General Counsel

Company Profile

nLighten is a European platform of distributed edge data centers, designed to meet the growing demand for AI, 5G, and hybrid cloud deployments. As a rapidly expanding company, we offer scalable colocation hubs with best-in-class energy solutions across Europe. Our innovative and sustainable approach to digital infrastructure ensures reliability, efficiency, and future-ready solutions for our clients. nLighten's current footprint is 34 data centers in 7 European countries, with the ambition to grow to 100 sites during the next 3-4 years.

Learn more about us:

About the Role

We are looking for a pragmatic and business-minded General Counsel to develop and lead our in-house legal team at nLighten. This is a unique opportunity to serve as a trusted advisor to the business, providing hands-on legal guidance across corporate and commercial matters within our rapidly expanding European operations.

In this key leadership role, you will partner closely with other senior stakeholders to consider and support strategic decision-making, proactively manage legal risk across the group and lead and evolve internal legal capabilities to support our growth trajectory.

We're seeking a seasoned legal professional with significant experience in commercial contracting and corporate legal affairs and a deep understanding of the digital infrastructure or data center industry. You combine strong legal acumen with a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset, and thrive in a dynamic, high-growth environment where you can operate as part of our leadership-team, while taking individual responsibility for addressing the evolving legal challenges facing our industry in general and our group in particular and thus add tangible value to the business.

Key Responsibilities

Advisory & Strategic Leadership

• Act as a strategic legal advisor to the executive team and Board, helping to define the group's risk appetite, delivering clear, commercially focused guidance that enables business growth while managing legal risk.
• Provide oversight and direction on key business initiatives, major transactions, and cross-border projects, ensuring alignment with the group's contractual and regulatory obligations.
• Lead and coordinate legal aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investments, including due diligence, SPA negotiation, post-closing integration, and related cross-border matters in alignment with the group's growth strategy.
• Lead the engagement and supervision of external counsel on complex, high-value, or specialized legal matters.
• Drive the evolution of nLighten's legal function—enhancing internal capabilities, developing processes, and fostering a high-performing legal culture that scales with the business.
• Act as primary legal liaison with nLighten's shareholder, I Squared Capital, ensuring timely and transparent engagement on compliance, governance, and strategic initiatives.

Corporate Legal Affairs

• Oversee legal and regulatory compliance across nLighten's European entities, ensuring alignment with national and international requirements.
• Lead the development and implementation of internal governance policies and procedures, driving group-wide awareness and accountability.
• Supervise the preparation and accuracy of corporate records, regulatory filings, and legal documentation across jurisdictions.
• Provide legal oversight for Board and executive management activities, including supervision of the preparation of agendas, resolutions, and related materials.

Commercial Contracting

• Lead the strategic direction and continuous improvement of nLighten's contracting frameworks for sales, procurement, and partnerships.
• Oversee the negotiation and execution of key commercial agreements, ensuring terms are aligned with business objectives and risk appetite.
• Advise other senior stakeholders on the legal implications of strategic deals, alliances, and customer relationships.
• Champion legal enablement by supporting internal teams with training, guidance, and tools to effectively manage contract-related matters.

What We're Looking For

• Master's degree in Dutch law.

• At least 15-20 years of post-qualification legal experience, ideally a mix of private practice and in-house.

• Proven leadership skills.

• Extensive experience with commercial contracting, corporate legal affairs and regulatory compliance.

• Previous exposure to the digital infrastructure or data center industry is a strong plus.

• Fluent in English and Dutch (spoken and written).

• Strong business acumen and a pragmatic, commercial approach to problem-solving.

• Charismatic personality.

• Team player with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate across functions and cultures.

Why Join Us?

•
Strategic impact:
Be a key contributor to legal and business decisions as we expand across Europe.

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Growth opportunity:
Shape the future of our legal department and work on high-impact projects.

•
Collaborative culture:
Work alongside experienced professionals in a purpose-driven environment.

•
International exposure:
Operate across multiple European jurisdictions with diverse stakeholders.

If you have the right experience and are excited about contributing to the next evolution of edge data centers, we'd love to hear from you

Apply now
and be part of our journey toward a more connected, efficient, and sustainable digital future.

Background Check & Screening

All selected candidates will undergo a background check to ensure a safe workplace, protect company assets, and comply with regulations.

Diversity & Inclusion Statement

nLighten is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace, and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. Even if you do not meet every requirement listed, we welcome your application. We particularly encourage women and individuals from underrepresented groups to apply.