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.
Nature & Env Solutions, Sr Legal Counsel
(more about Shell)
This job posting has been archived.
Unfortunately Shell has archived this job posting, they are no longer accepting applications.

Nature & Env Solutions, Sr Legal Counsel

The Role

Where you fit in

The Nature and Environmental Solutions (NES) team leverages our two main current competitive advantages of our leading trading position (helmed by our Environmental Products Trading Business (EPTB) team) in both compliance and regulatory markets and our experience and credibility developing and investing in nature projects (the Nature Based Solutions (NBS) team) that produce high quality carbon credits.

The NBS team is primarily focused on developing projects which protect or redevelop natural ecosystems, such as forests, grasslands and wetlands. These could be projects related to conservation, afforestation or reforestation thereby generating carbon credits in the future whilst benefitting local communities and protecting biodiversity

Shell’s Global CO2 Trading team is headquartered in London with desks in Houston, Dubai, Singapore, Beijing and Tokyo. The Global NBS team is headquartered in Singapore with commercial teams placed stretching from Australia to the Americas.

EPTB is responsible for the management and optimisation of the CO2 exposures faced by Shell assets around the world, and for generating revenue streams from external business development and proprietary trading activities. In addition, Shell has an environmental products team in North America that focuses on broader renewable energy and emissions markets in the US, Canada and Mexico.

CO2 markets have experienced rapid growth over recent years, and Shell has remained at the forefront of the market since executing the first ever European Union (EU) CO2 Allowance trade in 2003. With CO2 increasingly being embedded into the global commodity mix, the NES team is well positioned to meet the CO2 trading and commodity requirements of new and existing customers over the coming years

What’s the role?

The successful candidate will be expected to be the primary legal focal assisting the EPTB team in Europe. The candidate will provide support in reviewing and drafting bespoke Master Agreements and Deal Confirmations, ISDAs, consultancy agreements, Emissions Reductions Purchase Agreements, credit documents (Bank Guarantees and LCs), land right agreements, Long Term Emissions Offtake agreements and asset purchase agreements.

The candidate will also be required to assist and advice the EPTB team on acquisitions of companies and/or their trading books, enforcement/ regulatory/ licensing issues involving derivatives trading, credit security structures and land rights issues.

The EPTB desk’s increased focus on complex structured finance deals with significant cross jurisdictional implications mean that the candidate shall be responsible for the drafting and/or review of a vast array of complex bespoke contracts, including those relating to financing and security arrangements and contracts that have significant embedded optionality.

Such structured finance deals are anticipated to be conducted in various jurisdictions, often involving challenging and unclear legal and regulatory landscapes and the candidate will be required to:

  • Provide sound legal and commercial advice on deal structuring in light of a challenging commercial and legal landscape
  • Address any regulatory issues that may arise from security arrangements or from the deal in general
  • Work closely with internal functions to ensure alignment and compliance with Shell’s requirements
  • As an integral member of the deal team, lead the deal and be a check on the deal BOM to ensure that deadlines are met and
  • Revise deal documents and lead negotiations with counterparties, and ensure that all internal requirements are reflected in the final deal documents
  • The candidate will further be expected to have significant exposure to the use of and management of external counsel for structured financing transactions. The candidate will be expected to liaise closely with external counsel and act as an effective conduit between the commercial desk and external counsel to manage workload, procurement of advice and effectively manage the balance between cost effectiveness and fit for purpose external legal service.

The candidate shall be expected to travel occasionally for this role.

The candidate is also required to provide legal support to the EPTB team in their roll out of various global initiatives involving international conventions/agreements such as CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting Scheme for Aviation) and working with global retail and commercial fuels to deliver on Shell’s CO2 promises. The candidate will also be expected to provide commercial legal advice and support for the EPTB Team’s day-to-day operations including to:

  • Potentially contentious operational matters such as late delivery or failure situations, Force Majeure and breaches of contract;

Regularly advise and interface with the Contracts Unit, including on master sale and purchase agreements, preparation and updating of standard contracts, knowledge sharing and training, and with other Shell Trading functions, mainly Finance, Credit, Operations, HR and Tax.

