Legal Counsel

GROUP LEGAL & COMPLIANCE COUNSEL

Be the legal authority that keeps the business confident, compliant and protected.

Lijnden | Legal & Compliance | 24 - 32 hours | Full-time

At Just Brands, we build menswear brands with character. PME Legend, Cast Iron and Vanguard each have their own voice, their own audience and their own place in the market. As we grow internationally, legal and regulatory requirements across competition law, brand protection, corporate governance and data privacy are becoming more complex and more business critical. This role exists to make sure the business can move fast and make bold decisions, while staying protected, compliant and in control.

But what really sets us apart is how we work together.

We’re a team-first business. No ego, no unnecessary layers, no endless talking, no corporate theatre. We back each other, speak up, take ownership and keep pushing for better. We work hard, stay sharp and make sure there’s room to enjoy the ride too.

That’s you. Gear up. Get in. Go!

Why this role matters

This is where legal expertise becomes real business enablement. As our Group Legal & Compliance Counsel, you are the senior professional expert and primary legal authority across the group. You act as the sparring partner to the CFO and senior leadership, translating legal complexity into clear decisions, practical frameworks and confident execution.

This is a lean expert role without direct reports. Influence comes through expertise, judgment and authority. Over time, and depending on business growth and complexity, the role may evolve into a broader function. You are not here to review from the sidelines.

You are here to set the standard, protect the brands, and help leadership make decisions they can stand behind.

What you’ll do

Build and continuously refine a scalable legal & compliance setup aligned with our operating model and international footprint

Translate risk into practical frameworks, principles and actions that work in day-to-day business decisions

Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements (wholesale, retail, eCommerce, distribution, technology/SaaS, services)

Act as the internal legal authority and hands-on advisor for teams across Finance, HR, Commercial, Supply Chain and IT

Manage external counsel and specialist advisors effectively on complex or cross-border matters

Compliance & competition law

Design and deliver training and awareness on antitrust, selective distribution and responsible commercial conduct

Monitor policies and commercial practices for compliance with Dutch and European competition law

Oversee selective distribution implementation, including retailer qualification criteria and documentation

Advise on restrictions and enforcement for non-authorized retailers and third-party marketplaces (commercially effective and competition-law compliant)

Corporate governance & housekeeping

Manage group legal structure and statutory/governance obligations across legal entities

Maintain corporate documentation (shareholder resolutions, board minutes, powers of attorney, chamber of commerce filings)

Coordinate with Finance and external counsel (including shareholder Parcom counsel) on entity management, restructurings and group changes

Support governance topics such as shareholding changes, director appointments and intercompany agreements

IP & brand protection

Manage the global trademark and IP portfolio across all Just Brands labels with external IP firms

Implement and maintain anti-counterfeiting processes (monitoring, enforcement, customs and marketplace engagement)

Safeguard brand integrity in distribution, licensing and digital presence

Employment law support

Advise HR and leadership on complex employment law matters (dismissals, disputes, settlements, disciplinary cases)

Coordinate with external employment law experts in sensitive/high-risk situations

Provide guidance on employment policies, contracts and workforce-related risks

Data protection & GDPR

Provide legal oversight on data protection and privacy practices across the organization

Work with IT and Operations (primary GDPR execution owners) to align legal requirements with systems and data flows

Review privacy policies, DPAs and consumer-facing documentation

Support DPIAs and advise on high-risk processing and new digital initiatives

Act as sparring partner to the DPO and external advisors during audits, DSARs or breaches

Insurance & claims

Own and improve the insurance portfolio (coverage review, risk exposure, renewal recommendations)

Coordinate claims handling with Finance, Operations and brokers

Establish clear internal workflows for incident reporting and claims management

What makes this role exciting

You sit at the heart of the business as the legal authority, not a back-office reviewer

You work across three strong brands with international growth ambitions

You combine strategic frameworks with hands-on contracting and real decision moments

You protect brand integrity through selective distribution, IP and marketplace enforcement

You get the autonomy to build a legal & compliance function that actually works in practice

You’ll probably love this role if you…

like being the trusted expert who brings clarity when decisions get complex

combine strong judgment with a pragmatic, business-first mindset

enjoy owning topics end-to-end rather than managing handovers

are comfortable challenging stakeholders when needed, and making the “grey area” actionable

want enterprise-level impact without needing a big team to create it

What you bring

Master’s degree in Dutch law;

Typically 7+ years of relevant experience (ideally a mix of law firm + in-house in an international commercial environment);

Strong expertise in Dutch and European law, including commercial contracting, competition law and corporate governance

Experience working across multiple jurisdictions and stakeholder groups

Fluency in Dutch and English

What Just Brands is really like

We’re team first. We challenge each other with respect, make clear decisions and take ownership of what we do. No ego. Just honest conversations, practical action and a team that enjoys building something better together.

You’ll Join a Company Where

People help each other out

Ideas and people matter more than job titles

Hard work matters, and so does enjoying the ride

If something can be better, we improve it

What you get

You step into a senior expert role with enterprise-level influence, directly supporting leadership and protecting the business as it grows. You’ll work close to decision-making, with autonomy, trust and a scope that touches almost every part of the organization.

An end-of-year bonus of one gross monthly salary;

A healthy and varied lunch every day;

Move in our own gym and take sport lessons;

Parties and drinks that will be talked about for years to come;

Extra-ordinary staff discount on our clothing.

Ready to be the legal authority behind confident decisions?

Still reading? Good sign.

If you want to combine judgment, influence and real business impact in a role where your expertise shapes outcomes, this could be your next step.

Ready to apply?