Group General Counsel Appointed to Support Cross-Border IPO Readiness

Legal Leadership Secures Governance Framework for EU Expansion

Background

A Swiss-headquartered high-tech infrastructure provider, backed by institutional investors and preparing for a European Stock Exchange listing, required a foundational legal appointment to support regulatory transformation and cross-border governance. As part of its pre-IPO strategy, the company had established a Luxembourg-based EU holding entity; its first footprint in the jurisdiction.

Greenfield was engaged on an exclusive, retained basis to appoint a Group General Counsel. The brief was clear: secure senior legal leadership capable of overseeing capital markets activity, managing cross-border structuring, and establishing governance protocols at pace.

Challenge

This was a complex and highly specific appointment. The ideal candidate needed fluency in both German language and commercial culture, alongside experience across capital markets, fundraising, M&A, and real estate. Within Luxembourg’s already narrow legal talent pool, this multifaceted profile significantly limited potential options.

Compounding the challenge was time. The appointment had to be delivered within four weeks to meet regulatory milestones for the company’s public listing. This meant precision and speed would be central to successful delivery.

Solution

Greenfield’s success lay in balancing market reach with narrative control. We worked closely with senior stakeholders to translate the technical brief into a compelling proposition: positioning the role as a rare opportunity to shape governance at the heart of a fast-scaling, well-capitalised European business.

Our approach included:

Immediate mobilisation, including an in-person meeting in Zurich the same week as initial outreach
Strategic engagement of passive candidates through targeted messaging and direct outreach
Framing the Luxembourg-based role as a high-impact legal leadership position, not an isolated or experimental market entry
Managing the entire process with transparency, speed, and accountability

Our consultative and high-touch approach enabled us to build trust and access top-tier legal talent who might not have otherwise engaged.

Outcome

The Group General Counsel was appointed within four weeks, aligned precisely with the client’s IPO-readiness timeline. Their role is now central to the firm’s legal oversight, EU coordination, and governance infrastructure.

This foundational appointment has since positioned Greenfield as the client’s preferred partner for future legal, governance, and financial leadership hires in Luxembourg.

Key Results

General Counsel appointed in 4 weeks to support IPO timeline
Legal governance established for new EU holding structure
High-calibre candidate secured despite narrow market availability
Strategic partnership extended to future legal and oversight roles

CTA: Navigating regulatory transformation or IPO readiness? Partner with Greenfield to appoint legal leaders who deliver clarity, governance, and strategic confidence.