(Part-Time) Legal Counsel - Commercial Contracts (EMEA)

This role is part of our Legal Team at DEPT®, a group of collaborative, pragmatic and business-focused legal professionals that will feel like friends in no time. You will collaborate with stakeholders that will challenge and inspire you, in the environment of a leading international agency with the energy of a dynamic local team. We trust and value creative freedom and autonomy. 

As Legal Counsel – Commercial Contract (EMEA), you will support DEPT®’s business across EMEA, with a focus on drafting, reviewing and negotiating a broad range of commercial agreements. 

As we currently do not have German language capabilities within the Legal Team, strong German language skills (written and spoken) are essential. You will support German-speaking stakeholders and handle German language contracts and negotiations where required. 

You will act as a pragmatic business partner, balancing legal risk with commercial objectives. 

• →Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts, including client service agreements (e.g. MSAs, SOWs, SLAs), supplier contracts, and licensing agreements (IP, AI, software, cloud and technology-related agreements)
• →Provide clear, pragmatic legal advice to business stakeholders across EMEA on commercial law matters
• →Act as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders, helping them navigate legal risks in a fast-paced environment
• →Support the development and improvement of contract templates, policies, playbooks and legal workflows
• →Deliver legal training to business teams on key legal topics (e.g. contracting, risk, AI, data)
• →Partner with business and operational teams to identify and mitigate legal risks while achieving commercial objectives
• →Stay informed about relevant developments in law and industry-specific regulations in the EMEA region, including GDPR, IP, digital services, AI and other technology-related legal developments
• →Collaborate closely with the wider global Legal Team to ensure consistency and knowledge sharing across all regions

• Fully qualified lawyer (preferably NL, Germany or another European jurisdiction) or equivalent in-house experience 
• 3-5 years’ experience in commercial and contract law at a law firm and/or in-house role
• Fluent German (written and spoken) and fluent English required
• Familiarity with German and Swiss law is a plus 
• Experience in (digital) marketing, advertising and/or technology services is preferred
• Experience in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts in a services-based environment is a plus
• Working knowledge of key regulatory frameworks relevant to digital marketing and technology services, including GDPR, the EU AI Act, and preferably advertising/marketing regulations applicable in the DACH region

• Pragmatic, business-oriented mindset with the ability to balance legal risk and commercial needs
• Comfortable making risk-based decisions in an in-house environment 
• Able to work independently while collaborating effectively within an international Legal Team
• Exceptional analytical skills and attention to detail
• Confident communicator who can advise non-legal stakeholders clearly, practically and commercially
• A proactive team player who thrives in a fast-paced, international environment and embraces a dynamic, evolving business landscape

At DEPT®, we take pride in creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. We actively seek to recruit, develop, nurture, and retain talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying skills and perspectives.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Apply, and let us decide! Research shows that women and members of underrepresented groups tend not to apply for jobs when they think they may not meet every requirement, when in fact they do. We believe in giving everyone a fair chance to shine.

We also encourage you to reach out to us and discuss any reasonable adjustments we can make to support you throughout the recruitment process and your time with us.

Want to know more about our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion? Check out our efforts here.