Senior Legal Counsel IP Litigation & Advertising

HEINEKEN is hiring a Senior Legal Counsel - IP Litigation & Advertising in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

About the role

As Senior Legal Counsel - IP Litigation & Advertising, you will play a central role in defining and executing the company’s global Intellectual Property strategy, with a strong emphasis on IP litigation. You will act as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, you will lead complex, cross‑border strategy and disputes while protecting and strengthening the company’s global brand and innovation portfolio.

Your key responsibilities:

• Lead high-impact IP litigation matters (both defensive and offensive), defining and executing robust enforcement strategies to protect commercial interests worldwide.
• Manage complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes ensuring alignment with the overarching litigation strategy.
• Represent the company in court proceedings and hearings where required.
• Strengthen brand and innovation protection strategies proactively, including anti-counterfeiting initiatives and portfolio optimization.
• Negotiate and execute complex international agreements related to IP and advertising, ensuring strategic alignment and effective risk management.
• Act as a strategic business partner to Global Commerce and Global Corporate Affairs leadership, influencing decision-making at C-suite level.

What you bring:

Experience & Expertise

• University law degree with specialization in Intellectual Property.
• 12+ years of relevant experience, including IP litigation experience within a leading law firm.
• Proven track record in independently leading complex cross-border IP litigation and enforcement strategies.
• Strong experience negotiating high-stakes international IP and advertising-related agreements.
• Deep expertise in global IP portfolio management, brand protection, anti-counterfeiting, and risk mitigation.
• Extensive experience working across multiple jurisdictions and cultures.
• Strong stakeholder management capabilities, including C-suite business partnering.
• Digitally advanced, with a passion and familiarity in legal tech tools, AI applications and platforms designed to augment legal work and modern ways of working.
• Fluent in English; good understanding of Dutch; additional language (e.g., Spanish or French) is a plus.

How you work

• Strategic and forward-looking, with the ability to translate complex legal frameworks into pragmatic business solutions.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, international environment with shifting priorities.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to quickly assess legal risks and articulate them clearly.
• High integrity and credibility, acting as a trusted advisor to senior leadership.
• Excellent communicator with the ability to influence and align diverse stakeholders.
• Organized and detail-oriented, with strong change management capabilities.
• Proactive, advanced and passionate about leveraging technology to enhance efficiency and data-driven decision-making.