People & Reward Associate

About the role

Freshfields is looking for an ambitious mid-level associate to join its Brussels People and Reward practice. The role advises global employers on Belgian and international employment, pensions, benefits and data privacy issues. The firm's People and Reward practice has teams spread across Asia, Europe and the US.

Key responsibilities

• Advise international and domestic clients on Belgian and cross-border employment matters
• Manage and coordinate multi-jurisdictional employment law projects across the global network
• Handle transactional work such as due diligence, drafting documentation and advising on employment issues arising from corporate transactions (transfer of undertaking, pensions, information and consultation)
• Advise on executive remuneration, senior appointments, departures and severance packages
• Structure and implement employee stock option plans, equity incentives and benefit schemes
• Guide clients on collective consultations, restructuring projects and European Works Councils
• Advise on the modern workplace, including flexible work policies, digitalisation and internal investigations
• Handle HR-related data privacy issues, GDPR compliance and workplace data incidents
• Take part in business development, client pitches and know-how development

Required profile

• Lawyer with 2 to 5 years of relevant experience, preferably in the employment practice of a leading law firm
• Belgian law degree with excellent academic records; a post-graduate degree in employment, labour or social law is an asset
• Fluent in English and Dutch, with a good command of French
• Creative, curious and rigorous, with excellent communication skills, autonomy and proactivity

Required skills

• Belgian employment law
• GDPR compliance
• Comfort with, or eagerness to use, modern legal technology and AI tools

What we offer

• Work on a wide variety of challenging projects with the People & Reward partner
• Close cooperation with Global M&A, Capital, Tax, Dispute Resolution, Antitrust and regulatory teams in Brussels and across other offices
• A structured network sharing new legal developments quickly
• Regular international technical and personal skills training