In addition to the above, the candidate will also be the secondary legal focal for the NBS business in Europe. The candidate will be expected the support the NBS team in:

  • Reviewing NDAs and MOUs, share sale & purchase agreements, share subscription agreements; joint venture agreements; land lease agreements and commodity offtake agreements amongst others;
  • Supporting and implementing complex structured financing arrangements akin to the CO2 Trading desk’s.

Special Challenges

A fast-paced environment, innovative business development teams and the challenges arising as the CO2 Trading and NBS businesses continue to adapt to changing industry and regulatory environments will require that this individual is commercially minded, flexible, willing to challenge and learn, and able to work under pressure.

What we need from you?

We are looking for a Qualified Senior Lawyer with sound knowledge of contract law and sale of goods principles.  Ideally, a knowledge of and interest in the legal issues relevant to trading generally and CO2 Trading and commodity trade finance matters.

We are also keen to hear from candidates with the following experience:    

  • Extensive experience in international common law and/or civil law contracts.Able to work without direct supervision.
  • Ability to draft with appropriate understanding and interpretation of the commercial intentions.
  • Excellent drafting skills. Good verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to work on a number of issues in parallel.
  • Ability to understand and take account of business drivers and needs.
  • Able to give clear exposition of a legal issue and to provide succinct accurate and comprehensible legal advice.
  • Able to coordinate between internal functions and achieve alignment.
  • Knowledge and experience to identify critical legal risks in the face of deadlines and deal pressures.
  • Influencing, negotiation and facilitation skills. Capacity for collaborative teamwork and able to act as a network performer to coordinate with multiple contributors.
  • Understanding of the Shell Group structure and the Shell Control Framework.
  • This individual must be motivated, self-directed, able to handle multiple streams of work, prioritise workload and to work both independently and as a member of a team, while at the same time knowing when to seek advice from the line manager or other senior colleagues.
  • Based or willing to work in London and preferably, have a right to work there.

About Shell UK

Shell started operations in the United Kingdom more than 110 years ago. Since then, we have grown into a leading innovative Oil & Energy company that rewards its employees by investing heavily in their careers and learning. Our people are our greatest asset, and our commitment to your career will see you thrive in a work environment that offers an industry-leading development programme. When your ideas travel, Shell will benefit, and innovation will thrive. Shell has a key role to play in helping meet the UK’s growing energy demand, whilst using innovative technologies to develop cleaner energy. We are the largest FTSE 100 company in the UK by market capitalisation and make a significant contribution to the UK economy. As well as processing 35% of the gas coming into the UK, we serve more than four million customers at our filling stations each week. Shell employs some 6,400 skilled staff as well as many contractors.

An innovative place to work

There’s never been a more exciting time to work at Shell.

Join us and you’ll be adding your talent and imagination to a business with the ambition to shape the future – whether by investing in oil, gas and renewable energy to meet demand, exploring new ways to store energy, or developing technology that helps the world to use energy more efficiently, everyone at Shell does their part.

An inclusive place to work

To power progress, we need to attract and develop the brightest minds and make sure every voice is heard. Here are just some of the ways we are nurturing an inclusive environment – one where you can express your ideas, extend your skills, and reach your potential.

  • We’re creating a space where people with disabilities can excel through transparent recruitment process, workplace adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Feel free to let us know about your circumstances when you apply, and we’ll take it from there.
  • We’re closing the gender gap – whether that’s through action on equal pay or by enabling more women to reach senior roles in engineering and technology.
  • We’re striving to be a pioneer of an inclusive and diverse workplace, promoting equality for employees regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • We consider ourselves a flexible employer and want to support you finding the right balance. We encourage you to discuss this with us in your application.

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.

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 is an Equal Opportunity Employer.