Legal Counsel Corporate / M&A

Aerospacelab; France; On-site; EUR 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Aerospacelab, an ambitious leader in small satellites, seeks an experienced Corporate / M&A Legal Counsel to drive transactions and governance across multiple jurisdictions.

You will be a true in-house generalist, handling contracts, regulatory questions, IP, and day-to-day legal needs while collaborating with Strategy, Finance and HR to support strategic growth.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in law; LL.M. or international business law is an asset.
• At least 5 years in corporate law and M&A, from a top firm or in-house.
• Proven international experience with cross-border transactions and multi-jurisdiction coordination.
• Experience in aerospace/defense or dual-use sectors is valued.
• Fluency in French and English; Dutch or German is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute M&A and external growth transactions with due diligence and documentation.
• Support strategic operations, financing, investor and lender relations, and cap table management.
• Oversee governance of group entities, boards, and filing obligations.
• Manage regulatory aspects of transactions, including FDI and export controls.
• Handle day-to-day legal needs: contracts, IP, regulatory questions, and cross-border advisement.
• Advise on cross-border projects and post-acquisition integration; collaborate with Strategy, Finance & HR.

Skills

International experience

Drafting & negotiation

French & English proficiency

Legal adaptability

Generative AI awareness

Education

Master's degree in law

LL.M. or international business law asset

Job description

Our mission is supported by an ambitious vertically integrated approach: design & manufacture of small satellites combined with development of earth observation services.

Since its creation in 2018, the company has already grown substantially. Our team gathers more than 25 engineering expertise, from hardware design to software development & data science.

In 2024, Aerospacelab counts offices in Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium), Toulouse (France), Lausanne (Switzerland) and US West Coast with more than 200 full-time employees, with the ambition to position itself as the European leader in small satellites.

Your mission

To support its growth and strategic operations, Aerospacelab is looking for an experienced Corporate / M&A Legal Counsel. You will work at the heart of the group's transactional, strategic and corporate matters: acquisitions, fundraising, intra-group restructurings, and governance and oversight of group entities across multiple jurisdictions. Beyond this core corporate work, you will act as a true in-house generalist, able to handle with ease the full range of legal issues arising from the group's activities.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and execute M&A and external growth transactions: due diligence, structuring, negotiation and transaction documentation (LOIs, SPAs, shareholders' agreements), and coordination of external counsel;
• Support strategic operations and debt and equity financing: financing and investment documentation, investor and lender relations, cap table management, and incentive plans;
• Oversee corporate housekeeping and governance of group entities: boards of directors, general meetings, delegations of authority, and filing obligations (UBO, registers);
• Manage the regulatory aspects of transactions: foreign direct investment screening mechanisms (FDI), interaction with export control regimes, and sector-specific compliance;
• Beyond corporate matters, handle day-to-day legal needs: commercial contracts and partnerships, regulatory questions, intellectual property, support to operational teams, and management of pre-litigation matters with the support of external counsel;
• Advise on cross-border strategic projects and contribute to post-acquisition integration;
• Work closely with the Strategy, Finance and HR teams and with the other members of the Legal department.

Must have

• Master's degree in law; additional qualifications (LL.M., international business law) are an asset;
• At least 5 years of experience in corporate law and M&A, gained at a leading business law firm and/or in-house, complemented by diversified business law experience (contracts, regulatory, commercial);
• Proven international experience: cross-border transactions, multi-jurisdictional coordination, and multicultural environments;
• Experience in the aerospace or defense sector, or in a sensitive technology industry (dual-use), is highly valued;
• Versatility and legal curiosity: the ability to step outside your comfort zone and handle a wide variety of matters pragmatically;
• Adaptability to work in a constantly evolving technological environment; proficiency with generative AI tools and a willingness to integrate them into day-to-day legal practice, in compliance with confidentiality and export control rules;
• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills; rigor, autonomy and a practical mindset;
• Full proficiency in French and English; Dutch, German and/or another language is a real asset;
• Member of the Belgian Institute for In-House Counsel (IBJ-IJE) or eligible for admission.

What we offer

Build your own career path

Direct impact on the growth of the company

Fast-paced environment

Flexible ways of working

Salary package consistent with your experience