LEGAL COUNSEL – SHIPPING & COMMODITY TRADING

Job description

Who we are:

ENGIE is a global energy company, a leading provider of electricity, natural gas, and energy services. With 153,090 employees in more than 70 countries worldwide, ENGIE achieved revenue of €66.6 billion in 2016. ENGIE is committed to being a leader in the energy transition.

We are looking for talented and motivated people to create the future of energy. Join a rewarding and flexible work environment that encourages innovation and creativity, and help us meet the energy challenges of today and tomorrow.

Global Energy Management (GEM) is one of ENGIE's Business Units. We deliver services in supply and logistics management, asset management, risk management, market access management, while contributing to the market understanding, design and efficiency and developing market solutions to accelerate the energy transition.

GEM manages one of the largest and most diversified energy portfolios in Europe, including electricity, natural gas, bulk commodities and environmental products.

With 5 trading platforms and activities in more than 50 countries, GEM has an extended geographical coverage in Europe, Asia-Pacific and in the US. It employs 1,300 people around the world.

Organization:

The GEM BLAST Legal Team supports GEM's global biomass and LNG trading desks by providing documentation support and legal structuring advice, and managing legal and regulatory risk in compliance with applicable laws, ENGIE Group policies and internal procedures. The Team's remit is global but tracks the desks' division into APAC, Americas and Rest of World (“ RoW ”) zones, supporting trading and operational teams in Singapore and various European seats.

Context:

We are now looking for a junior to mid-level lawyer to provide a full range of documentation and legal support in the European time zones. The main areas of focus will be documenting physical commodity supply and purchase spot, and freight transactions, and supporting the desk in the event of commercial disputes. This is a Paris, Brussels or London-based position within the GEM Legal team supporting, and reports to the GEM BLAST Legal head in Singapore.

Role:

The successful candidate will be required to:

·  Provide documentation support to the European desks, including without limitation by drafting, reviewing, advising on and negotiating master agreements (LNG MSPA's, EFET, SCOTA etc), GTC's and related credit support and ancillary transaction documentation, including freight, credit support, collateral and security agreements, pre-transaction documentation including pitch and marketing documents, non-disclosure agreements, MoU's and termsheets, etc.
·  proactively managing the drafting, negotiation and execution of transaction-specific confirmation notice templates (where supported by Onboarding Team) or generally
·  tracking transaction specific documentation and conditions precedent requirements, and ancillary issues related thereto
·  coordinate execution of final contracts or amendments in coordination with Onboarding Team, including monitoring and participating in group approvals processes (where approvals required for certain types of matters and not handled directly by Onboarding Team)
·  assist the origination and trading teams in managing the ongoing contract life cycle including amendments, all contractual requirements, measurement of compliance to agreed terms, periodic reminders of upcoming renewal dates, expirations etc.
·  ensure timely filing of contracts, amendments, communications in the in-house database management software
·  In coordination with the senior GEM BLAST Legal lawyer based in Paris, act as the first point of call during European hours for event-driven issues and disputes, and manage event-driven issues and disputes in a cost-effective manner
·  Support the objectives and development of the Global LNG and Global Biomass' trading/marketing businesses and advise on legal and related issues as they arise in day-to-day trading/marketing activities, identifying and mitigating any transactional, regulatory and related risks
·  Remain current on RoW laws and regulations applicable to the commodity supply chain, such as sanctions, anti-corruption, anti-bribery, financial services and related laws, encourage a culture of compliance therewith including by the development of relevant internal policies
·  Deal frequently with other GEM stakeholders and management, in particular the Internal Control and Compliance function, on day-to-day activities and transactional, regulatory and compliance related matters/issues, and effectively manage external counsel

Work location:

Courbevoie, ENGIE T1

Education and professional background:

The successful candidate will meet all or most of the following criteria:

·  Qualified in the UK or other common law jurisdiction with 5+ years' PQE experience in shipping and/or commodity trading law
·  Knowledge of European physical biomass and LNG markets (strongly preferred) and familiarity with maritime and commercial/contract law (essential)
·  Strong business sense, oral and written communication, and negotiation skills
·  Ability to work under pressure, prioritise and work to deadlines
·  Strong interpersonal skills (ability to work with a variety of internal departments plus external clients)
·  Ability to work without supervision as part of a global team, and in a multi-cultural trading environment
·  Proven organisational skills and attention to detail, particularly under pressure
·  Adaptive to change

Languages:

Fluent English essential, French, Spanish and/or Dutch language skills a plus

Additional Information
·  Posting Date: Jan 20, 2020