Senior Legal Counsel

Royal Van Leeuwen; Achter Lindt; On-site; EUR 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

One fixed WFH day per week

27 days annual leave

PME pension scheme

Job summary

Royal Van Leeuwen, a leading international trading company, seeks a Senior Legal Counsel to advise management on corporate and commercial law across the organisation. You will identify risks, guide strategic decisions, and lead complex matters to resolution from its Zwijndrecht base.

You will work with colleagues across multiple countries and functions, focusing on governance, disputes, and high-impact contracts while embracing digital transformation in legal services.

Qualifications

• University degree in law.
• At least five years of relevant experience as in-house counsel or lawyer.
• Ability to translate legal complexity into practical business advice.
• Strong commercial acumen and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Act as a strategic legal advisor to management and business leaders, providing pragmatic and commercially focused solutions.
• Lead and support governance, compliance, and decision-making processes including mergers and acquisitions and due diligence.
• Manage disputes, claims, and litigation matters with internal and external stakeholders.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a broad range of commercial agreements (procurement, sales, financing, partnerships).
• Identify and mitigate legal and business risks while supporting strategic objectives.
• Promote legal awareness through training and workshops; drive digitalisation of the function with AI-enabled solutions.

Skills

Corporate law

Commercial law

In-house counsel

Mergers & Acquisitions

Legal advisory

Education

Law degree

Tools

Contract management software

Legal technology

Job description

As Senior Legal Counsel at Royal Van Leeuwen, you will serve as a strategic legal advisor across our international organisation. You will identify and manage legal and commercial risks, support strategic decision-making, and lead complex legal matters to resolution. This broad senior role offers significant exposure to the business and the opportunity to contribute directly to the company's sustainable growth and long-term success. You will work closely with management and colleagues across different countries, functions, and cultures, providing pragmatic legal guidance that enables the business to achieve its objectives while safeguarding its interests.

• Zwijndrecht

What will you do?

• Act as a strategic legal advisor to management and business leaders, providing pragmatic and commercially focused solutions to complex legal matters and business challenges;
• Lead and support corporate governance, compliance, and decision-making processes, including mergers and acquisitions and due diligence activities;
• Manage disputes, claims, and litigation matters, coordinating internal and external stakeholders to protect the company's interests;
• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a broad range of commercial agreements, including procurement, sales, financing, and strategic partnership contracts;
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and business risks while supporting operational and strategic objectives;
• Promote legal awareness throughout the organisation through training, workshops, and practical guidance;
• Drive digitalisation of the legal function, including process optimisation and the implementation of legal technology and AI-enabled solutions;
• Report directly to the General Counsel and play an active role in supporting the international business.

Your profile

• You hold a university degree in law and possess strong expertise in corporate and commercial law;
• You have at least five years of relevant experience as an in-house counsel and/or lawyer and are accustomed to independently managing complex legal matters;
• You combine strong legal judgement with commercial acumen and can translate legal complexity into clear, practical business advice;
• You are a confident and credible business partner who can engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation;
• You demonstrate initiative, ownership, and the ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution;
• You work accurately and pragmatically, are able to prioritise effectively, and maintain oversight in a dynamic international environment;
• You have an interest in legal technology, AI-enabled solutions, and digital transformation, and understand how these can enhance the effectiveness of legal services and business processes;
• You have an excellent command of Dutch and English, both spoken and written.

What do we offer?

• Senior legal role with broad responsibility within a leading industrial family-owned business;
• Direct involvement in strategic and operational matters across an international organisation;
• The opportunity to work closely with senior management and contribute to key business opportunities;
• Significant scope for personal initiative and growth;
• Being part of a professional legal team in an international environment at our modern head office;
• A full-time position (40 hours per week)
• One fixed work-from-home day per week;
• 27 days of annual leave;
• A competitive salary;
• Participation in the PME pension scheme.

About Royal Van Leeuwen

Royal Van Leeuwen is a leading international trading company and specialist in steel pipes, pipe applications, and value-added services. With offices in 32 countries and more than 2,250 employees worldwide, we serve customers across virtually every industrial sector. From our headquarters in Zwijndrecht, we work together every day to deliver innovative solutions, build long-term customer relationships, and support the development of sustainable industry worldwide.