The posting
As Legal Counsel, you will be the main legal contact for OnZero and work closely with our CEO and CFO, leadership team and colleagues across the business.
You will be involved whenever important contracts are negotiated, new partnerships are formed, corporate decisions are prepared or legal risks need to be assessed. Your role is not simply to explain what is legally possible. We are looking for someone who understands the commercial objective, identifies the real risks and helps the business find a practical way forward.
On a typical matter, you may draft and negotiate the agreement yourself, discuss the commercial details with the responsible team, advise management on the available options and coordinate an external law firm where specialist support is needed. You will take ownership of legal topics from the first question through to the final signature and implementation.
Because OnZero operates internationally and is continuing to grow, the legal topics will be broad. They will include corporate law, commercial contracts, governance, compliance, financing and cross-border projects. You should therefore be comfortable working independently, making clear recommendations and dealing with matters that do not always come with a ready-made process.
As the company grows, the role can develop into a General Counsel position with wider responsibility for legal strategy, governance, compliance and the future legal team.
Responsibilities and Duties:
- Act as a trusted legal advisor to the CEO and CFO, leadership team, shareholders and other senior stakeholders on strategic and business-critical decisions.
- Take ownership of general corporate law matters across the OnZero group, including corporate housekeeping, shareholder resolutions, management decisions, powers of attorney, group structures and corporate governance.
- Draft, review and negotiate complex commercial agreements in German and English, including customer agreements, supplier and procurement contracts, technology and IT agreements, service agreements, cooperation agreements, confidentiality agreements and other strategic contracts.
- Provide practical legal support for OnZero’s physical AI data center business, infrastructure projects, customer relationships and international expansion activities.
- Support corporate transactions such as financing rounds, investments, restructurings, joint ventures, acquisitions, disposals and other M&A related matters.
- Conduct and coordinate legal due diligence processes and ensure that identified risks are clearly communicated to the relevant decision-makers.
- Advise management on legal risks, liability matters and corporate governance while developing solutions that are legally sound and commercially realistic.
- Establish and continuously improve contract templates, internal approval processes, signing authorities, legal policies and contract-management standards.
- Coordinate legal matters across Austria and OnZero’s international markets, working closely with local management, external advisors and specialist law firms. Select, instruct and manage external legal counsel, including defining the scope of work, monitoring quality, controlling costs and ensuring that external advice remains commercially relevant.
- Support the development and implementation of the company’s compliance framework in cooperation with management and the relevant internal functions.
- Advise or coordinate external advice on related matters such as employment law, data protection, competition law, regulatory questions and dispute resolution.
- Manage potential disputes and pre-litigation matters and coordinate external counsel in connection with court proceedings, administrative proceedings or major claims.
- Monitor relevant legal and regulatory developments and assess their potential impact on OnZero’s business and expansion plans.
- Help build the internal legal function as the company grows and support, mentor and develop future junior legal team members.
Requirements
Essential
- Successfully passed the Austrian bar exam (Rechtsanwaltsprüfung) or hold an equivalent professional bar qualification from another EU/EEA jurisdiction.
- A completed law degree from an Austrian university or an equivalent law degree or legal qualification from another EU/EEA jurisdiction.
- At least six years of relevant professional legal experience, including at least three years in a reputable commercial or business law firm.
- Strong knowledge of (Austrian) corporate law, commercial law, contract law and corporate governance.
- Proven experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex commercial agreements independently.
- Experience advising companies, management teams or corporate clients on business-critical legal matters.
- The ability to understand commercial models, financial implications and operational realities, rather than considering legal questions in isolation.
- A pragmatic and solution-oriented approach. You can explain complex legal risks clearly and provide management with realistic options and recommendations.
- German and English at C1 level or higher, both written and spoken. You must be able to draft, negotiate and provide legal advice confidently in both languages.
- Strong ownership, drive and the willingness to take responsibility for matters from initial assessment through negotiation and implementation.
- Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder-management skills.
- The ability to work independently, prioritize competing matters and make sound legal judgments in a fast-moving international environment.
- A high level of integrity, discretion and professional reliability.
Strong Advantage
- Previous in-house experience as Legal Counsel, Senior Legal Counsel or in a comparable corporate legal position.
- Experience in technology, AI infrastructure, data centers, energy, industrial projects, construction, engineering or another project-driven international business.
- Experience with M&A transactions, corporate financing, investment rounds, joint ventures, restructurings or legal due diligence.
- Experience advising on cross-border matters and coordinating legal work across several jurisdictions.
- Experience working with companies or external advisors in Finland, Sweden, Germany or other Nordic and European markets.
- Experience establishing legal processes, contract templates, governance structures or an internal legal function.
- Experience managing external law firms and controlling external legal expenditure.
- Additional exposure to employment law, data protection, competition law, regulatory law or compliance.
Benefits
- For this full-time position, we offer a minimum annual gross salary of EUR 100,000. The actual compensation package will be based on the candidate’s professional experience, qualifications and overall fit for the position. We are prepared to offer a higher salary for an exceptionally qualified candidate.
- Lunch Allowance: Enjoy a monthly restaurant allowance of €160 via Edenred to treat yourself to delicious dining experiences.
- Gym membership: Stay fit and healthy with a gym membership at John Harris Hauptbahnhof.
- Creative work environment: Join a team that encourages creativity and innovation. You'll have the freedom to explore new ideas and approaches while contributing to the success of our global business.
- Modern office: You will work in a beautiful designer office located right next to Vienna Central Station, providing a pleasant and inspiring atmosphere for your daily tasks.
