Job Title: Senior Legal Counsel
Location: London, UK
Client: Leading Global Energy Operator
Contract type: Permanent
We are looking for a Senior Legal Counsel to be based in London, UK. Reporting to the Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs, you will provide legal support across a broad range of matters in support of the client. The legal function of the Company supports the Company and its affiliates in all business areas for both day-to-day operations (e.g., corporate, contractual, regulatory, litigation matters) and extraordinary transactions (such as M&A and project financing).
About the client
The company is responsible for overseeing a broad portfolio of CO₂ Transportation and Storage (T&S) projects across the UK and internationally. With a clear roadmap to becoming an integrated leader in the carbon ecosystem, the organisation is leveraging an extensive portfolio of depleted gas fields along with deep technical knowledge and established networks to repurpose existing infrastructure at the centre of major industrial clusters.
This approach enables the delivery of fast, cost-effective and scalable solutions that support the energy transition. By joining the organisation, employees become part of a pioneering effort in the end-to-end orchestration of carbon capture and storage projects-contributing to a sustainable future while benefiting from a dynamic, innovative and forward-looking work environment.
Main responsibilities:
Provide high-quality, proactive and commercially focused legal advice across all aspects of Company and its affiliates with regards to all aspects of the CCS business, including:
- Reviewing, drafting, negotiating and generally advising on (where appropriate, with external advice and/or support from relevant CLIENT group functions) transportation and storage agreements, compression and storage agreements, shareholders' agreements, other joint venture/collaboration/cooperation/development agreements, transportation and processing agreements, construction and tie-in agreements, project construction and engineering agreements, security agreements, procurement contracts, proximity agreements, real estate and planning agreements, service agreements, preliminary agreements, confidentiality agreements and transfer/novation agreements (including execution deeds);
- Advising on legal and regulatory frameworks relevant to the CCS business, including appraisal and storage permits as well as licences and agreements with regulators and any relevant public authority;
- Advising on connection the CCS projects and the relevant entities of CLIENT group (for instance, CLIENT UK.) including in relation to asset transfers, intra-group services and associated regulatory matters
- Advising and assisting on any acquisition and divestiture/M&A activities undertaken or supported by the Company and/or its affiliates including work on due diligence activities, pre-emption analysis, drafting and negotiating sale and purchase agreements, regulatory approvals and supporting general transaction management of these and all related activities;
- Advising on contentious matters and dispute resolution in respect of CCS business, including litigation, arbitration, mediation and expert determination, which may involve
- business, engaging and managing external counsel;
- Supporting the Company's group finance and company secretarial functions on corporate re-organisation, restructuring and liquidations projects, providing legal advice as required;
- Supporting on other UK and international CCS projects and transactions as they may arise from time to time;
- Monitoring changes and updates to relevant legislation and regulation that may affect CCS Business and providing advice and legal analysis of the same.
- Internal liaison with the Company and its affiliates' client departments and other business units/departments and external liaison with joint venture partners, other counterparties including contractors and subcontractors, landowners, government/regulatory authorities, industry groups and external legal and other advisers, in each case attending meetings in person (including travel where required) or remotely, as necessary.
- Ensuring full compliance with the Company's Code of Ethics and Compliance Model, the Company's group health, safety and environmental policies, procedures and standards and undertaking any other compliance activities that may be required (e.g. claims reporting, Sarbanes-Oxley).
Skills and experience required:
- Degree in Law with strong academic results.
- Qualified solicitor/barrister or equivalent.
- Strong working knowledge of and relevant experience in some of the following: the UKCS upstream oil and gas industry, CCS, renewable energy development projects, and/or big procurement projects.
- Significant prior experience working at a senior level.
- Strong communication skills, able to liaise effectively with all stakeholders across the business.
- Strong negotiation skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively, and to manage high levels of responsibility.
- Good computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite).
- Astute, commercially aware and highly motivated.
- Effective communication and negotiation skills.
- Fluent level of English.