Employee Relations Partner - Legal Counsel

Role: Legal Counsel - Employment Law EMEA

Location: Belgium

About the Role
Fortinet is seeking an experienced Legal Counsel to join our EMEA HR Team. In this role, you’ll provide expert legal and strategic guidance on complex employment matters, ensuring compliance and driving HR initiatives across a diverse and multi-cultural environment.

You will report directly to the Manager of Employee Relations for EMEA based in France and work closely with cross-functional teams on HR-related legal matters.

This is a fantastic opportunity to make an impact in a fast-paced, global organisation!

Key Responsibilities

• Advise and coach HR professionals, managers, and employees on performance management, compliance issues, conflict resolution, investigations, and terminations.
• Partner with managers and external legal counsel to resolve employee litigation and complex employment disputes.
• Lead the employment law aspects of strategic HR projects, including policy reviews, employee conversions, and new entity setups.
• Review and update employment-related documents (contracts, job offers, etc.) to ensure compliance with local regulations and best practices across EMEA.
• Stay updated on employment laws, DEI regulations, collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), and regulatory requirements.
• Support Health and Safety activities related to HR.
• Participate in M&A projects, providing legal insights on employment matters.
• Assist in managing relationships with employee representatives and contribute to social dialogue.
• Provide legal support for HR/employment law aspects of RFPs.

Required Skills and Experience

• Extensive experience in employment law within an international context, ideally within the EMEA region.
• Strong experience managing social relations and leading meetings with staff representatives.
• Bilingual in English and Dutch (French is a plus).
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail and the ability to adapt to changing needs.

Education & Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Employment Law or equivalent.
• In-depth knowledge of Belgian Employment Law is a plus.