Head of Legal & Compliance

Claxton combines decades of industry experience, proprietary technology, and exceptional service quality to cut through offshore installation and decommissioning complexity. Globally, we partner with operators and key contractors in conventional energy, decommissioning, and offshore wind, delivering certainty when it matters. Our expert teams anticipate challenges, deliver innovative high-performance solutions, and provide responsive, transparent support at every stage - ensuring seamless project execution and enduring value, throughout the asset lifecycle and across the energy transition.

Claxton are looking to source a Head of Legal & Compliance based at our facility in Aberdeen or Great Yarmouth. The Head of Legal & Compliance will be responsible for leading and embedding a strong, effective legal and compliance function across Claxton Engineering Services and Probe Manufacturing & Fabrication. Operating with a high degree of autonomy at business level, and aligned with broader group principles, the role provides pragmatic, commercially focused legal support while setting and maintaining appropriate legal, compliance and governance standards for the businesses. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team the role carries clear authority for legal and compliance matters and plays a key role in reinforcing ethical behaviour, risk discipline, and strong safety leadership across international operations.

Duties & Main Responsibilities

• Act as the primary legal advisor to Claxton and Probe on all legal matters.
• Provide timely, pragmatic legal advice aligned to commercial and operational realities.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including offshore services and engineering contracts, fabrication and manufacturing contracts, supply chain and procurement contracts, framework agreements, MOUs, and NDAs.
• Support tendering, contract risk review, and commercial assurance processes.
• Provide legal input into joint ventures, strategic partnerships, and international business development activities.
• Design, implement and own a proportionate legal and compliance framework appropriate to Claxton and Probe's risk profile.
• Establish, maintain, and oversee policies covering anti bribery and corruption, competition / antitrust, sanctions and export controls, data protection, whistleblowing, and conflicts of interest.
• Act as the internal authority and escalation point for compliance matters.
• Develop and deliver legal and compliance training across regions and functions.
• Promote a culture of ethical decision making, proportionate challenge and accountability.
• Identify, assess, and clearly articulate legal and compliance risks across projects, regions, and functions.
• Support the Senior Leadership Team in making informed, risk based decisions.
• Ensure legal and compliance risks are captured and managed within the wider business risk framework.
• Lead the management of disputes, claims, and contentious matters.
• Support early identification and resolution of issues to minimise escalation.
• Manage litigation, arbitration or mediation as required, including the instruction and oversight of external counsel.
• Support effective governance arrangements appropriate for the businesses.
• Ensure compliance with applicable company law and regulatory requirements across operating jurisdictions.
• Provide support to board and leadership governance processes, including documentation and delegated authorities.
• Lead and develop the Legal & Contracts team, including performance management, capability development, and succession planning.
• Act as a visible Senior Leadership Team member, contributing beyond legal matters to the overall leadership and performance of the business.
• Demonstrate and promote strong safety leadership, recognising the link between ethical behaviour, compliance discipline, and safe outcomes.
• Set clear expectations for professional standards, behaviour, and accountability.
• Select, instruct, and manage external legal advisors and specialist consultants.
• Control legal spend and ensure value for money.
• Act as an intelligent client, translating external advice into practical business actions.

Required

• Qualified solicitor or lawyer in the UK or another common law jurisdiction.
• Minimum 5 years PQE, with significant in house experience preferred.
• Strong grounding in commercial contract law and dispute resolution.
• Experience operating across international jurisdictions.
• Experience in offshore energy services, engineering, manufacturing, or construction environments desirable.
• Exposure to international compliance programmes (ABAC, sanctions, competition law) desirable.
• Commercially minded with strong professional judgement.
• Comfortable challenging constructively at senior leadership level.
• Pragmatic and solutions focused.
• Able to operate independently while aligning with wider group principles.
• High ethical standards and personal integrity.