Head of General Counsel

Europcar Mobility Group

At Europcar Mobility Group our purpose is to help to change the way you move. We are guided by our core values: We are happy to help We embrace change We take responsibility We act with respect and We move as one. Our culture is built on valuing the contribution and diversity of our team where every individual is treated with dignity and respect. Acting with respect is at the heart of everything we do and we are fully committed to creating a workplace where differences are celebrated and everyone feels empowered to contribute their unique perspectives.

Job Description

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Legal Strategy & Business Partnership

• Act as the primary trusted legal adviser to Iberian senior management and all operational departments including Finance Operations Fleet Customer Service HR and Commercial.
• Provide proactive risk-calibrated legal guidance that supports business objectives while protecting the Companys interests.
• Anticipate legal risks arising from business operations market developments and regulatory changes; recommend and implement preventive legal frameworks.
• Support senior management in strategic decisions including business development partnerships and corporate restructuring.
• Align Iberian legal strategy with Group-level directives while adapting to the specific legal environment of Spain and Portugal.

2. Compliance Data Protection & Consumer Law

• Design implement and maintain a robust compliance programme for the Iberian perimeter aligned with Group Compliance standards and applicable Spanish and Portuguese legislation.
• Manage all matters relating to GDPR / RGPD and the LOPDGDD acting as Local DPO or coordinating with the Group DPO; handle data subject rights requests supervisory authority interactions (AEPD / CNPD) data processing agreements and GDPR-related internal procedures.
• Manage consumer protection compliance across both brands including coordination with consumer associations OMIC and relevant regulatory bodies in Spain and Portugal.
• Ensure compliance with sector-specific regulations governing vehicle rental including concession terms at airports and railway stations ITV obligations insurance requirements and fleet-related regulatory frameworks.
• Oversee the Ethics and Compliance function locally including management of the Canal Ético (whistleblowing channel) in accordance with Group policy and Ley 2/2023.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments in Spain and Portugal relevant to the Groups activities; assess impact and advise accordingly.

3. Litigation & Dispute Resolution

• Manage all civil criminal administrative and regulatory proceedings involving Europcar and Goldcar entities in the Iberian perimeter including coordination with external law firms.
• Supervise the preparation of legal submissions and pleadings; maintain oversight of litigation strategy timelines and exposure assessments.
• Manage pre-litigation disputes including consumer complaints insurance claims and counterparty demands in coordination with relevant operational areas.
• Maintain an up-to-date litigation register; provide regular reporting on exposure provisions and case status to the CFO and Group General Counsel.

4. Commercial Contracts & Public Procurement

• Provide legal advice on all material contracts including fleet acquisition and financing agreements concession contracts with airport operators (AENA ANA private operators) and railway station operators (Adif IP) commercial agreements with travel agencies brokers and corporates supplier and technology contracts and insurance policies.
• Lead or support legal aspects of tender processes and public procurement including preparation review and submission of bids for airport and railway station concessions in Spain and Portugal for both Europcar and Goldcar brands.
• Review and advise on the Companys standard terms and conditions (B2C and B2B) ensuring alignment with consumer protection legislation and sector-specific regulations.
• Advise on negotiations with counterparties; coordinate contract management with internal stakeholders to ensure legal review and sign-off on significant commitments.

5. Corporate Governance & Secretariat

• Manage corporate housekeeping for Iberian legal entities including board minutes shareholder resolutions powers of attorney notarial acts and registry filings in Spain and Portugal.
• Act as or support the Company Secretary function for relevant Iberian entities.
• Ensure proper maintenance of corporate records and statutory registers; liaise with notaries the Registro Mercantil and public registries as required.

6. Team Leadership & External Counsel Management

• Lead develop and support one Legal Specialist Iberia ensuring effective coverage of day-to-day legal needs and appropriate prioritisation of workload.
• Select instruct and manage external law firms for specialist matters (litigation employment regulatory real estate etc.) ensuring quality cost-efficiency and alignment with legal strategy.
• Foster legal awareness across the business; deliver training and guidance to internal stakeholders on relevant legal topics.
• Specific focus on expertise and experience in the management of external law firms in Portugal

7. Group Interface & International Coordination

• Serve as the primary legal contact between the Iberian business and the Group General Counsels office; ensure timely reporting and escalation of material legal matters.
• Implement Group legal policies and guidelines within the Iberian perimeter including in the areas of data protection competition law anti-corruption and contract standards.
• Cooperate with legal counterparts in other Group jurisdictions on cross-border matters and shared projects.
• Support the adaptation of Group-level legal frameworks and governance standards into Iberian operations as corporate integration progresses.

