General Counsel

Hummingbird Ventures is looking to strengthen its team by hiring a General Counsel in it’s Belgian based core operations team.

As General Counsel, you will be part of the core Belgian-based operations team and work closely with the operating partner. You will take on a broad, hands-on role combining operational, compliance and transactional responsibilities within an international venture capital environment.

You will support the full investment lifecycle, from initial investments to portfolio management and exits, while ensuring that legal and regulatory frameworks remain robust and efficient. A key part of your role will be to bring structure to a growing and increasingly complex environment by streamlining legal and compliance processes across the funds.

You will support the full fund lifecycle, from structuring and investments to portfolio management and exits, while ensuring robust, well-governed and efficient legal and regulatory frameworks. A key part of your role will be to bring structure to a growing and increasingly complex environment by streamlining legal and compliance processes across the funds.

You thrive in a fast-paced and demanding environment and bring a proven track record of consistently delivering high-quality work. You are comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy and value the flexibility that comes with a hybrid way of working.

You set a high bar for yourself and for your work. With strong attention to detail and a rigorous approach, you combine hands-on execution with a strong sense of ownership, ensuring that matters are handled thoroughly, accurately and to a very high standard.

Acting as a sparring partner, you will not only execute but also take full ownership in identifying improvements and building scalable solutions. Your key responsibilities include:

• Take ownership of the day-to-day legal and regulatory matters relating to the management company and the investment funds, ensuring a strong governance and legal framework is maintained.
• Support the structuring, launch and ongoing management of investment funds, including fundraisings, closings, capital calls, distributions and restructurings.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory frameworks (including AML, AIFM, SFDR) and continuously improve internal processes and documentation alongside the existing legal and compliance professionals.
• Contribute to the legal aspects of investments, portfolio management and exit processes (including international M&A, public stock divestitures, NDAs, LOIs and other transactional documentation).
• Structure and continuously improve internal processes (e.g. approvals, documentation flows, reporting), including by leveraging digital tools and AI-driven solutions to increase efficiency and scalability across a growing number of funds.
• Act as a point of contact towards regulators and support interactions with authorities such as the FSMA.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments and translate these into practical implications for the organisation.

• You hold a Belgian Master’s degree in Law.
• You have 5 to 10 years of experience as a lawyer or legal counsel, ideally with exposure to regulatory and/or compliance matters, corporate law and/or banking/finance. 
• Experience with investment funds or fund-related regulations (AIFM, MiFID, UCITS, etc.) is a strong plus.
• You have a solid understanding of how transactions are structured, combined with an interest in regulatory and compliance topics. A basic knowledge of tax aspects is considered an advantage.
• You are fluent in English and have a good working knowledge of Dutch and/or French.
• You are highly structured, precise and able to bring clarity and organisation in a complex environment.
• You combine a hands-on mentality with a strong sense of ownership and are keen to build and improve processes, rather than simply execute them.
• You are intellectually curious, eager to learn and comfortable stepping into an environment where you will need to quickly get up to speed in new areas.
• You are pragmatic, proactive and not afraid to take initiative and responsibility.
• You have a strong work ethic, take pride in delivering high-quality work and are willing to go the extra mile when needed.
• You are flexible and enjoy being involved in a wide variety of topics in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial setting.
• You are comfortable working with IT tools and systems supporting fund and document management.

The role offers strong intellectual challenge, steep learning opportunities and real responsibility. You will operate in an international environment, working closely with a highly driven and entrepreneurial team across multiple jurisdictions at one of the world’s leading venture capital funds.

You will have a direct impact on the structuring, organisation and development of globally active investment funds, and be involved in high-level investment, portfolio and multi-billion exit processes. 

The position provides a unique opportunity to grow within a fast-evolving environment where initiative and ownership are key.

You will receive a competitive and well-balanced remuneration package, aligned with your experience and potential.