Senior Legal Counsel

Global Japanese Company, European regional HQ in Amsterdam

Fulltime, Fluent in English

Our client, an international multi-functional trading company headquartered in Japan, employs over 20,000 staff worldwide. They are engaged in global business activities across sectors such as investment, infrastructure and chemicals. Their European headquarters is located in Amsterdam and they are currently seeking an in-house (Senior) Legal Counsel Manager to oversee legal matters for both the European headquarters and its subsidiaries across Europe.

As a (Senior) Legal Counsel, you will handle a broad range of legal matters impacting the company's operations in the region, including M&A, commercial contracts and compliance. You will work closely with a dynamic team and various stakeholders. With your strong business acumen, you will be expected to creatively apply your broad legal expertise to complex areas of EU law. You will operate proactively and cross-functionally to support the company's European business activities.

Job Description:

Mergers & Acquisitions:

Support M&A transactions by reviewing due diligence reports, structuring deals, drafting and reviewing transaction documents. Provide legal support for Post-merger integration.

Commercial Contracts:

Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including supply, distribution, service, guarantees, indemnities, and NDAs.

Compliance & Regulatory:

Ensure compliance with applicable national, EU, and international laws. Provide guidance on corporate governance, data protection (GDPR), anti-bribery regulations, international sanctions, export controls, and trade compliance. Support internal investigations.

Corporate legal support:

Advise on general corporate matters, including board resolutions corporate filings and internal policies. Liaising with notaries and corporate registers.

Cross-Functional Legal Support at Company, Regional and Group level:

Act as a trusted advisor to business units. Collaborate with internal teams (e.g. HR, accounting) and liaise with external advisors, regulatory bodies. Collaborate with headquarters and group companies, supporting information exchanges and legal cooperation with other regions. Provide legal support for group companies across Europe.

Training:

Draft and conduct internal training and awareness programs.

External Counsel Management:

Instruct and manage external legal advisors on specialized matters. Monitor legal spending and ensure cost-effective legal support.

Requirement and Qualification:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Law
• 7+ years of post-qualification experience in private practice at a reputable law firm (particularly in corporate/M&A or commercial law) or in-house legal experience within a multinational or international corporate environment
• Qualified to practice law in the Netherlands or in another EU jurisdiction, the USA, Japan or the UK
• Experience with contract negotiation, risk management, governance and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions
• Proven track record in drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts
• Experience supporting M&A transactions from due diligence through to closing
• Experience advising on compliance programs and risk mitigation is a plus
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; proficiency in other languages such as Dutch or Japanese is a plus
• Basic leadership or management skills (e.g., mentoring, team leadership or management of a small team)
• High level of integrity, discretion and professionalism
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, multicultural environment
• Ability to work independently while collaborating across functions and regions

Terms and Conditions:

• Annual Salary: Competitive, based on experience and qualifications; includes discretionary annual bonuses
• Working Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:30 (with a 1-hour lunch break from 12:30-13:30)
• Commuting Expenses: Reimbursed in accordance with internal policies
• Contract Type: Permanent contract with a probationary period of 2 months
• Flexible Work: Employees may work remotely up to 2 days per week after completion of the probationary period

If you are interested in this role, please send your CV to (Ms. Yumiko Miyajima) or please call .6. for more information.

We appreciate all applicants for their interest. However, only those whose background and experience meet the role's requirements will be contacted.