Senior Legal Counsel EMEA

At Corbion, we exist to champion preservation in all its forms, preserving food and food production, health, and our planet.

Corbion is a global market leader in sustainable ingredient solutions, driven by innovation, science, and a clear purpose: preserving what matters. Our Legal Team plays a critical role in enabling Corbion’s long‑term strategy by acting as trusted business partners, safeguarding integrity, and translating legal complexity into practical, commercially sound solutions.

About the job

In this role as Senior Legal Counsel EMEA, you will be a key legal business partner to Corbion’s EMEA businesses and functions. You will operate at a senior level, advising management on complex commercial, regulatory, and strategic matters while proactively identifying and mitigating legal risk. You will work closely with regional and global stakeholders and contribute to the further development of Corbion’s legal function as a high‑performing, business‑oriented team.

This role is ideal for a seasoned in‑house lawyer who combines deep legal expertise with strong commercial acumen, enjoys working in an international matrix organization, and thrives in a purpose‑driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the senior legal advisor for EMEA management teams, providing pragmatic, solution‑oriented advice aligned with Corbion’s strategy and values.
• Anticipate legal and compliance risks at an early stage and proactively support business decision‑making.
• Translate legal considerations into clear, actionable guidance for senior stakeholders.
• Lead the negotiation and drafting of complex commercial agreements, including customer and supplier contracts, strategic partnerships, joint development agreements, licensing arrangements, and R&D collaborations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable international and national laws, as well as Corbion internal policies and Code of Business Conduct.
• Support dispute resolution and claims management, aiming for efficient and commercially sensible outcomes.
• Contribute to legal and compliance risk assessments and mitigation strategies across the region.
• Work closely with the Compliance and IP colleagues in the Legal Team and other functions globally, sharing best practices and contributing to continuous improvement.
• Coach and mentor junior legal colleagues and contribute to the professional development of the wider Legal Team.
• Deliver legal training and awareness sessions to the business to strengthen legal literacy and risk awareness.

Your Profile

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree in Law (LLM or equivalent) from a Dutch university.
• 12+ years of relevant legal experience in a law firm as well as in-house.
• Broad experience in commercial contracting within an international, regulated, or technology‑driven environment.
• Experience in managing external lawyers and law firms.
• Experience with international business relationships.
• Experience in M&A and venture capital/financing transactions.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance legal risks and commercial opportunity.
• Proactive business partner with a focus on the customer.
• Proven capability to operate effectively across cultures, jurisdictions, and seniority levels.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills; able to challenge constructively and build trust.
• Fluent in English; additional European languages are a plus.
• Team player and self-starter.
• Flexibility and willingness to work on a broad variety of legal matters.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly, concisely, confidentially and professionally with all levels in the company.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Dutch and English.
• A minimum of 32 hours per week availability is required.