Legal Counsel

EMPLOYMENT TYPE: 12 MONTHS CONTRACT VIA 3rd PARTY

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary legal support to, and work closely with, the Procurement, Supply Chain, Commercial, Operations and Project teams on procurement, tendering, and contracting matters to facilitate timely contract award and execution.
• Review, draft, negotiate, and finalise contracts relating to upstream oil and gas operations, including drilling, well services, engineering, maintenance, construction, marine, logistics, offshore support services, consultancy, and supply agreements.
• Provide legal support throughout the tender process, including preparation and review of tender documents, bid packages, contract terms and conditions, tender clarifications, evaluations, negotiations, and contract awards.
• Advise on contractual risk allocation, indemnities, liabilities, insurance, warranties, limitation of liability provisions, and dispute resolution clauses.
• Review and assess requests for contract deviations, exceptions, waivers, and non-standard contract terms, and provide practical risk-based recommendations.
• Support tender evaluation committees by identifying legal and contractual risks associated with bids and proposed contracting strategies.
• Draft, maintain, and enhance standard contract templates and procurement documentation.
• Negotiate contractual terms with contractors, vendors, service providers, and business partners to achieve commercially practical outcomes while safeguarding the Company's interests.
• Provide legal advice on contract administration matters, including contract interpretation, variations, change orders, claims, and performance issues.
• Support the management of contractual claims, disputes strategies, including fact gathering, evaluation of contractual entitlements and engagement with internal stakeholders.
• Support major projects and procurement initiatives to ensure contracts are aligned with operational requirements and business objectives.
• Monitor developments in oil and gas contracting practices and provide practical legal guidance to internal stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent recognized legal qualification.
• Minimum 5-8 years PQE in corporate and commercial law, preferably with both private practice and in-house experience.
• Hands-on experience in procurement, tendering, and commercial contract processes, including preparation and evaluation of tender documentation, bid clarifications, and contract awards.
• Hands-on experience reviewing, drafting and negotiating upstream oil and gas contracts, including but not limited to drilling, well services, marine logistics, offshore services, maintenance and supply agreements with experience in vessel charter, vessel hire, marine transportation and OSV- related contracts.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent verbal and communication skills particularly in explaining legal concepts and simple language to non-lawyers and providing concise, accurate and comprehensible legal advice.
• Ability to provide commercially focused and practical legal advice in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Prior experience with an upstream oil and gas operator, PSC contractor, oilfield services company, or EPC contractor would be an advantage.