Head of Legal Europe

Reference number: VL/NL/LAW/0042/25

Company Lawyer Permanent position

| Head of Legal Europe

Our client

Our client is a fast-growing international industrial technology group with operations across Europe and beyond. Through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, the company has built a portfolio of market-leading businesses serving customers in automation, manufacturing, engineering and technology-driven sectors.

The organisation – private equity owned – combines the entrepreneurial spirit of its operating companies with the ambition and resources of a global group. Having entered a new phase of growth and transformation, the business is investing in the further professionalisation of its European legal function. This creates a unique opportunity for an experienced legal professional to play a key role in shaping the future legal landscape of the organisation.

In order to strengthen the European legal organisation, we are looking for a stand-alone Head of Legal Europe.

Responsibilities

As Head of Legal Europe you will serve as a member of the European leadership group. You will act as the senior legal leader for the European region and serve as a trusted strategic advisor to business leaders across multiple countries and operating companies, especially in The Netherlands and Belgium. You will report directly to the General Counsel based in the United States and work closely with board members, business leaders and operational teams throughout the organisation.

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Acting as the primary legal business partner for the European operations and leadership teams;
  • Advising on a broad range of commercial, corporate, compliance and operational legal matters;
  • Developing and implementing legal frameworks, contracting standards, templates and playbooks across Europe. You will train the business to handle standard contracting and onboard newly acquired businesses onto company standards;
  • Driving harmonisation and best practices across multiple operating companies while maintaining an entrepreneurial culture;
  • Managing compliance, privacy, governance and risk management projects, including GDPR-related initiatives;
  • Supporting strategic European M&A transactions, integrations and other high-impact business initiatives alongside the US team;
  • Managing external counsel and ensuring cost-effective legal support across multiple jurisdictions;

In this role you remain hands-on when required, including contract negotiations, commercial agreements and day-to-day legal support. This is a role for someone who enjoys operating at both strategic and operational level, and who is motivated by building, improving and influencing rather than simply maintaining existing structures.

As the business grows in the future, it is expected that you will have the opportunity to grow a legal team in Europe.

Profile

  • qualified lawyer within an EU jurisdiction (or England & Wales)
  • approximately 10+ years of relevant legal experience
  • significant in-house experience within a multinational company, across multiple jurisdictions
  • strong generalist legal background, in commercial, corporate and compliance
  • experience working in an industrial and/or technology environment is a plus
  • strategic thinker and hands-on at the same time
  • pragmatic, entrepreneurial mindset
  • self-starter, getting things done mentality
  • comfortable in an unstructured, evolving environment
  • fluent in English; additional European language skills are considered a plus

Offer

  • a strategic regional legal position at a rapidly growing multinational market-leading company, with a buy-and-build strategy
  • an opportunity to shape and lead the European legal function of a growing international organisation at a pivotal stage in its development
  • a highly visible position with direct exposure to senior international leadership
  • significant autonomy and freedom to define legal processes, frameworks and best practices, bringing structure to the legal organisation
  • an opportunity for legal professionals that enjoy combining strategy with execution, and want to play a meaningful role in a company’s next phase of growth
  • this position can be performed from out of from various office locations in the Netherlands and Belgium, or home based with regular visits to the group companies

About Vialegis

By creating perfect matches between legal professionals and organizations, we don’t just transform careers—we enhance the strength of legal teams. This leads to greater success and satisfaction for both candidates and clients.

Process

We start with a personal conversation to get to know you and thoroughly understand your wishes and ambitions. This allows us to gain a clear picture of your skills, expectations, and future plans.
By combining your talents and desires with our market knowledge and network, we find the ideal match. We propose positions that truly suit you.
We introduce you to our client and provide personal guidance and coaching throughout the entire process, ensuring you're prepared at every step.
Even after you start, we remain involved. Through regular follow-up and feedback, we ensure that you have a successful and seamless experience.