA SABOURI
Sustainability Legal Counsel
London,United Kingdom
Summary
Experienced Legal Counsel with extensive experience in the FMCG industry, specialising in providing in-house legal guidance on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters. Proficient in Legal Project Management, Change Management, and Litigation Management, with a strong expertise in Economic Sanctions, Ethics & Compliance, and ESG-related risk assessment. Adept at developing and implementing compliance policies and procedures, conducting due diligence, and managing corporate governance to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages
Work History
Sustainability Legal Counsel
British American Tobacco (Holdings) Ltd
London
03.2023 - Current
- Provided expert legal guidance on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters, ensuring alignment with international regulations and evolving regulatory landscape.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to integrate sustainability considerations into corporate initiatives, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance and advising on potential legal implications and mitigation strategies.
- Conducted in-depth review of external facing communication materials and publications, including Annual Reports from sustainability and greenwashing risk perspective.
- Monitored and analysed evolving ESG regulations and trends, providing timely updates and strategic advice to senior management and stakeholders.
- Engaged with internal stakeholders, including the Group's global market on various ESG related matters, including review of end-market sustainability reports.
- Engaged actively in the preparation and submission of ESG-related disclosures, including annual reports, Conflict Minerals Report, Modern Slavery Report, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and compliance with legal requirements, ESG communication guidance.
- Represented the Sustainability Legal Team in projects working on EU upcoming regulations on CSDDD, EU Deforestation Regulations, EU Forced Labour Regulations and various other workstreams focused on the Social pillar of ESG.
Senior Legal Counsel
BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO
Tehran
11.2018 - 03.2022
- Managed the Legal Department and led a team of six lawyers
- Represented Legal & External Affairs function before the Leadership Team
- Developed and implemented compliance guidelines and policies
- Ensured full compliance with internal rules and processes, external laws, and regulations
- Ensured compliance with international sanctions imposed on Iran to guarantee a safe, vigilant and 100% compliant business operation
- Ensured compliance with Anti Bribery and Corruption Policies, KYC, Compliance checklists and relevant policies
- Managed the Whistle-blowing procedures and violations of the company's Standards of Business Conduct, from investigation to disciplinary committee briefings
- Supervised litigations and handled external stakeholders, including legal firms
- Acted as SPOC to coordinate all company legal matters with other corporate departments
- Provided legal advice to the leadership team on various legal matters relating to the business
- Provided sustainable support for the delivery of strategic corporate agenda
- Mapped out external engagement plans and strategy
- Successfully managed some core tax and competition litigations
- Led the LEX sub-departments (Legal, External Affairs, Business Continuity).
Legal Counsel
BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO
Tehran
03.2016 - 11.2018
- Responsible for a wide range of corporate legal matters, including litigation management, compliance, international sanctions, distribution legal framework and management of the legal team
- Reporting to Head of Legal & External Affairs, also responsible for furnishing leadership team with legal advice on business model and different aspects of corporate operation
- Participated in all Tender Committees as a core member
- Successfully managed some significant arbitrations.
Junior Legal Counsel
BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO
Tehran, Iran
12.2014 - 06.2015
- Acted as company legal secretariat, responsible for drafting and negotiating contracts for various corporate functions, including Procurement, Service, Distribution, Sales & Purchase, NDA, Employment, LOIs, and IT Services contracts
- Provided timely legal advice for different corporate functions
- Responsible for Records Management and training on Standards of Business Conduct
- Assigned by the Leadership Team as a member of the Tax & Audit Committee
ASSOCIATE
Ashrafi & Partners
Tehran
10.2012 - 11.2014
- Reviewed on commented on various forms of contracts, including license transfer, procurement, financing agreements, EPC, EP contracts
- Negotiated some major EPC contracts as member of client's negotiation team
Education
LLM - Environmental Law
University of Nottingham
Nottingham, UK 09.2010 - 2011.11
Bachelor of Laws - Law
University of Tehran
Tehran, Iran 09.2003 - 2008.06
Skills
Collaborative Problem Solvingundefined
Accomplishments
- Introduction to Corruption Prevention, Council of Europe HELP Programme (2022)
- Data Protection & Privacy Rights, Council of Europe HELP Programme (2022)
- Cybercrime & Electronic Evidence, Council of Europe HELP Programme (2022)
- LEX (Legal & External Affairs) Excellence (2021)
- Coaching & Mentoring (2020, APEX)
- Leading your Business (2018, APEX)
- Strategic and Inventive Thinking (2018, APEX)
- Problem Solving and Decision Making (2017, APEX)
- Leading Teams (BAT, 2016)
- Interview and Assessors Skills Refresher (2015, Apex)
Timeline
Sustainability Legal Counsel
British American Tobacco (Holdings) Ltd
03.2023 - Current
Senior Legal Counsel
BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO
11.2018 - 03.2022
Legal Counsel
BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO
03.2016 - 11.2018
Junior Legal Counsel
BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO
12.2014 - 06.2015
ASSOCIATE
Ashrafi & Partners
10.2012 - 11.2014
LLM - Environmental Law
University of Nottingham
09.2010 - 2011.11
Bachelor of Laws - Law
University of Tehran
09.2003 - 2008.06
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