Senior Legal Counsel in Victoria, London

Senior Legal Counsel

1 Year Fixed Term Contract

South West London – 8 days per month working from home

Oil & Gas sector

Are you an experienced Senior Legal Counsel with a strong background within the Oil & Gas sector? Are you seeking your next role?

This is a fantastic opportunity for a candidate with a background working for companies within the Oil & Gas/ Upstream sectors or for candidates from a private practice background with this sector experience

This opportunity will offer a 1 year Fixed Term Contract but could lead to further opportunities

Main responsibilities

• As the Senior Legal Counsel, you will provide high‑quality, proactive and commercially focused legal advice across all aspects of the companies Business, as assigned by the Head of Legal and Corporate Secretary, including:
• Reviewing, drafting and negotiating a wide range of agreements (e.g., decommissioning, security, procurement, proximity/crossing, farm‑in, real estate, planning, intra‑group services and asset transfers, JV/co‑operation, shareholders’ agreements, confidentiality agreements and novations).
• As the Senior Legal Counsel, you will be advising on regulatory instruments and obligations, including exploration and production licences and agreements with The Crown Estate.
• Supporting CCS‑related matters, including asset transfers, intra‑group services and regulatory compliance.
• Assisting with acquisition, divestiture and M&A activities, including due diligence, pre‑emption, SPA drafting/negotiation, regulatory approvals and general transaction management.
• As the Senior Legal Counsel, you will be advising on dispute resolution, including litigation, arbitration, mediation and expert determination, and managing external counsel.
• Supporting corporate reorganisations, restructurings and liquidations with finance and company secretarial teams.
• Providing legal support for UK and international projects as required.
• As the Senior Legal Counsel, you will be monitoring legislative and regulatory developments affecting the companies business.
• Liaise internally and affiliate departments and externally with JV partners, contractors, landowners, regulatory bodies, industry groups and advisers, attending meetings in person or remotely as needed.
• Provide shared legal services within the wider group, where required.
• As the Senior Legal Counsel, you will participate in functional reporting within the group’s legal community.
• Use relevant document and information management systems (e.g., Mosaic, e:Concession).
• Undertake required professional development, including internal training and legal know‑how.
• Comply fully with the Code of Ethics, Compliance Model and HSE policies, and support other compliance requirements (e.g., claims reporting, Sarbanes‑Oxley).

Skills and experience required:

• Law degree with strong academic results.
• Qualified solicitor/barrister or equivalent.
• Relevant post‑qualification experience.
• As the Senior Legal Counsel, you will have experience operating at a senior level appropriate to the role.
• Strong working knowledge of, and relevant experience in, the UKCS upstream oil and gas industry.
• Excellent legal skills, particularly in commercial law, with an understanding of and exposure to UK real estate and planning law.
• Good computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite).
• Astute, commercially aware and highly motivated.
• As the Senior Legal Counsel, you will have effective communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, and to manage high levels of responsibility.
• Willingness to attend meetings within the UK and overseas, as required.

First Recruitment Group are committed to finding the right candidates for our clients, and the right companies for our candidates to work for. We’re passionate about putting people first, and take pride in being able to offer an all-round service for candidates and clients with our payroll solution, Primis, and workforce management solution, Operam.

As part of putting people first, we strive to be an equal opportunities employer and we are always looking to increase the diversity of our workforce, working closely with our clients to ensure everyone is included.

Voceer presents this job opportunity for First Recruitment Group, a 50 person sized company who are categorized as a Recruitment Agency.

This position is being managed by First Recruitment Group, a reputable recruitment agency known for placing candidates in desirable positions.

All round workforce agency covering Recruitment, Payroll and Workforce Management. We are a global recruitment agency specialising in the Oil & Gas, Nuclear, Power, Water, Rail, Construction, Technology, Aerospace & Defence, Chemicals and Corporate sectors. Our specialist consultants help clients to recruit high quality candidates into temporary, contract and permanent roles at all levels. We proudly support a partnership culture by collaborating and adding value to build lasting client and candidate relationships.

#PeopleFirst