Legal Counsel Amsterdam • Optiver

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Are you a Dutch qualified, proactive and all-round lawyer with a strong background in commercial contracting and experience with cross-border project work and other types of legal work within an in house team? Do you enjoy working cross-functionally to deliver pragmatic, business-focused legal advice? Are you someone who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and sees in-house legal work as an opportunity to solve problems and enable strategic outcomes?

If you’re keen to advise on a vast range of complex legal matters in our dynamic Amsterdam office, then you could be the Legal Counsel we’re looking for. As the team is split between the UK and the Netherlands, you will be based in Amsterdam but will work alongside colleagues based in London.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Optiver’s European legal team advises the business on the full spectrum of legal issues affecting a tech driven, regulated trading business related to our proprietary trading activities and supporting services entity. By balancing legal risk with businesspriorities, the team plays a critical role in enabling informed decision-making across the organisation.

As a key member of the legal team, you will report directly to the head of the team and work on various legal matters for the different entities within Optiver Europe. This includes negotiating a wide range of commercial contracts, technology, data and IP matters, corporate affairs and supporting strategic cross-border projects. You will work closely with (transatlantic) teams such as Technology, Market Data, Procurement and Facilities and collaborate with legal counterparts globally to drive consistency and share best practices across regions.

No two days are the same, one day, you might negotiate a global SaaS agreement for the Optiver Group or advise on supplier terms for critical infrastructure for our trading entity; another, you could lead a strategic project with both corporate and trading implications.

No matter the topic or task at hand, you'll be expected to remain flexible and eager to continuously expand your knowledge in relevant fields, including regulatory matters, financial and employment law and corporate housekeeping. You’ll also collaborate with your team and management to proactively deliver solutions. If you enjoy tackling fresh and stimulating challenges every day, Optiver is the place for you.

WHO YOU ARE

• Academic degree in Dutch Law.
• At least 5 years of relevant working experience, in house or at a law firm, ideally with significant experience working with regulated financial services clients or working within a regulated business.
• You have demonstrated experience as a commercial lawyer with excellent contract drafting and negotiation skills.
• Experience working with trading or on cross-border projects and transactional work are highly desirable.
• Other legal skills in other domains would be valuable if present, but not required, e.g., intellectual property, data protection, employment, financial regulation, litigation etc.
• A flexible, pragmatic, proactive, assertive and results-driven professional with an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Strong ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical business solutions.
• Ability to apply legal principles pragmatically in a commercial context.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in Dutch & English.
• A team player with a good sense of humour.

WHO WE ARE

At Optiver, our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilizing force no matter the market conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we participate in the safeguarding of healthy and efficient markets for everyone who participates. We tackle the toughest problems, challenge the status quo, and always aim for excellence. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 70+ exchanges across the globe.

WHAT YOU’LL GET

You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, where you’ll be surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, working collectively to tackle the toughest problems in the financial markets.

In addition, you’ll receive:

• A performance-based bonus structure, enabling all of our employees to benefit from our global profit pool.

• The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 50 different countries.

• 25 paid vacation days in your first year, increasing to 30 from your second year onwards.

• Training opportunities, discounts on health insurance, and fully paid first-class commuting expenses.

• Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and dinner, world-class barista coffee, in-house physio and chair massages, organized sports and leisure activities, and Friday afternoon drinks.

• Training and continuous learning opportunities, including access to conferences and tech events.

• Competitive relocation packages and visa sponsorship where necessary for expats.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply directly via the form below. If you have any questions feel free to contact our Recruitment team via .

Please note:

• We do not require any assistance from third-parties including agencies in the recruitment of this role

• We cannot accept applications via email’

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Optiver is committed to diversity and inclusion.