Head of Legal - Ghent

Our client is a fast-growing professional services group bringing together a network of local accountancy and advisory firms across Belgium and internationally. With roots dating back to 2010, the group has developed an ambitious buy-and-build strategy, continuously expanding its network through acquisitions and partnerships with established accountancy firms.Its service offering covers accounting, tax, audit, legal, advisory, M&A and CFO services, supporting SMEs, entrepreneurs, start-ups and self-employed professionals.

Operating through a decentralised structure, the group combines the expertise and proximity of local firms with the resources, knowledge and infrastructure of a larger international organisation. The organisation is currently undergoing an important phase of growth, integration and professionalisation, creating the need to further develop its central support functions.

Jobomschrijving

As Head of Legal, you will have the opportunity to build and structure the legal function from scratch. Acting as the group's main legal point of contact, you will work closely with the CFO, management and local business teams across Belgium.Your responsibilities will include: Corporate Law & Corporate Governance:

Oversee the group's corporate housekeeping, including company incorporations, mergers, liquidations, board changes, amendments to articles of association, shareholders' meetings, UBO registrations and statutory obligations.

M&A & Shareholder Matters

Provide legal support for the group's acquisition strategy, manage shareholder and partnership agreements, oversee partner entries and exits, capital increases, equity arrangements, warrants and shareholding structures.

Commercial Contracts & Real Estate

Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including supplier contracts, SLAs, lease agreements and other business-related contracts.

Legal Advisory & Risk Management

Act as the primary legal advisor to management and internal stakeholders, identify and assess legal risks and coordinate external legal counsel when required.

Building the Legal Function

Establish internal legal processes, standardise documentation, develop templates and procedures, structure legal administration and ensure compliance with applicable legal obligations and deadlines.

Stakeholder Management

Collaborate with local accountancy firms and central management teams, ensuring consistent legal practices across the group while taking into account the operational realities of individual entities. This is a highly autonomous position combining strategic involvement with direct operational execution. You will be expected to handle a significant part of the legal workload yourself while progressively building the structures and processes needed to support the group's continued expansion.

Hold a Master's degree in Law. Have solid professional experience in Belgian corporate law, ideally gained within a law firm, a corporate environment or a professional services organisation. Demonstrate strong expertise in company law, corporate governance, shareholder structures and commercial contracts.

Have exposure to M&A transactions, acquisitions, shareholder agreements and corporate restructuring. Be comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels, with the ability to independently manage legal matters from start to finish. Demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset and enjoy building processes, structures and a function from the ground up.

Be flexible, pragmatic and adaptable, thriving in a dynamic environment where priorities and projects can evolve quickly. Be digitally minded, organised and comfortable working in an organisation undergoing significant transformation. Have excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Be fluent in both Dutch and French.