Senior Legal Counsel

Koninklijke Van Leeuwen B.V.; Netherlands; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PME pension scheme

27 days annual leave

One fixed work-from-home day per week

Job summary

Koninklijke Van Leeuwen B.V. is seeking an experienced in-house counsel to act as a strategic legal advisor to management across international operations.

You will lead governance, compliance, disputes, and contract management for a broad range of commercial agreements, while mitigating risk and driving digital transformation of the function. The role requires a law degree with at least five years in-house or as a lawyer, and fluency in Dutch and English.

Qualifications

• University degree in law
• At least five years as in-house counsel or lawyer
• Strong legal judgement with commercial acumen
• Confident business partner engaging with stakeholders
• Initiative, ownership and balance strategic thinking with execution
• Accurate, pragmatic and able to oversee a dynamic international environment
• Interest in legal technology and AI-enabled solutions
• Excellent command of Dutch and English

Responsibilities

• Act as strategic legal advisor to management and leaders, providing pragmatic, commercially focused solutions to legal matters
• Lead corporate governance, compliance and M&A diligence processes
• Manage disputes, claims and litigation with internal and external stakeholders
• Draft, review and manage procurement, sales, financing, and strategic partnership contracts
• Identify and mitigate legal and business risks while supporting objectives
• Promote legal awareness through training and guidance
• Drive digitalisation of the legal function and AI-enabled solutions
• Report to General Counsel and support international business

Skills

corporate law

commercial law

in-house counsel

stakeholder engagement

legal technology

digital transformation

Dutch

English

Education

Law degree

Tools

Legal technology

AI-enabled solutions

Job description

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. Please visit our website: Distributeur stalen buizen | Koninklijke Van Leeuwen - Dutch

We do not accept unsolicited approaches from recruitment agencies in relation to this vacancy.

De Van Leeuwen Buizen Groep is een internationaal opererende handelsonderneming en specialist in stalen buizen en buistoepassingen. Het bedrijf, met het hoofdkantoor in Zwijndrecht, is wereldwijd actief met 78 kantoren en voorraadlocaties in 33 landen.