Legal Counsel

About Vantage Data Centers

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world’s well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America and Europe, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

Vantage is committed to being a workplace of inclusion, equity, respect and acceptance. We celebrate diversity and intentionally seek out opportunities to learn from one another’s experience.

Department

Legal

Position Overview

The Legal Counsel is responsible for providing legal advice and corporate governance assistance, primarily in support of Vantage’s Operations activity across EMEA.  The role will also assist with general commercial matters related to our Procurement (supply chain) and Site Acquisitions activity, plus compliance work, across the region.  This position involves the management, review and negotiation of a wide range of legal documents and will involve the management of external counsel in multiple countries. 

In addition to legal expertise and support, an essential part of the role is the coordination of and collaborative working with multiple internal and external stakeholders, in a number of time zones.   

Ideal candidates for this role will have both in-house and law firm experience, strong business acumen and experience in continuous improvement and driving enhancements that benefit an organisation.  The role reports to the Senior Director & Assistance General Counsel, Europe.

Essential Job Functions

• Support Vantage and be a strategic partner by providing practical, proactive, business-focused, solutions-oriented and sound legal advice that enables Vantage to achieve its business and strategic objectives whilst fully and appropriately managing legal risk.
• Provide comprehensive legal support to and collaboration with the Operations team across EMEA on all matters, including the drafting and negotiation of contracts for maintenance and reactive services, security and facilities management.
• Support other members of the EMEA Legal team and business per se in advising and negotiating on supply chain and general commercial contracts.
• Instructing and management of outside counsel, especially for legal advice related to the specific laws of various jurisdictions.
• Assisting with the evolving design and implantation of compliance matters across the region, particularly with respect to data protection and prevention of bribery.
• Helping develop and draft templates for the business, setting the business up to perform effectively whilst controlling risk.
• Be a key part of the Legal team in its delivery of high quality legal services and risk management, ensuring group-wide requirements are embedded in processes delivering Vantage’s data centre developments and operations.

Duties

• Responsible for legal work and instructing of outside counsel associated with Operations.
• Structure, review, draft and negotiate of a wide variety of documents, including maintenance and reactive services, security and facilities management contracts, vendor and OFCI contracts, amendments, NDAs and other agreements.
• Support global legal strategy for commercial contracts, including contract management and governance and maintain organisation of all Operations legal documents.
• Attend negotiations with the business and third party vendors.
• Assist with legal due diligence efforts.
• Coordinate with external counsel on regulatory and other legal requirements for operational matters across EMEA.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of laws for Operations’ and commercial contracts in multiple jurisdictions.
• Assist with preparation of standard forms and templates.
• Coordinate with the Finance team on insurance and tax requirements related to Operations activity.
• Support the Legal department in ongoing continuous improvement initiatives and standardisation of working practices across the region.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Minimum of 3+ (preferred 5+) years post qualification experience, at least some with a top law firm.
• Some inhouse experience preferred but not essential.
• Good knowledge of and experience in commercial transactions and particularly with supply chain and/ or services agreements.
• Notable experience (for this level of role) performing legal review and negotiation of commercial contracts, along with work on other related legal documents.
• Experience working in multiple jurisdictions preferred.
• Strong communication skills, including verbal and written comprehension skills. Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills and stakeholder management.
• Strong IT skills; ability to use multiple communication tools and packages. Ability to balance strategic thinking with tactical needs.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative manner.
• Ability to analyse complex business concepts and documents.
• Ability to effectively respond to sensitive issues, complex inquiries or complaints in a timely manner.
• Ability to make effective presentations.
• Flexible, adaptable and self-directed; able to work in a variety of circumstances; e.g. remotely, across multiple time zones, cross functionally, by project, etc.
• Successful candidate must be a team player, able to work with a variety of people.
• This position requires an organised individual with the capacity to handle multiple projects simultaneously, work well under pressure, and to prioritize work effort, all with minimal supervision.
• Employment Type – Full time.

Vantage Data Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer