Senior Legal Counsel

Job description

Operating within a highly regulated and politically sensitive environment, this role sits at the intersection of law, regulation, commercial strategy, and the energy transition. You will work closely with senior stakeholders across operations, commercial, HSSE, permitting, and business development teams, providing strategic legal guidance on matters that directly impact critical national infrastructure.

This position offers significant visibility, autonomy, and the opportunity to influence both business decisions and broader regulatory developments within the energy sector.

The Role
As Senior Legal Counsel, you will serve as the trusted legal advisor to a strategic energy infrastructure business, leading on complex regulatory, commercial, and policy matters.

You will engage regularly with regulators, government bodies, industry associations, and senior internal stakeholders while helping the organisation navigate an evolving legislative and regulatory landscape.

Key Responsibilities
Strategic & Regulatory Advisory

• Act as the lead legal advisor on key regulatory and commercial matters.
• Advise senior leadership on legal, regulatory, and policy developments impacting operations and future growth.
• Monitor legislative developments and translate complex legal requirements into clear, practical business guidance.
• Support strategic decision-making within a highly regulated environment.

Stakeholder & Government Engagement

• Manage legal and regulatory relationships with government authorities, regulators, and industry stakeholders.
• Represent the organisation in regulatory consultations, working groups, and industry forums.
• Support policy engagement activities and help protect the organisation’s interests within evolving regulatory frameworks.

Commercial & Operational Legal Support

• Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on a variety of commercial agreements.
• Provide legal support on regulatory frameworks, operational activities, permitting matters, and infrastructure projects.
• Manage external legal counsel and oversee litigation or administrative proceedings when required.
• Ensure strong legal governance, documentation, and records management practices.

Candidate Profile
We are interested in speaking with qualified legal professionals who possess:

• A Master’s Degree in Law.
• 6-8+ years of post-qualification experience.
• Experience gained within a leading law firm and/or a major international company operating in energy, infrastructure, utilities, industrial, or other regulated sectors.
• Strong understanding of regulatory and commercial legal matters.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• A pragmatic, commercially minded approach to legal problem-solving.
• Fluency in both Dutch and English.
• Residence in the Netherlands.

Desirable Experience

• Energy, utilities, infrastructure, transmission, storage, industrial, or environmental sectors.
• Regulatory and public law matters.
• Permitting, government relations, or policy engagement.
• Energy transition, sustainability, hydrogen, carbon capture, or related infrastructure projects.

Why Consider This Opportunity?
This role offers the chance to work on strategically important infrastructure assets that underpin energy security while contributing to the development of future energy solutions.

You’ll join a collaborative and highly professional environment where legal expertise plays a critical role in shaping business outcomes, influencing regulatory discussions, and supporting long-term growth initiatives.
For legal professionals seeking a position that combines commercial complexity, regulatory engagement, and meaningful impact, this is an exceptional opportunity.