Skip to content
 

Recruiting talent for legal, regulatory & public affairs role

 
pic1 (500 x 800 px) (600 x 700 px) (72)

The sector

Belgium's market for legal, regulatory, and public affairs talent in 2025 is regaining momentum—especially in Brussels—with renewed hiring after a period of caution. Organizations are targeting talent with strategic regulation and policy expertise, especially in sustainability, digital, and compliance domains. While permanent employment remains dominant, interim/freelance opportunities are rising for niche project-based needs. 

 

Our expertise 

Candidates in legal, regulatory, and public affairs will often test us on credibility— it is critical to be able to describe the role’s strategic impact and reporting lines. In this area, accuracy, discretion, and stakeholder influence are just as important as technical skills. 

4
We understand the technical aspect of: 

  • Core legal functions: corporate law, contracts, litigation, M&A, intellectual property, employment law. 
  • Regulatory focus areas: compliance, risk management, anti-bribery & corruption, AML/KYC, data privacy (GDPR, CCPA). 
  • Public affairs scope: government relations, lobbying, stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, crisis communication. 
  • Specialized sectors: life sciences (FDA, EMA), financial services (MiFID II, Basel III), energy & environment (ESG, climate disclosure laws).

5
We are also familiar with the required certifications & credentials 

  • Legal: JD/LLB/LLM, bar admission in relevant jurisdiction. 
  • Regulatory/Compliance: Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP), CAMS (anti-money laundering), CIPP/E or CIPM (privacy). 
  • Public Affairs: IABC, CIPR, or PRSA accreditations for communications; public policy certifications.


 

12
We also assess the candidate’s Legal & Regulatory Environment Awareness 

  • Understanding jurisdictional differences—what’s acceptable in one country may be illegal in another. 
  • Awareness of emerging regulations: AI governance, ESG reporting mandates, cybersecurity law… 
  • Ability to discuss risk implications for the business when hiring for these roles. 

13
We have the relevant sourcing & networking proficiency  

  • Engaging with professional associations 
  • Tapping into sector-specific events: regulatory summits, industry legal conferences, government relations forums. 
  • Building confidential pipelines—many candidates here are not actively job-hunting due to sensitive positions. 
  • Emphasizing integrity and governance standards 
  • Highlighting the strategic influence the role will have instead of listing tasks 
  • Outlining ressources and independence – will legal/compliance/public affairs have the backing to do their jobs? 

20
We are also putting an emphasis on cultural & ethical sensitivity 

  • These candidates hold companies accountable— our process must reflect rigor, fairness, and confidentiality. 
  • We are also able to answer ethical questions—many won’t join if leadership’s track record is questionable. 
  • It is important to also check the respect of conflict-of-interest boundaries in outreach and networking.
 

23
We are able to set up tailor-made assessment centres covering: 

  • Evaluating technical expertise: Can they interpret complex statutes, draft watertight contracts, navigate regulatory audits? 
  • Spotting soft skills crucial for these roles: diplomacy, negotiation, advocacy, ethical judgment. 
  • Differentiating advisory vs. enforcement mindsets—some roles require a business partner approach, others a strict gatekeeper role. 

Clients’ case studies

 

 

 

Our experts

Our recruitment experts specialized in legal, regulatory & public affairs roles  

Our consultants in Legal, Regulatory & Public Affairs have a long experience in this field as it was the historic sector for Profile Group.  

Véronique Bervaes

Véronique Bervaes

FR | NL | EN Executive Search Partner & Senior Recruitment Partner
Delphine Castelain

Delphine Castelain

FR Senior Recruitment Expert
Emma Waites

Emma Waites

FR | EN Director & Executive Search Partner
companies (19)
 

Ready for the hiring challenge?

Share who you’re after, and we’ll jump straight into the right talent pool when we connect!