Director Legal M&A

Job Description

Director Legal M&A

Location:
Antwerp HQ Office At Sibelco, we advance life through materials. For over 150 years, we’ve been a trusted leader in sourcing, transforming, and distributing specialty industrial minerals. Our work powers progress across industries as diverse as glass, ceramics, construction, coatings, polymers, and water purification. Beyond our materials, we’re proud of our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and empowering people from all walks of life to thrive and make a meaningful impact. Are We the Perfect Match? At Sibelco, we believe building a successful career is a two-way journey. We’re looking for individuals who share our values and vision, just as much as you’re seeking a company that aligns with your aspirations. Together, we can shape the future.

Job Description
Director Legal M&A

Location:
Antwerp – flexibility available, including hybrid or remote working, with travel to Antwerp and other locations as required. Travel: Approximately up to 15%, depending on transaction activity and location. Reports to: Chief Legal Officer Contract: Permanent | Full-time Responsibilities

Lead the legal workstream for international M&A transactions, including acquisitions, divestments, joint ventures, minority investments and carve-outs, from inception through closing and post-closing implementation. Advise on transaction structure, sequencing, governance and execution strategy, identifying material legal risks and recommending pragmatic solutions. Lead legal due diligence, prioritizing material issues and translating findings into clear, commercially focused recommendations. Ensure legal risks are appropriately addressed through transaction structure, contractual protections, conditions, covenants, warranties, indemnities, insurance or other appropriate mechanisms. Draft, review and negotiate complex transaction documentation, including confidentiality and exclusivity agreements, term sheets, share and asset purchase agreements, shareholders’ and joint venture agreements, investment agreements and related ancillary documentation. Lead negotiations with counterparties and advisers, balancing robust legal protection with commercial objectives and execution certainty. Manage signing, closing, conditions precedent and relevant post-closing obligations, including claims and purchase price adjustment matters where applicable. Act as a lead legal adviser on strategic partnerships, business alliances, technology collaborations, joint ventures, minority investments and other business development initiatives. Support selected Corporate Finance and Treasury projects, including debt financing, refinancing, facilities, guarantees, security arrangements, intercompany funding structures and related corporate approvals. Coordinate legal input on merger control, foreign investment screening and other transaction-specific regulatory requirements, working with relevant specialists and external counsel. Support internal governance and approval processes, including materials and legal input for senior leadership, the Executive Committee, Board of Directors and relevant Board committees where applicable. Coordinate internal legal resources, regional Legal+ teams, external counsel and specialist advisers, ensuring effective delivery against project timelines and appropriate management of legal budgets. Support the legal aspects of post-acquisition integration, divestment separation, transition arrangements, governance implementation, and legal entity restructuring. Contribute to the development of transaction templates, checklists, playbooks and best practices, helping strengthen and continuously improve M&A legal practices across the Group. About You

You are an experienced M&A lawyer who combines deep legal expertise with strong commercial judgement and a pragmatic, business-oriented mindset. Master's degree in law and qualification to practice law in a relevant jurisdiction. 8–10+ years of relevant post-qualification experience in corporate law, M&A and complex cross-border transactions. Experience gained in a leading international law firm, a multinational company, or a combination of both. Demonstrated experience leading M&A transaction workstreams and negotiating complex agreements across multiple jurisdictions. Deep knowledge of acquisitions, divestments, joint ventures, strategic investments, corporate restructurings, company law and transaction governance. Strong ability to scope and lead legal due diligence, identify material issues, assess legal exposure and develop appropriate contractual and structural protections. Advanced ability to draft and negotiate complex transaction, corporate development and financing documentation in English. Exposure to corporate finance, restructuring, and post-closing implementation is an advantage. Working knowledge of debt financing, guarantees, security, intercompany funding, capital management and related corporate approval