Legal Counsel

**Job Description** WHAT YOU’LL DO**
You play a key role in ensuring legal compliance and security in Region Central Europe by negotiating contracts, providing legal assessments, and supporting the Expansion team. You collaborate across departments to safeguard business activities while enabling growth. By proactively reviewing legal frameworks and supporting the Regional Legal Manager, you help align legal requirements with strategic objectives.

You will:

- Assist in legal negotiations, particularly for commercial real estate lease agreements, and review contract drafts from external lawyers and business partners.
- Ensure all lease agreements, addendums, and settlements align with internal standards, legal guidelines, and agreed commercial terms.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks through due diligence, guarantees, indemnities, and penalties.
- Provide legal guidance across departments to ensure compliance with applicable laws and support business operations.
- Monitor key contractual clauses (e.g., turnover, sublease rights, penalties) to protect company interests.
- Maintain and track contracts, powers of attorney, and internal regulations to ensure compliance and timely renewals.

**WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH**

The Expansion function drives growth by creating exceptional store experiences, ensuring high productivity, financial resilience, and a strong brand presence. We achieve this through holistic expansion strategies, powered by tech innovation and enabled by our global teams and partners. By optimizing our store portfolio, modernizing operations, and streamlining the store lifecycle, we secure sustainable and efficient growth.

As part of the team, you will work with the Expansion Manager and Lease Managers as well as C&F Managers alongside specialists in real estate, construction, and store development. You will also collaborate closely with Lease Managers, the Regional Legal Manager, and other Legal Counsels to ensure compliance and support strategic decision-making throughout the expansion process.

**WHO YOU ARE**
- We are looking for people with _
- A law degree or close to finishing law studies
- At least 3 years of professional experience as a lawyer in a law firm or legal department of a company
- Specific knowledge of contract law, commercial law, with particular emphasis on lease agreements for commercial real estate, marketing law, consumer law
- Very good command of **German** and **English** in speech and writing, including legal language
- Strong verbal, written and interpersonal skills
- And people who are_
- Passionate about retail with a strong understanding and a detail-oriented, results-driven approach.
- Strategic thinkers who react quickly to challenges and adapt seamlessly in a fast-paced environment.
- Ambitious, humble, and fast learners with a proactive and solution-focused approach.
- Highly responsible, able to work independently while fostering teamwork and collaboration.
- Excellent communicators with a straightforward and flexible attitude.

**WHO WE ARE**

H&M Group is a global company of strong fashion brands and ventures. Our goal is to prove that there is no compromise between exceptional design, affordable prices, and sustainable solutions. We want to liberate fashion for the many, and our customers are at the heart of every decision we make.

We are made up of thousands of passionate and talented colleagues united by our shared culture and values. Together, we want to use our power, our scale, and our knowledge to push the fashion industry towards a more inclusive and sustainable future.

**WHY YOU’LL LOVE WORKING HERE**
At H&M Group, we are proud to be a vibrant and welcoming company. We offer our employees attractive benefits with extensive development opportunities around the globe.
- Global Employee Discount of 25% on our products at H&M and H&M Group Brands such as ARKET, COS, H&M Home, Weekday, Monki, & Other Stories
- Corporate Benefits with special conditions on a wide range of products and services
- Holiday Pay and Christmas bonus
- Company Pension Scheme
- Employee Assistance Program with Lyra

**JOIN US**

This is a fulltime hybrid position **limited 1 year contract**, based in **Berlin or Hamburg**with the expectation of working from one of our offices for three days per week.

Our uniqueness comes from a combination of many things - our inclusive and collaborative culture, our strong values, and opportunities for growth. But most of all, it’s our people who make us who we are.
- Take the next step in your career together with us. The journey starts here._ _