Senior Legal Counsel – Digital Realty

Our Client

The listed company Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR) brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation and interconnections solutions. PlatformDIGITAL®, the company’s global data center platform, provides customers with a reliable foundation for scaling their digital business and efficiently managing data gravity challenges. Digital Realty enables its customers with the connected data communities that matter to them with a global data center footprint of 300+ facilities in 50+ metros across 27 countries on six continents (Americas, APAC, EMEA). Digital Realty is headquartered in Austin (Texas). The EMEA region is operated through local management teams and several staff departments mainly based in London and Hoofddorp (Amsterdam Area).

The EMEA region is supported by the EMEA Legal Team, consisting of 13 (permanent and contract) lawyers working in the fields of corporate, commercial and real estate & construction. The EMEA Legal Team is part of the Global Legal Team headed by a US-based General Counsel, consisting of approximately 45 persons. Currently there is a job opening for a senior legal counsel (0,8-1 fte) reporting to the Director Legal Real Estate / Operations EMEA.

The legal counsels in the Real Estate & Operations team are assisting and providing legal support regarding site acquisitions and dispositions as well as the development / construction process of and procurement activities related to data centers in the EMEA region. The legal team will be working in close cooperation with the local project teams across the EMEA region as well as relevant staff departments such as Tax, Finance and Accounting.

To gain an impression of one of the current (large) construction projects of Digital Realty in the Frankfurt area, please click here.

The Position

As a senior legal counsel your primary task will be assisting and overseeing the legal topics in various real estate transactions and data center-construction/procurement projects, drafting and (participating in commercially) negotiating various agreements and other relevant legal documents, primarily in the EMEA region, whilst assuring that all relevant agreements are in line with the company’s risk profile and relevant (internal) approvals.

You will provide legal support in general by advising internal clients, being first line of contact for (emerging) disputes and/or litigation matters in various jurisdictions and assisting the various departments with respect to procurement and contracting strategies, with a focus on real estate and construction related matters.

In this role you will be supporting the continuous improvement of templates/standard forms and development and improvement of policies and procedures for the Legal Department in general and the EMEA team in particular.

Furthermore, you will be responsible for the outside counsel management by making a sound judgment when to involve outside counsel and managing them and interfacing between the company’s strategy and local legal requirements.

The Profile

The successful candidate will be diligent and proactive and has demonstrated excellent legal and drafting skills, business judgment and strategic thinking skills in providing advice on negotiating and implementing various contracts related to data center/real estate transactions and construction projects in multiple jurisdictions and the ability to communicate effectively and work independently and in (international) team settings.

You will at least have:

• a masters degree in law, combined with a minimum of 8-12 years working experience as an in-house counsel within an international setting and/or within a recognized international law firm;
• experience in real estate transactions (land purchase, lease agreements and leaseholds) and high-values, fast-paced (construction) projects and/or experience with CAPEX-projects is a perquisite;
• excellent drafting, analytical and negotiating skills (English language);
• highly organized, strong attention for detail, finish-what’s-started mentality;
• ability to think out-of-the-box, good judgement of knowing when to take decisions and knowing when to consult team members and/or outside counsel;
• flexible, team player, strong communication skills, self-motivated, able to prioritize time sensitive projects in a fast-paced expansion environment;
• humor!

The Offer

The opportunity to be part of a courageous and passionate team working together to understanding and meeting the changing needs of global customers. Working with people from different business areas and from various cultural backgrounds, you will get the opportunity to challenging the way doing things and putting your ideas to action in a truly international working environment. A place where you can thrive your best selves, develop yourself and can build a rewarding and successful career with us. Hybrid work place (60% in Hoofddorp, close to the train station), possibility to work 32-36 hours, travelling now and then within Europe.