Legal Counsel

Nippon Recruitment; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Nippon Recruitment is seeking a highly motivated legal counsel for Amsterdam to support a leading global Japanese holding company. You will handle governance, commercial, aviation, and compliance matters across Europe and Asia in a lean, entrepreneurial environment.

The role requires a qualified lawyer with strong transactional experience, capable of coordinating with external advisers and senior management. Fluency in English and entitlement to work in the Netherlands are essential.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer in a major jurisdiction (Netherlands/UK/EU jurisdiction/Singapore/Japan or equivalent).
• Law degree (LL.B., LL.M., J.D., or equivalent).
• 5–8 years of legal experience, preferably in international settings.
• Experience at a leading international law firm and/or multinational company.
• Significant experience managing transactions and external advisors independently.
• Fluency in English; additional Japanese/Dutch/French/Italian language skills are a plus.
• Entitled to work in the Netherlands.

Responsibilities

• Support governance and administration of holding companies, SPV’s, and investment vehicles across multiple jurisdictions.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide variety of agreements.
• Provide legal support for acquisition, ownership, leasing, financing, and disposition of international real estate assets.
• Coordinate due diligence exercises with external law firms and advisors.
• Review lease agreements and asset management documentation.
• Coordinate with external aviation lawyers, operators, owner trusts, and regulatory advisors.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments impacting the group; support compliance frameworks and internal policies.
• Drive legal workstreams for strategic projects and transactions; manage budgets and monitor legal spend.
• Identify legal risks proactively and recommend practical business solutions; support dispute management as needed.

Skills

Fluency in English

Japanese language skills

Education

Law degree (LL.B., LL.M., J.D., or equivalent)

Job description

Legal counsel, Amsterdam

Company information

Our customer is a leading global Japanese holding company.

We are seeking a highly motivated and business-oriented legal professional to join our customer. The successful candidate will support a broad range of legal matters across investments, real estate, corporate governance, compliance, aviation, philanthropy, and international business operations. The role requires close interaction with senior management, external counsel, financial institutions, regulators, and business partners across Europe and Asia.

This position is ideal for a lawyer with strong transactional and corporate legal experience who is looking to work on diverse, strategic, and high-impact matters in a lean and entrepreneurial environment.

Corporate Governance & Entity Management

• Support governance and administration of holding companies, SPV’s, and investment vehicles across multiple jurisdictions
• Prepare and review board resolutions, shareholder resolutions, powers of attorney, and corporate documentation
• Manage relationships with corporate service providers, trust companies, and notaries

Contracts & Commercial matters

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide variety of agreements
• Maintain contract repository and key obligation tracking
• Provide legal support for acquisition, ownership, leasing, financing, and disposition of international real estate assets
• Coordinate due diligence exercises with external law firms and advisors
• Review lease agreements and asset management documentation

Aviation & Asset Ownership Structures

• Coordinate with external aviation lawyers, operators, owner trusts, and regulatory advisors
• Review aircraft management agreements, charter arrangements, and related documentation

Compliance & Risk Management

• Monitor legal and regulatory developments impacting the group
• Support implementation of compliance frameworks and internal policies
• Assist with sanctions, anti-money laundering (AML), anti-bribery (ABC), privacy, and corporate compliance matters

Legal Project Management

• Coordinate external counsel across jurisdictions
• Manage legal budgets and monitor legal spend
• Drive legal workstreams for strategic projects and transactions
• Identify legal risks proactively and recommend practical business solutions
• Support dispute management and pre-litigation matters when necessary

Job requirements

In order to qualify for this versatile and challenging position, required are at least the following criteria:

• Qualified lawyer in a major jurisdiction (e.g., Netherlands, UK, EU jurisdiction, Singapore, Japan, or equivalent)
• Law degree (LL.B., LL.M., J.D., or equivalent)
• 5–8 years of legal experience
• Experience at a leading international law firm and/or multinational company
• Significant experience managing transactions and external advisors independently
• Fluency in English
• Japanese, Dutch, French and/or Italian language skills will be a plus
• Entitled to work in the Netherlands