Senior Legal Counsel Germany

Return is the leading European independent energy storage provider, committed to revolutionizing the energy sector. Headquartered in Amsterdam, with offices in Munich, Hamburg and Madrid, Return offers innovative, sustainable solutions to store and intelligently manage energy, ensuring power is used efficiently when and where it’s needed most. With a rapidly growing presence across Europe, with a focus on Germany, Return is at the forefront of the energy transition, integrating large-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) to support grid stability, renewable energy integration, and Europe's net-zero goals. Driven by a team of experts, Return aims to provide reliable energy storage that powers the future of clean energy.

Your Impact

AsSenior Legal Counsel Germany , you will take end-to-end leadership over the acquisition, development construction of stand-alone BESS projects across Germany. You will be part of international multi-disciplinary teams in BESS development processes, the procurement of BESS components from international suppliers and M&A transactions. Together with our policy advisors, you will stay up to date on the regulatory framework and be involved in keeping BESS on the agenda in Berlin.

You will play a critical role in setting the legal framework within which Return can and should pursue complex, high-value projects. Your authority will be essential in resolving strategic issues, shaping execution methodologies and guaranteeing transaction security to Return and its counterparts.

What you will do

• Advise on the full development and construction cycle of large-scale stand-alone BESS projects
• Be the legal lead in occasional M&A processes
• Track and advise on relevant developments in the German legal landscape. Work with our policy advisors to set the political agenda with respect to BESS
• Provide practical and strategic advice to project teams and act as the connecting joint between (business-) development, procurement, construction and sales functions
• Based in Munich, Hamburg or Amsterdam (no relocation to Amsterdam offered)

What you bring

• First and second state exams completed with above average results
• At least six years of relevant experience with a law firm serving international customers in a transactional setting
• Fluent in German and English with excellent drafting skills, capable of operating in an international environment
• Experience with infrastructure, renewable energy, public law, EPC frameworks and PPA’s is highly preferable
• Expertise in construction- or procurement contract management (FIDIC, EPC, or comparable frameworks) in managing claims, change orders and performance guarantees, highly preferable
• Natural leadership and self-initiative. Proven leadership delivering complex infrastructure or energy projects, with strong authority, process/transaction oversight and stakeholder management
• Willingness to travel across Germany and occasionally to Amsterdam

Ticking the first three boxes but maybe not all others? Do not let that put you off from applying if you can argue that you have the skills to master this position regardless.

What we offer you:

• The opportunity to lead and build the German legal function
• An exciting and challenging job in a future-oriented and dynamic company
• Collaboration in an entrepreneurial company that actively contributes to the energy transition
• An attractive workplace, entrepreneurial and committed team with flat hierarchies and steep learning curves
• Flexible working hours and home office options, laptop/telephone arrangements and performance-related compensation

We do not work with recruitment agencies or external recruiters for our hiring process. Applications should be submitted directly through our careers page.