Legal Counsel - Energy Trading & Shipping - Remote Working

This is an exciting opportunity to join a global player in the energy trading and shipping sector, where you will have a truly commercial role within the business, working very closely with senior stakeholders, across all departments in multiple jurisdictions, with a core focus on the EMEA region and all energy trading related issues that arise in the area. This role would be well suited to a commercially minded 5-12PQE energy trading lawyer, shipping lawyer or a commercial lawyer who has a keen interest in moving into the sector.

Key duties and responsibilities include:

• Advising on the legal aspects of all day to day activities within WFS’ UK and EMEA land fuel trading team in relation to the sale, purchase and trading of fuel oils, lubricants and biofuels and energy hedging products and services – sensibly balancing risk vs. reward
• Drafting and negotiating fuel, oil, biofuel supply and sale contracts, and related transportation contracts and tenders in the commercial and public sectors
• A strong focus on Compliance
• Knowledge of the differences between consumer and commercial customer contracts and able to align pricing, marketing and contracting practices with UK regulatory requirements
• Proactively developing contract management and other legal processes to align the legal risk management requirements of the business with those of the wider group
• Assisting with and managing the legal aspects of new ventures, corporate/commercial acquisitions and development projects, and drafting PCGs, NDAs and other corporate and commercial documents; close collaboration with the credit teams to proactively and innovatively manage enterprise credit risk
• To be the primary point of contact within the legal department in the event of a HSSE incident and to liaise with the insurance team
• Educating business and support colleagues on legal matters and best practices, including hosting internal seminars
• Internal and external customer support – domestic and occasional overseas travel to develop trust and relations with colleagues in other offices and to build direct relationships with customers and key suppliers
• Reviewing and assisting the negotiation of oil terminal contracts, storage and office leases
• Advising on and supporting the development of new financing initiatives and structures, including charge cards, trade loan agreements and hire purchase arrangements

BACKGROUND AND SKILLS …

• A solicitor qualified in England and Wales
• Training and post qualification experience at a leading law firm, or in-house commercial legal experience, which may include time at an energy company, oil major, trading house or shipping, transportation, renewables or industrial services company. The successful candidate is likely to have a desire to build their legal career within the successful division of a global energy company
• A pragmatic, hands-on lawyer who is able to think on their feet and find sensible, well risk managed solutions to legal challenges
• Strong stakeholder management skills - emotionally intelligent and comfortable engaging directly with customers, suppliers and trading counterparties to win trust and develop business relationships
• Knowledge and a passion to assist the group in its sustainable energy transition
• Professional presence and absolute integrity
• Demonstrated aptitude to multi-task in a fast-paced, dynamic, performance-driven culture.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.