Everyone says they want to change the world. We're looking for people who actually will.
Alliance Defending Freedom is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people. Please visit our career site to view our Statement of Faith and Doctrinal Distinctives.
Senior Counsel, Europe Litigation
Alliance Defending Freedom is looking for a Senior Counsel, Europe Litigation, to join us full-time in our Brussels, Belgium office. As Senior Counsel, Europe Litigation, you are a vital part of the Global Free Speech team. In this role, you will report to Director, Europe and will be responsible for evaluating, developing, and leading high-level, high-impact litigation in pursuit of ADF generational wins in Europe. While the role will support litigation across ADF's mission areas, its main focus is freedom of speech, with particular emphasis on Germany and France, and other top European jurisdictions, and on litigation before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
Your primary role will be to undertake complex European litigation: shaping case strategy, handling litigation work, representing ADF and its clients before the ECtHR and the CJEU, coordinating with national counsel in domestic proceedings, and training and supervising more junior lawyers. You will work closely with the Global Free Speech team, Legal Counsel, Litigation (based in Vienna) and the Legal Officers in Brussels, as well as the wider ADF to combat state-sponsored and corporate censorship, including in relation to EU laws such as the Digital Services Act.
Your Essential Responsibilities:
Strategic Litigation
- Develop and implement litigation strategies in pursuit of generational wins across Europe, with a particular focus on free speech.
- Identify, evaluate, and select cases with the potential to secure positive precedents at the highest available courts, and help draw together potential clients, national counsel, experts, and other supporting professionals.
- Lead and litigate complex cases in support of free speech and other ADF mission areas, from domestic proceedings through to the ECtHR and the CJEU.
- Represent ADF and its clients before the ECtHR, including drafting applications, observations, and third-party interventions, and presenting oral arguments.
- Represent ADF and its clients in proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union and the General Court, including direct actions and references for a preliminary ruling under Article 267 TFEU arising from national proceedings, and present oral arguments.
- Coordinate with counsels in German and French courts (including constitutional and supreme courts) regarding cases for European and EU-level review.
- Develop strategy, arguments, and evidence in preparation for the presentation of cases.
- Produce, review, edit, and file high-quality legal papers, including applications, briefs, pleadings, written observations, interventions, and memoranda.
- Conduct advanced legal research on European human rights law, EU law, and German and French law relevant to free speech advocacy.
- Monitor legislative and judicial developments affecting free speech in Europe, including EU digital regulation, hate speech and "disinformation" laws, and identify emerging threats and litigation opportunities.
Leadership, Training, and Supervision
- Supervise and mentor mid-level and junior lawyers in all phases of European and national litigation.
- Train allied lawyers internally and externally on European and EU litigation within ADF mission areas.
- Advise allied lawyers on legal issues within areas of competence.
Public Advocacy and Alliance Building
- Represent ADF's free speech advocacy efforts in the court of public opinion.
- Interview and interact with the media regarding cases and issues, through op-eds, commentaries, and radio or television interviews.
- Draft scholarly articles, present at conferences, and conduct training events.
- Network and develop relationships with allied groups and lawyers, parliamentarians, civil servants, academics, digital rights, tech companies, and members of the legal profession, particularly in Germany, France, and other key European jurisdictions.
- Cooperate with the Development team, including speaking engagements and other fundraising events.
Other Responsibilities:
- You will be asked to perform related duties or special projects as assigned.
Skills You Need To Succeed:
Knowledge of:
- EU law, including the Charter of Fundamental Rights, EU digital regulation (including the Digital Services Act, European Democracy Shield, Chat Control), and the procedures of the CJEU and General Court
- European human rights law, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the procedures of the ECtHR and Council of Europe
- Freedom of expression jurisprudence at the European level
- ADF's mission, strategic objectives, and key threats to free speech, religious freedom, life, and marriage and the family in Europe
Demonstrated proficiency in:
- Complex and appellate litigation, including written and oral advocacy before supranational or apex courts
- Legal analysis, research, and writing of the highest standard
- Case strategy and the management of multi-jurisdictional litigation
- Alliance-building, networking, and relationship development
- Leadership and supervision of lawyers
- Microsoft Office and other computer applications
Ability to:
- Fluently speak and write in English. Additionally, German and/or French would be preferred.
- Handle multiple complex matters simultaneously across multi-disciplinary teams under tight deadlines
- Perform in high-pressure situations and make sound judgements
- Manage confidential information professionally
- Work independently and collaboratively
- Live and work in Brussels and travel internationally, sometimes at short notice
Education and/or Experience:
- Master's level law degree or higher; specialised qualification in EU or European human rights law preferred
- Qualified lawyer, admitted to the bar in an EU Member State or other Council of Europe jurisdiction, with an active practicing license in good standing
- Rights of audience permitting representation of parties before the CJEU (under Article 19 of the Statute of the Court of Justice) and the ECtHR
- Ten or more years of relevant litigation experience, including substantial EU law experience
- Experience litigating before the ECtHR and/or the CJEU strongly preferred
Valid work permit for the EU/Belgium or EU citizenship required.
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