Rechtsanwalt/Legal Counsel - German & EU Law

Let's be #BrilliantTogether

Join ISS-STOXX - a global leader in financial benchmark innovation (STOXX and DAX indices), ESG data, and governance solutions, majority-owned by Deutsche Börse Group. If you are a fully qualified German lawyer looking for an opportunity to work on complex legal matters in a truly international organisation, this is your chance.

ISS-STOXX delivers benchmark and custom indices, corporate governance expertise, and sustainability analytics to the world's leading institutional investors. With 3,800+ employees across 20 countries and 6,400 clients globally, we operate at the intersection of finance, regulation, and technology - shaping the future of responsible investment and capital markets.

You will be part of our European Legal Team in Prague, which consists of five lawyers within an international group of over 40 lawyers and compliance professionals based in Washington, Mumbai, Zug, Eschborn (Frankfurt), Paris, Brussels, and Prague.

The European Legal Team advises on high-impact topics, primarily under German and EU law, including regulatory frameworks such as the EU Benchmark Regulation, ESG Ratings Regulation, and Green Bond Standard. This is a unique opportunity to combine your German law expertise with international exposure in a fast-growing, dynamic and collegial environment.

Position Overview

As a member of the ISS-STOXX Legal Team in Prague, the Corporate Counsel will be responsible for providing legal advice to ISS-STOXX teams across the organisation, including sales, finance, risk management, compliance, as well as senior management and the management boards.

Our Prague office is situated in the vibrant Karlin district. The office is made up of 85 employees with colleagues from over 30 nationalities. We believe we have great team spirit, and we are looking for someone excited to work with us.

The Corporate Counsel will join a team of three senior lawyers in Prague and report to the Head of the European Legal Team, who is based in Eschborn, Germany, where ISS-STOXX Group is headquartered.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice under German law and EU law to ISS-STOXX group entities, including several German subsidiaries and the German-based group holding company.
• Advise on contract, regulatory, and labour law topics and take care of corporate secretarial matters for German entities. This will include:
  
  • Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts governed by German law: including STOXX/DAX index license agreements, intra-group services agreements and other commercial agreements and advising on civil and corporate law (German HGB) matters
  • Advising on EU Regulations: including the EU Benchmark Regulation, the upcoming EU ESG Ratings Regulation, and the EU Green Bond Standard, for three regulated (or soon-to-be regulated) entities, one of which is based in Germany and any other rules with impact on the group (e.g. IOSCO Benchmark Principles, UCITS, MiFID, MAR, DORA, CSDDD)
  • Deliver German labour law advice: in the context of the collaboration with works councils in Germany
  • Support corporate secretarial tasks: advising board members of German group companies, administering the substitution of board members or optimising corporate documents of German group companies

• Communicate effectively with internal clients in German and English - provide written legal advice in both languages.
• Structure, draft, review, analyse, and negotiate complex services agreements and license agreements, including professional services agreements, data and software licenses, procurement and supply agreements, and nondisclosure agreements.
• Assist with modifications and updates to template agreements.
• Assist with the review and modification of internal policies and processes.
• Conduct legal research.

Required Qualifications

• Fully qualified German lawyer (1st and 2nd State Exam) - mandatory.
• At least 3 years of relevant professional experience, ideally as in-house counsel in a multinational corporation or a reputable international law firm.
• Native level command of English and German.
• Ability to review, analyse, draft and negotiate complex commercial agreements, as well as advise on a broad range of German laws and EU regulations
• Ability to provide clear, concise, and business-oriented legal advice tailored to business needs.
• Desire and flexibility to work in a fast-paced global business environment and to manage multiple assignments.
• Ability to build and maintain strong internal client relationships, combined with the capacity to work independently from day one. While collaboration and exchange within the team are intense and encouraged, each team member is expected to provide legal advice primarily on an independent basis.

Desired Qualifications

• A grade of vollbefriedigend (fully satisfactory) or higher in at least one of the State Examinations

#STOXX #LI-RH1 #Legal #MIDSENIOR

What You Can Expect from Us

At ISS STOXX, our people are our driving force. We are committed to building a culture that values diverse skills, perspectives, and experiences. We hire the best talent in our industry and empower them with the resources, support, and opportunities to grow-professionally and personally.

Together, we foster an environment that fuels creativity, drives innovation, and shapes our future success.

Let's empower, collaborate, and inspire.

Let's be #BrilliantTogether.

About ISS STOXX

ISS STOXX GmbH is a leading provider of research and technology solutions for the financial market. Established in 1985, we offer top-notch benchmark and custom indices globally, helping clients identify investment opportunities and manage portfolio risks. Our services cover corporate governance, sustainability, cyber risk, and fund intelligence. Majority-owned by Deutsche Börse Group, ISS STOXX has over 3,400 professionals in 33 locations worldwide, serving around 6,400 clients, including institutional investors and companies focused on ESG, cyber, and governance risk. Clients trust our expertise to make informed decisions for their stakeholders' benefit.

Visit our website: https://www.issgovernance.com

View additional open roles: https://www.issgovernance.com/join-the-iss-team/

Institutional Shareholder Services ("ISS") is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. It is our policy to prohibit discrimination or harassment against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, sex, age, height, weight, citizenship status, national origin, social origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, pregnancy status, marital status, familial status, mental or physical disability, veteran status, military service or status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law (referred to as "protected status"). All activities including, but not limited to, recruiting and hiring, recruitment advertising, promotions, performance appraisals, training, job assignments, compensation, demotions, transfers, terminations (including layoffs), benefits, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, are and will be administered on a non-discriminatory basis, consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local requirements.