Legal Counsel - Germany

About VIRTUS

VIRTUS Data Centres is a trusted provider of critical digital infrastructure across the UK and Europe. With a strong UK foundation and a rapidly expanding European presence, we design, build, own, and operate resilient, secure, and energy-efficient data centres for some of the world’s leading organisations.

Established in the UK, VIRTUS has built a market-leading portfolio across London’s key availability zones and continues to invest significantly in the domestic market. Building on this success, we expanded into continental Europe in 2023, launching our first campuses in Berlin and accelerating growth across strategic European locations through 2026 and beyond.

Our ambition is to play a key role in enabling the next generation of digital infrastructure, delivering sustainable and innovative solutions while living our core values of Care, Helpful, Pride, Reliability, and Dedication.

Job Summary

We are seeking a talented and motivated lawyer to join our Germany team. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in supporting ongoing data centre development projects, with a strong focus on real estate and construction matters, instructing local counsel and assisting and working with the Senior Legal Counsel (Construction and Projects), and the design and construction, operations and procurement teams in Germany and the UK. The role will also be required to provide general commercial and strategic support to the Germany team, contributing as a key and collaborative team member.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Support data centre development projects with a strong focus on real estate and construction matters.

• Instruct and manage local counsel to ensure compliance and effective legal representation in Germany.

• Collaborate with the Senior Legal Counsel (Construction and Projects) in the UK and work closely with design, construction, operations, and procurement teams.

• Assist in the drafting, review, and negotiating of contracts, including:

o Construction contracts

o Design contracts

o Planning contracts

o M&E procurement and installation contracts

• Ensure contract terms align with company standards and industry regulations.

• Provide general commercial and strategic legal support to the Germany team.

• Advise on property acquisition and licence agreements (Gestattungsverträge), including granting easements.

• Identify and mitigate legal risks across development projects and operational activities.

• Stay updated on relevant laws and regulations, including zoning, building codes, environmental and safety standards.

• Provide initial advice on disputes related to construction projects, including litigation, arbitration, and mediation, and collaborate with external counsel as needed.

• Assess legal issues and determine appropriate actions or escalation, even outside core expertise.

• Contribute as a collaborative team member, fostering strong relationships across legal and business teams.

Person Specification

• Qualified experience: Minimum of 4 years’ experience in German real estate and construction law, including involvement in large-scale real estate and construction projects. Must have achieved at least a befriedigend (satisfactory) score in legal examinations.

• Contract expertise: Ability to draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts, including construction, design, planning, and M&E procurement and installation agreements, ensuring terms are commercially and legally compliant with company standards and industry regulations.

• In-house experience: Previous experience working in an in-house legal environment is desirable but not essential.

• Property and licensing knowledge: Understanding of property acquisition processes and licence agreements (Gestattungsverträge), including granting easements.

• Broad legal knowledge: Strong general legal knowledge to provide preliminary advice across a wide spectrum of issues.

• Analytical and decision-making skills: Ability to assess legal issues, determine appropriate actions, and escalate where necessary, even outside areas of core expertise.

• Instruct and manage external legal counsel: Ability to draft instructions to external legal counsel, obtain quotes, and manage them on projects through to completion.

In line with VIRTUS’ Vetting Policy, the successful applicant must be willing to undergo a BS7858 screening process.

VIRTUS is an equal opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to fight for equality, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to an inclusive work environment.

We reserve the right to close this post for applications should sufficient applications be received.

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VIRTUS Data Centres does not accept unsolicited support from search firms for employment openings. CVs/resumes submitted by search firms to any VIRTUS employee without an active, written search agreement for a specified role will become the property of VIRTUS. No fees will be paid for candidates hired from agency submissions made without such an agreement. Existing agency partnerships must adhere to position-specific terms outlined in their agreements. Please refrain from calling or emailing regarding this matter.