Currently we're investigating a bug where the answers are not recorded properly. If you encounter this bug, please email us at rfqjobs@gmail.com.
Senior Legal Counsel - Upstream
(more about Shell)
This job posting has been archived.
Unfortunately Shell has archived this job posting, they are no longer accepting applications.

Senior Legal Counsel - Upstream

The Role

Company description 

As a global energy company operating in a challenging world, we set high standards for performance and ethical behaviors. We are judged by how we act and how we live up to our core values of honesty, integrity, and respect for people. Our Business Principles are based on these. They promote trust, openness, teamwork, and professionalism, as well as pride in what we do and how we conduct business.

Building on our core values, we aspire to sustain a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone feels respected and valued, from our employees to our customers and partners. A diverse workforce and an inclusive work environment are vital to our success, leading to greater innovation and better energy solutions.

An innovative place to work

There’s never been a more exciting time to work at Shell. Everyone here is helping solve one of the biggest challenges facing the world today: bringing the benefits of energy to everyone on the planet, while managing the risks of climate change.

A rewarding place to work

Combine our creative, collaborative environment and global operations with an impressive range of benefits and joining Shell becomes an inspired career choice. We’re huge advocates for career development. We’ll encourage you to try new roles and experience new settings. By pushing people to reach their potential, we frequently help them find skills they never knew they had, or make career moves they never thought possible.

Senior Legal Counsel

What is the role

This Senior Legal Counsel – Upstream Americas position will be asked to provide professional, timely, risk-based and fit-for-purpose legal advice and support to all aspects of the Shell Group’s (i) offshore exploration and appraisal activities in the Americas (excluding Brazil), (ii) Deep Water business in the US Gulf of Mexico, and (iii) legacy US Shales business.   Work allocation across Upstream lines of business will be directed by the Managing Counsel – Upstream Americas, considering professional experience brought to the role, business need, value/risk assessment, and development considerations, among others.

As Senior Legal Counsel, more specifically, your key accountabilities include:

  • Perform as primary and senior legal advisor on a portfolio of US Gulf of Mexico exploration, development, and operating assets.  Scope includes providing advice and support at an experienced level as well as coordinating and integrating legal advice from legal subject matter experts in respects of the exploration, appraisal, development, production and operation of Gulf of Mexico Deep Water assets, including joint venture arrangements, operating arrangements, production handling, midstream (i.e., export, gathering, transportation and processing) and other commercial arrangements, unitization, regulatory and permitting matters, royalty issues, logistics, abandonment, safety and asset integrity and environmental matters.
  • Perform as primary and senior legal advisor on Shell’s legacy US Shales and onshore portfolios.  Scope includes providing advice and support at an experienced level as well as coordinating and integrating legal advice from legal subject matter experts in respects of post-closing obligations, royalty disputes, retained liabilities, and other legacy matters.
  • Perform as primary and senior legal advisor on substantial and complex offshore exploration opportunities in the Americas outside the US (except Brazil), including supporting exploration ventures in civil and common law jurisdictions where the legislative/regulatory regime is uncertain and/or evolving.  Scope includes drafting and negotiating petroleum licenses (e.g., concessions, production sharing agreements, permits, etc..), farm-in/farm-out agreements, early-stage agreements (e.g., Joint Study/Bidding Agreements, Heads of Agreement), Joint Operating Agreements, and providing sound venture implementation support.
  • Cultivate a sound understanding of the end-to-end value chain, identify and prioritize legal risks and alternative strategies on a variety of matters and present such to business/functional stakeholders and decision makers in a transparent manner to foster meaningful discussion, deliberate consideration, and quality decision-making.
  • Ensure documents accurately reflect commercial decisions, always consistent with legal obligations and the Shell Control Framework.
  • Support and potentially act as delegate on various DRBs and asset leadership teams.
  • Represent Shell vis-à-vis third parties.
  • Provide advice in connection with, or otherwise participate in, key engagements with regulatory agencies and other stakeholders.
  • Contribute to a positive, proactive culture encouraging high performance and collaboration.
  • Work closely with Shell Ethics & Compliance in conducting legal, ABC and trade controls due diligence and advising on legal compliance.
  • Instruct and manage external counsel (NOTE: very limited use of outside counsel, reserved for specialty matters).
  • Ability to work as part of a team and with both internal and external stakeholders with diverse cultural backgrounds.
  • Take active role in knowledge sharing and capability building of team members from Legal Services – Upstream.

Requirements

What we need from you –

  • Must have legal authorization to work in the US on a full-time basis for anyone other than current employer.
  • Law degree and professional legal qualification.
  • A minimum of 12 years of extensive commercial and/or transactional legal experience required, including experience with Upstream projects, joint ventures, and regulatory frameworks.
  • Candidate should have competitive credentials and related experience from corporate in-house, governmental, and/or leading law firm practice.
  • Ability to work in a dynamic legal environment with clients who need to quickly respond to operational and regulatory demands.
  • Demonstrated ability to quickly grasp complex commercial arrangements.
  • Sound commercial, transactional and client advisory skills readily applicable to the offshore or onshore upstream and midstream oil and gas industry.
  • Excellent influencing, negotiating and facilitation skills.
  • Established record as a self-starter and confidence to make decisions in ambiguous circumstances and to work in an uncertain regulatory and legal environment without significant management oversight.
  • Ability to think strategically and to appreciate both the immediate and longer-term impacts on the business of different courses of action.
  • Ability to handle sensitive government and joint venture co-owner relations.
  • Ability to prioritize time spent on matters by value and risk.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with less experienced legal practitioners, providing advice and coaching in the delivery of legal services.
  • Proven ability to involve relevant SME and other legal colleagues and seamlessly deliver integrated legal advice.
  • Global mindset and ability to work virtually with lawyers in other regions.

Please note: We occasionally amend or withdraw Shell jobs and reserve the right to do so at any time, including prior to the advertised closing date. Before applying, you are advised to read our data protection policy. This policy describes the processing that may be associated with your personal data and informs you that your personal data may be transferred to Shell/Shell Group companies around the world. The Shell Group and its approved recruitment consultants will never ask you for a fee to process or consider your application for a career with Shell. Anyone who demands such a fee is not an authorised Shell representative and you are strongly advised to refuse any such demand. Shell participates in E-Verify. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information or other protected status under federal, state or local laws. Shell is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disability. As a US Federal Contractor, hiring selections are subject to periodic audit review and documentation of your selections should be maintained for a period of three calendar years. It is the policy of Shell in the U.S. (“Shell”) to provide equal opportunity to all individuals, employees and all qualified applicants for employment consistent with employment requirements and qualifications. Shell prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, citizenship, genetic information, or other protected status under federal, state or local laws. All employees are expected to support this policy and contribute to an environment of equal opportunity. If you need an accommodation for a disability during the resourcing process, please speak with an HR representative.