Legal Counsel

Depending on scope and business needs, the role may also support legal entity management matters, assisting with corporate secretarial administration, annual compliance obligations, documentation requests and administrative support for EMEA group subsidiaries. Working under the supervision of experienced legal counsel, the role will provide practical, timely and commercially focused support on contracts, bids, approvals and related governance activities. The position offers regional exposure and a structured opportunity to develop contracting, negotiation, legal operations and stakeholder-management skills in a global technology business.

Responsibilities

As part of the Customer Transactions EMEA team, you will:

• Support the review, drafting and negotiation of customer contracts (master agreements, statements of work, amendments, NDAs, LOIs, MOUs), including assisting on bids and tenders, preparing contract mark-ups, risk summaries, approval notes and briefing materials for legal and business stakeholders.
• Help ensure that contractual risks and applicable legal approval triggers are accurately captured in Nokia’s deal-approval processes and systems.
• Coordinate with Sales, Commercial Management, Finance, Tax, Procurement, Delivery, Product and other specialist teams to gather inputs and help progress matters efficiently.
• Support contract lifecycle activities, including handover summaries, obligation tracking, renewals and maintenance of complete records in contract-management systems.
• Assist with contract interpretation, pre-litigation issues, customer claims and disputes, escalating complex or material matters to senior counsel.
• Support flow-down of relevant customer requirements into supplier and subcontractor arrangements.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of templates, playbooks, guidance, knowledge resources and standard work processes for the regional team.
• Deliver legal research, process and project support as assigned, using approved digital and AI-assisted tools with appropriate judgment and confidentiality safeguards.
• Act consistently with Nokia’s policies, approval requirements and standards of integrity, confidentiality and responsible business conduct.

Depending on the scope assigned, and where not already covered by a dedicated team, your responsibilities may also include legal entity management and corporate secretarial support, such as:

• Maintaining accurate corporate records, statutory registers, entity data and entity management systems for EMEA subsidiaries, ensuring information remains current.
• Supporting annual compliance activities, preparing and filing routine corporate secretarial documents, and tracking filing deadlines and statutory due dates across jurisdictions.
• Coordinating with external agents, country counsel and internal stakeholders to gather information needed for filings and governance actions.
• Supporting entity lifecycle events (incorporations, liquidations, mergers, name changes, address updates) under supervision.
• Assisting with KYC/due diligence document requests relating to group entities.
• Providing general administrative support to the legal entity management/corporate secretarial team. 

Qualifications

Required:

• Qualified lawyer (or equivalent legal qualification) in Portugal or in another EMEA jurisdiction, or a contract manager with a strong legal/commercial contracting background; eligibility to work in Portugal.
• Approximately 2–7 years’ relevant post-qualification experience gained in a reputable law firm and/or an in-house legal or contract management team.
• Sound grounding in commercial and contract law, with hands-on experience reviewing and drafting commercial agreements.
• Fluent, professional-level English (written and spoken), with the ability to explain legal issues clearly and concisely to non-lawyers.
• Fluent professional proficiency in at least one additional European or MEA language beyond Portuguese and English, such as French, German, Arabic, Polish, Italian or Spanish, and/or a legal qualification obtained in an EMEA jurisdiction other than Portugal.
• Strong analytical skills and commercial judgment, with the ability to identify material issues, manage competing priorities across countries and stakeholders, and seek guidance when appropriate.
• Well organised and detail-oriented, with a collaborative approach to working across functions, cultures and time zones.
• Curious, adaptable and comfortable using digital tools and technology in a legal workflow, with genuine motivation to learn about Nokia’s business and contracting models.

It would be nice if you also had:

• Experience in telecommunications, technology or another complex B2B industry, including exposure to customer tenders or cross-border contracts spanning multiple jurisdictions.
• Familiarity with IP, data protection, cybersecurity, export controls, ethics and compliance or public-sector contracting.
• Exposure to corporate secretarial, entity management, contract lifecycle management or legal operations.
• Professional certifications relevant to contract management (e.g. equivalent to CCCM, CFCM or similar credentials).

What we offer:

• Exposure to customer transactions across a defined scope of European and/or MEA countries, tailored to your profile and language skills.
• Structured supervision, practical training and access to experienced legal and commercial professionals.
• Opportunities to build expertise in technology contracting, negotiation, legal operations and responsible use of AI.
• A collaborative, inclusive and internationally connected working environment.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements based in Amadora, Portugal, in accordance with Nokia policy. 

Advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world.

Nokia is a global leader in connectivity for the AI era. With expertise across fixed, mobile and transport networks, powered by the innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we’re advancing connectivity to secure a brighter world. 

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Our recruitment process

We act inclusively and respect the uniqueness of people. Our employment decisions are made regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to a culture of inclusion built upon our core value of respect.

If you’re interested in this role but don’t meet every listed requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences enrich our teams, and you may be just the right candidate for this or another opportunity.

The length of the recruitment process may vary depending on the specific role's requirements. We strive to ensure a smooth and inclusive experience for all candidates. Discover more about the recruitment process at Nokia.