Senior Legal Counsel - CCS Projects

(ASAP START - UK RTW REQUIRED)

Job Title: Senior Legal Counsel (CCS Projects)             
Location: London
Contract Length: 12 Months
Purpose of role:
Provision of legal services to our client’s major CCS projects and eventually other arms of the business in relation to the group’s carbon capture and storage activities, projects and initiatives in the UK.
Key responsibilities:
• Legal advice in relation to all aspects of CCS project activities including real estate, consenting, regulators, project build (engineering, contracting etc.), partners, emitters, CCS network code, business model, regulatory compliance, structuring, financing. 
• Reviewing, drafting and negotiating a wide range of legal/commercial agreements for key clients involved in CCS Activities.
• Internal liaison with CCS and affiliated business units/departments.
• External liaison with joint venture partners, trading counterparties, government/regulatory authorities, industry groups and external legal and other advisers.
• Where required, provision of legal advice and miscellaneous shared CCS related services within the wider group.
• Where required, assistance on any corporate transactions involving CCS Activities (including project financing, other investment, acquisition and divestitures, shareholders agreements etc.).
• Where required, working with the company secretarial function in relation to any corporate restructuring activities arising in relation to the CCS Activities.
• Internal compliance with respect to the internal policies, procedures and guidelines of the group.
• Where required, co-ordination of legal services within the group (including the provision of English law advice).
Main Accountabilities:
• The provision of high-quality legal advice and assistance to CCS Activities in the UK.  This will include work on drafting/negotiating/amending (where appropriate with external advice and support from relevant group functions) real estate and planning agreements and documentation, commercial agreements (joint venture agreements, collaboration agreements, memoranda of understanding), project construction and engineering agreements (e.g. EPC), the full suite of agreements with government, CO2 emitters and any other party required to enable the development of transportation and storage activities, financing, investment and divestment agreements, decommissioning security agreements, intra-group service agreements confidentiality agreements and transfer/novation agreements.
• The provision of high-quality legal advice and assistance in support of any financing and acquisition and divestiture activities related to CCS Activities in the UK and, on a case-by-case basis, the wider group.  This will include work on due diligence activities, pre-emption analysis, drafting and negotiating sale and purchase agreements, regulatory approvals and general transaction management of these and all related activities.
• Where necessary as part of advising on CCS Activities, the provision of high-quality legal advice and assistance to international projects/transactions as they may arise from time to time.
• Where necessary as part of advising on CCS Activities, the provision of high-quality legal advice and assistance in relation to the provision of shared legal services to affiliated business units/departments.  The work to be completed will be wide ranging and include general legal support in the areas of property, data protection, procurement, pensions, insolvency, employment, corporate governance, etc.
• The provision of high-quality legal advice and assistance to the company secretarial activities of the client and the wider client group related to CCS Activities including assistance on any corporate restructuring required.
• Dispute resolution inc. litigation, arbitration, mediation and expert determination.
• English law advice for CCS affiliates within the wider group.
• Internal compliance with respect to the internal policies, procedures and guidelines of the client including matters related to HS&E, Anti-Corruption Compliance Guidelines, Law 231, Claims Reporting, Sarbanes-Oxley, etc.
• Professional development including internal training, precedents database, legal know-how etc.
• Document/information management systems (Mosaic, Desksite, e:Concession, etc.).
Education and Qualifications:
• Law degree with strong academic results.
• Qualified solicitor/barrister.
• 5-10 years post qualification (ideally)
Required Skills and Experience:
• Strong working knowledge of and relevant experience in carbon capture and storage projects or analogous work and of the UKCS upstream O&G industry
• Strong working knowledge of and relevant experience in land rights acquisition and exercise of DCO powers
• Excellent legal skills/knowledge, particularly in the area of commercial law and UK real estate and planning law.
• Good understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with transitioning from an oil and gas industry to a low carbon future
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (English is mandatory, any other language as a plus).
• Good computer skills (e.g. Microsoft Office Suite)

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.