ROLE DESCRIPTION
Waterland is looking for an ambitious and talented lawyer with strong legal skills, experience, and interest in M&A and private equity transactions to take on the role as Legal Counsel / Senior Legal Counsel.
As Legal Counsel / Senior Legal Counsel, you will play a key role in supporting Waterland’s investment activities across the full transaction lifecycle. This includes handling the legal aspects of acquisitions, financing, and ownership structures, MIP programs for management, corporate structuring and housekeeping as well as providing legal guidance throughout the investment period and during exit processes. Further, you will support the organization on other legal matters.
The role offers a high degree of autonomy, requiring a self-driven and commercially minded legal professional who can navigate complex transactions and corporate structures. You will be involved in the entire investment process, from acquisition and financing through governance and structuring during ownership, and finally, to preparations for and exit. You will support Waterland’s investment team by ensuring the seamless execution of transactions and establishing strong legal and regulatory frameworks for investments.
You will report directly to Nicklas Guldberg, Principal, who is also based in Copenhagen and leads Waterland’s Nordic office. You will be working from Waterland’s office in Copenhagen S.
The role requires approximately 15-25 travel days per year.
LEGAL TEAM
Waterland has a flat organizational structure, and a collaborative and dynamic work environment. You will become part of Waterland’s legal team consisting of 10 people located across various locations in Europe, including Belgium and the Netherlands. In addition to working closely with your colleagues in the legal team, you will collaborate closely with Waterland’s investment team.
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Waterland is looking for a person who by nature takes ownership and has a strong drive and commercial mindset that enables an independent and business focused support on complex transactions.
Your areas of responsibility will include:
- Handling all legal aspects of M&A processes, from the strategic and practical preparation and structuring of transactions to drafting and negotiating documentation (NDAs, SPAs, TSAs, financing documents, etc.), as well as supporting integration efforts and engaging with the investment team throughout the various phases of the M&A process.
- Advising on and managing corporate law in respect to M&A transactions as well as ongoing corporate structuring and housekeeping work.
- Establish governance frameworks (once a company has been acquired), including drafting executive instructions and structuring boards to align with Waterland’s ownership approach. Further, you will support the implementation and administration of Management Incentive Programs (MIP) in line with Waterland’s investment model etc.
- Throughout the holding period, you will play a role in ensuring that portfolio companies operate within strong legal structures across multiple jurisdictions. While day-to-day legal matters remain with the portfolio companies, you will provide guidance on significant legal and regulatory issues, supporting General Counsels or management teams as needed.
- Advise on legal matters to be addressed in preparation for a sale and ensuring a well-structured and legally sound divestment process. This includes among other legal due diligence preparation, contractual review (covering commercial agreements, financing arrangements, and regulatory obligations to identify and mitigate legal risks that could impact the sale), corporate structure optimization (assessing whether any restructuring or simplifications are needed in the portfolio company), and advice on regulatory compliance applicable to Waterland, e.g., KYC.
REPORTING AND TITLE
Reporting to: Principal, Nicklas Guldberg, who is responsible for the Nordic region.
Your title: Legal Counsel / Senior Legal Counsel.
IDEAL EXPERIENCE
Education: Master of Laws (cand.jur.) or Master of Science (MSc) in Business Administration and Commercial Law (cand.merc.jur.).
Work experience: You have 5-7 years of experience from a law firm or in-house legal position within M&A and/or private equity and corporate law, alternatively within other legal areas involving transactional work, such as real estate or financing transactions.
Drafting and negotiation skills: You have extensive experience with drafting and negotiating various legal contracts and documents, especially M&A and corporate law related documents.
International mindset: You have an international outlook and experience from working in an international environment.
Communication: You have strong communication skills and the ability to convey complex legal matters in a clear and accessible manner, ensuring effective dialogue with individuals at all levels and across different professional backgrounds.
Language skills: You have excellent written and verbal communication skills in the English language and substantial experience with legal English in relation to drafting and negotiating.
PERSONAL CAPABILITIES
Independent: You can work independently, lead a process and you thrive by taking responsibility and ownership for the legal matters you work with.
Pro-active: You are proactive with a natural inclination to take initiative and drive a process, and you work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
Result oriented: You are focused on delivering high quality legal and commercial results with the given constraints, priorities, and deadlines in mind. Further, you can maintain an overview in a fast-paced working environment without losing focus on the details.
Commercial mindset: You have a commercial mindset and the ability to develop smart legal solutions that support the main commercial drivers within the relevant legal boundaries.
Team player: You are an adaptable and positive team player who thrives in collaboration with colleagues from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds.
WATERLAND’S VALUE PROPOSITION TO YOU
Waterland provides a dynamic and informal work environment where collaboration and open dialogue are key. The company fosters a culture of direct and transparent communication at eye level, ensuring that all employees feel heard and appreciated.
With a strong emphasis on trust, flexibility, and teamwork, Waterland enables its employees to structure their work in a way that supports both professional success and work-life balance.
In addition to offering competitive compensation and excellent benefits, Waterland provides broad opportunities for growth and personal and professional development in a supportive and engaging setting.
ABOUT WATERLAND
Waterland is a leading European private equity firm specializing in accelerating the growth of successful companies through a focused buy-and-build strategy. Founded in 1999, Waterland manages more than €14 billion in investor commitments and has completed over 1,200 investments across 125 different markets. The firm is consistently ranked among the top-performing private equity firms globally, holding the No. 2 position among Large Buyout Performers in Europe and ranking as the No. 6 global PE firm in the HEC-DowJones ranking. Additionally, Waterland has been in the top 15 of the HEC-DowJones ranking for 14 years and is among the top 10 most consistent performers in buyout fund management.
Waterland is an independent investment firm, backed by a diversified base of institutional investors, including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, and financial institutions. With a lean and efficient decision-making structure, Waterland enables swift investment processes and proactive strategic support for its portfolio companies.
With a team of over 200 professionals, including 130 investment professionals, Waterland operates from 13 offices across Europe, including locations in Amsterdam (HQ), Copenhagen, London, Paris, Zurich, Munich, and Barcelona. This extensive presence allows Waterland to support its portfolio companies in expanding internationally and leveraging cross-border growth opportunities.
Waterland primarily invests in fragmented markets with high consolidation potential. Its flexible investment approach allows for varied deal sizes, ownership structures, and partnership models. While management teams remain in charge of day-to-day operations, Waterland actively supports growth initiatives, acquisitions, and international expansion to drive long-term value creation.
In the Nordics, Waterland plays a key role in bridging local businesses to broader European markets, supporting entrepreneurs with capital, expertise, and strategic guidance. Its portfolio is divided into four investment themes which are outsourcing & digitalization, ageing population, leisure & well-being and sustainability.
With a strong track record of market-led investments and value creation, Waterland continues to be a preferred partner for ambitious companies seeking to scale their operations and maximize their market potential.
For more information about Waterland, please visit www.waterlandpe.com.
APPLICATION AND CONTACT
If you believe this position is a good fit for you, we look forward to receiving your application. Please attach your CV and any relevant documentation. Should you have any questions regarding the position, please don’t hesitate to contact Camilla Krogh at (+45 51261264) or Mikkel Falkenberg at (+45 29993065) from the team at RESOLVA.