REQUIRED PROFILE

Academic Qualifications

• Law degree required.
• Masters degree in Business Law EU Law or an MBA strongly preferred.
• Bar admission (Colegio de Abogados) required.
• Additional qualifications in Data Protection (CIPP/E CIPM or equivalent) or Compliance (ICA CAMS or equivalent) valued.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 10-15 years of legal experience combining private practice (leading law firm) and/or in-house roles in a complex multi-jurisdictional business environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in at least three of the following: commercial contracts and public procurement / concessions; GDPR and consumer law; regulatory compliance and ethics; corporate governance; dispute resolution and litigation management; fleet mobility logistics or transport-sector legal work.
• Track record of managing external counsel controlling legal spend and reporting to senior management on legal risk.
• Prior experience as a Head of Legal or equivalent senior in-house role in an international company highly valued.
• Experience in the vehicle rental mobility travel hospitality or regulated consumer services sectors a strong plus.
• Familiarity with public tender processes and airport or railway concession frameworks in Spain and/or Portugal a strong plus.

Technical & Legal Knowledge

• Deep knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese commercial corporate and contract law.
• Strong command of GDPR / RGPD and the LOPDGDD including current AEPD / CNPD enforcement practice.
• Solid understanding of consumer protection law in Spain and Portugal including sector-specific regulations applicable to vehicle rental.
• Working knowledge of Spanish public procurement law (Ley 9/2017 LCSP) and concession frameworks applicable to transport infrastructure.
• Familiarity with criminal compliance frameworks (Art. 31bis Codigo Penal) and whistleblowing legislation (Ley 2/2023).
• Proficiency with legal databases (Westlaw Aranzadi etc.) and standard legal management tools.

Languages

• Spanish native or full professional proficiency (C2).
• English full professional proficiency (C1 minimum); primary language for Group-level communication and documentation.
• Portuguese professional working proficiency strongly valued given direct responsibility for Portuguese operations.

Competencies & Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen; provides pragmatic business-oriented advice beyond purely technical legal analysis.
• High degree of autonomy and personal accountability; able to lead the legal function with limited resources and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills; credible with senior management Group functions and external parties.
• Strong leadership and people management skills; committed to developing the team and building legal awareness across the organisation.
• Resilient solutions-focused and comfortable operating in an environment of organisational change and complexity.
• Highest standards of professional ethics integrity and confidentiality.
• Ability to identify quantify and communicate legal and regulatory risk clearly to non-legal audiences including C-level stakeholders and Group governance bodies.

We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds experiences and abilities regardless of race ethnicity gender reassignment nationality sexual orientation age disability status religion or any other dimension of diversity. We are dedicated to building a team that reflects the communities we serve and fostering an environment of equity and inclusion where respect for one another is essential. If you need any accommodations or assistance during the application or interview process please let us know. Together through mutual respect we can create a more equitable and inclusive future.

Europcar Mobility Group is a global mobility player with 75 years of mobility services expertise and a leading position in Europe. We help to change the way you move is what we stand for and brings us together.

We offer to individuals and businesses a wide range of car and van rental services be it for a few hours a few days a week a month or more on-demand or on subscription relying on a fleet of more than 250.000 vehicles equipped with the latest engines including an increasing share of electric vehicles.

Our brands address differentiated needs use cases and expectations: Europcar - a global leader of car rental and light commercial vehicle rental with a premium positioning Goldcar - a frontrunner at providing low-cost car rental services in Europe and Fox-Rent-A-Car one of the main players in the car rental market in the US with a value for money positioning.

Customers satisfaction is at the heart of the Groups ambition and that of our more than 8000 employees everywhere we deliver our mobility solutions thanks to a strong network in over 130 countries.

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