Associate - Food Law

Associate - Food Law
Region: Brussels
Required experience: 3 years
Environment: Law Firm
Ref: LexGO27/10
Contract: Full-time

Company description

Bird & Bird opens up a world of possibilities for lawyers. Here you can advise major enterprises and high-growth businesses on matters that are often transformative in nature, and alongside people who are truly collegiate in the way they work with everyone at Bird & Bird. We are one international firm, where over 70% of our work involves teams from across our firm. And that is only going to increase. It is this common purpose and shared approach that makes Bird & Bird an inspiring and collaborative place to work.

Bird & Bird is committed to maintaining an inclusive working environment and we are an equal opportunities employer. We will actively support and supervise your professional development. For those with the necessary energy and ability, we will ensure that the firm is a first-class platform on which you can develop into an industry leader. We support an agile working environment and are happy to discuss flexible working.


The team and your role

Our Brussels-based Food Regulatory team, part of our Regulatory, Public and Administrative law team, advises food & beverage companies on all economic regulations relevant to their business, both within Belgium and internationally. The assistance we provide to our food & beverage clients covers the full lifecycle of the products; we guide them from the early stages of research and development to handling food crisis management issues, and from product formulation to labelling and marketing questions. The team has a strong focus on innovation, and notably advises on novel food products and bio-based applications, as well as on emerging foodtech solutions.

The members of our Brussels Regulatory, Public and Administrative law team provide advice to public sector entities as well as national and international companies active in other regulated sectors such as life sciences, healthcare, chemicals, energy or public transport. The team also practices Belgian public and administrative law and advises on public procurement matters and public-private partnerships. 

 What you'll do 

  • You will provide advice and assistance in the core areas of the practice: 
    • Product compliance with food regulations in respect of product formulation, labelling and advertising; 
    • B2B and B2C laws and regulations relevant to the trade of food products, including the contractual aspects;
    • Legal support in relation to product development and market entry strategies, including assistance with respect to product authorisation processes. 
  • Take on responsibility from day one, enjoying challenging work with innovative clients;
  • Handle complex national and cross-border matters‎, with a focus on advisory work; 
  • Build your career in the firm, developing your legal, business and interpersonal skills through training, close collaboration with and feedback from leading practitioners; 
  • Be actively involved in marketing and business development initiatives in a truly international firm;
  • Take part in various social activities and events of our Brussels office and internationally.

About you

You have up to 5 years’ experience as a lawyer with a strong focus on food law. Exposure to public, administrative or business law or experience in other regulated industries (pharmaceuticals, chemicals) are an advantage. 

We expect you to have a law degree that’s backed up by strong academic results. A postgraduate in public and administrative law or EU law is an advantage. You are a member of the Brussels Bar or you fulfil the requirements to become a member of the Brussels Bar.

You are fluent in English and French/Dutch, with a good command of the other national language. 

You have strong writing and analytical skills that allow you to identify key issues. You are ready to roll up your sleeves together with our team around the globe, eager to grasp the latest innovations our clients developed and deliver the high-quality work they expect. You have a strong appetite for business development activities to further develop the Food Regulatory practice.

Take the next step

If you think you are the right fit for our Food Regulatory team in Brussels, send your cv, motivation letter and transcripts via email (click on the "apply" button)

Learn more about our firm at www.twobirds.com. You can find the latest updates from our team on LinkedIn

For any questions or if you would like more information, please contact our HR manager Anneke Vermeir

Google Maps
Google Maps