Senior ESG Lawyer - Societal Division (Contract Assignment)
Working Location
Paris, France
Contract Type
Fixed-term / External legal services
Start date: Beginning of September 2026
End date: February 2027
Division
Corporate Legal Division - Corporate Legal Affairs - Societal Division
Languages
English and/or French
Project Context
The Societal Division sits within the Corporate Legal Affairs Division, itself part of the Corporate Legal Division at group holding level. The division provides legal assistance and strategic advice to multiple internal stakeholders, including:
- Sustainability and Climate
- Human Rights
- Public Affairs
- Communications
- Financial Management
- HSE Management
- Purchasing
In the context of annual corporate reporting (Vigilance Plan, CSRD, Sustainability Report) and rapidly evolving ESG-related regulations, the organisation is seeking to retain the services of an experienced ESG lawyer to support the Societal Division during a critical reporting and regulatory period.
Position Purpose
The Senior ESG Lawyer will provide high-level legal advice, analysis, and deliverables related to ESG law and regulation, helping the company manage significant legal, litigation, and reputational risks linked to climate, sustainability, human rights, and corporate responsibility.
The role requires strong technical expertise, rigor, and autonomy, combined with the ability to translate complex regulatory frameworks into clear, practical, and actionable legal guidance.
All work will be performed under the supervision and instructions of the Director of the Societal Division.
Key Responsibilities
Legal Advice and Support
The consultant will support the Societal Division across the following key areas:
Climate and Sustainability
- Legal and regulatory analyses relating to climate law
- Review of external publications and voluntary commitments
- Legal input on contractual aspects of climate-related partnerships
- Monitoring of climate-related legislation and litigation trends
Fight Against Greenwashing
- Prevention and mitigation of legal risks linked to environmental claims
- Legal awareness and training support for communication teams
- Legal review of advertising and communication projects
- Defense support in case of complaints before advertising self-regulatory bodies
Human Rights
- Legal review of internal documentation (guidelines, policies, procedures)
- Legal review of external publications
- Legal assistance in monitoring and supporting the human rights risk-mapping process
CSRD and Corporate Reporting
- Legal assistance to internal teams responsible for CSRD reporting (Sustainability and Climate, Environment, Purchasing)
- Support alignment between legal requirements and operational disclosures
Broader ESG Legal Advisory
- Duty of care and vigilance obligations
- Biodiversity-related legal matters
- Stakeholder relations
- Sustainable development issues
Regulatory Advocacy
- Analysis of the legal impact of EU and French legislative and regulatory proposals
- Drafting of position papers, legal analyses, and proposed amendments
- Close collaboration with the Public Affairs Department to align legal and advocacy positions
Key Deliverables
- Clear and well-structured legal opinions and memoranda
- Regulatory impact analyses
- Legal reviews of internal and external documents
- Contribution to CSRD and sustainability reporting processes
- Position papers and advocacy-related deliverables
- Written deliverables in English and/or French
Experience and Qualifications
- Approximately 10 years of legal experience
- Background in law firms and/or legal departments of large corporations preferred
- Confirmed and practical expertise in ESG law and associated regulations, including:
- Duty of vigilance and due diligence
- CSRD
- CS3D
- Environmental claims and greenwashing risks
- Proven ability to operate within complex and evolving regulatory frameworks
Required Skills and Competencies
- Legal Analysis: Expert
- ESG Law Expertise: Confirmed
- Regulatory Compliance: Expert
- Legal Consultation and Advisory: Expert
- Communication and Teamwork: Expert
- Rigor and Attention to Detail: Expert
Languages
- English: Bilingual
- French: Bilingual (or professional fluency)
Additional Information
This assignment involves high-visibility, sensitive ESG topics that represent major litigation and reputational risks. It also offers a unique opportunity to work at the heart of ESG legal decision-making within a globally exposed energy company, building first-hand experience, technical depth, and a strong professional network in ESG law.