Senior Legal Counsel in Aberdeen

Senior Legal Counsel in Aberdeen

Aberdeen Full-Time 80000 - 100000 € / year (est.) No home office possible
Petrofac

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Provide strategic legal support for commercial and operational activities in energy projects.
  • Company: Join a leading global asset management partner in the energy sector.
  • Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Dynamic team environment with significant exposure to leadership and career advancement.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping contracts and managing legal risks in innovative projects.
  • Qualifications: Legally qualified with experience in complex project agreements and strong communication skills.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.

Worldwide, energy asset owners choose CB&I Asset Solutions as their asset management partner, confident in our ability to deliver tailored, value‐driven asset management solutions. Our commitment is simple but powerful: to deliver value to our customers through safe, effective and efficient operations, maintenance, wells and decommissioning solutions, specializing in late‐life energy assets. We're committed to investing in our people, and to building exceptional teams who deliver. Our people are trusted by our customers to safely operate their energy assets, improve performance and extend asset life through innovative solutions. We support flexible working requests and have adopted a hybrid approach for most of our office‐based roles. We ask employees to be present in the office at least three days per week.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • This is a critical senior legal position, responsible for providing strategic commercial and operational legal support across all activities.
  • It adds value by shaping strong, competitive bids; securing contracts that balance opportunity with disciplined risk allocation; and ensuring the business enters each project with clarity, protection, and commercial advantage.
  • Once projects move into execution, the role safeguards value through proactive claims management, early dispute avoidance, and tight control of contractual obligations, variations, and entitlements.
  • By partnering closely with BD, Commercial, Operations, Finance, and HSE, this role strengthens decision‐making, accelerates delivery, and reduces exposure to costly disputes or operational disruption.
  • Legal support for bids and tenders.
  • Business partner with BD and Commercial to structure competitive (compliant) commercial positions.
  • Attend project kick‐off and monthly contract review meetings.
  • Coordinate with Finance, Tax, HSE, Operations, and Engineering to ensure contract terms reflect operational reality.
  • Advise on contractual rights, remedies, notices, termination options, and enforcement strategies.
  • Support commercial teams with interpretation, analysis, and drafting of qualifications for clients, subcontractors, and suppliers.
  • Ensure project teams understand contractual obligations, deliverables, milestones, and risk positions.
  • Ensure all agreements reflect mandatory local legal requirements, regulatory constraints, and market‐specific terms.
  • Advise on governing law, dispute‐resolution mechanisms, and enforceability challenges in high‐risk or low‐predictability legal systems.
  • Manage contract approval workflows to ensure compliance with internal policies, delegation of authority, and escalation protocols.
  • Maintain and update contracting templates, fallback positions, and negotiation playbooks.
  • Partner with Finance, Tax, HR, Commercial and Business Development to ensure contracts reflect end‐to‐end operational and compliance realities.
  • Together with Disputes Counsel, manage early‐stage contract disputes, notices, escalation pathways, and settlement strategies.
  • Draft and negotiate subcontracts, ensure flow‐down of obligations, and manage subcontractor claims.
  • Manage bank guarantees, bonds, retention, and security releases in line with contract terms.
  • Adapt global templates for local use while maintaining core protections and global standards.
  • Select, instruct, and manage external counsel, ensuring efficient case handling, cost control, and alignment with business priorities.
  • Support consistent implementation of corporate behaviours and standards.
  • Train commercial and operational teams on contracting and litigation risks, red flags, and required controls specific to high‐risk jurisdictions.
  • Track, interpret, and communicate changes in local laws and regulations, translating them into clear, actionable operational guidance.
  • Work with Legal and Compliance to update and align policies, procedures, and controls with evolving regulatory requirements and industry standards.
  • Provide oversight and collaboration on legal matters intersecting with compliance, regulatory obligations, and operational risk.
  • Help lead and coordinate responses to regulatory exams, audits, and inquiries, including submissions, remediation planning, and cross‐functional preparation.
  • Report to senior leadership on regulatory developments, emerging risks, trends, and key compliance metrics across high‐risk jurisdictions.
  • Optimise external legal spend by negotiating best rates, capped fee regimes and monitoring and recording external legal performance and spend in accordance with the department's best practice.
  • Progress internal billing approvals with relevant stakeholders.
  • Helping with financial and audit requests on law firm appointments and billing information.
  • Distinguishes between nice to have vs. essential and critical legal solutions.
  • Exercises sound legal and commercial judgement for any of the accountabilities and tasks above.
  • Identifies material legal risks and ensures that contract qualifications are optimised accordingly.
  • Interprets opaque, rapidly changing, or inconsistently enforced local laws and translates them into practical compliance controls.
  • Identify high‐risk issues early and escalates to Legal Director / GC with clear options.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

  • Legally qualified with maximum years of experience managing drafting and negotiating complex project agreements.
  • Strong command of liability frameworks, indemnities, warranties, LDs, insurance structures, and performance security.
  • Experience advising on multi‐jurisdictional matters, local law constraints, and country‐entry requirements.
  • Demonstrated experience working in a senior position in a multinational organization.
  • Good communicator with a pragmatic, methodical, detail‐oriented, flexible and dynamic approach.
  • Experience of driving intellectually complex issues to a firm, practical conclusion.
  • Highly developed interpersonal skills to build and maintain complex, sensitive and influential relationships across a wide group of stakeholders.
  • Ability to see the bigger picture and consider advice in the context of wider organisational goals/policies.
  • Ability to self‐initiate and perform tasks with minimal supervision and prioritise conflicting demands.
  • Confident and capable of interfacing with senior management and partnering with all parts of the business including BD, Commercial, Operations, Project delivery teams, Treasury, Tax, Finance, Co Sec, Compliance, Legal and SCM.
  • Risk‐based, practical approach to regulatory compliance in high‐risk operational environments.

Senior Legal Counsel in Aberdeen employer: Petrofac

CB&I Asset Solutions is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in The Woodlands, Texas, where innovation and collaboration thrive. With a strong commitment to employee growth, flexible working arrangements, and a culture that values safety and efficiency, we empower our teams to deliver tailored asset management solutions globally. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking organisation that prioritises your professional development while making a meaningful impact in the energy sector.

Petrofac

Contact Detail:

Petrofac Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Legal Counsel in Aberdeen

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the legal field, especially those who work in energy or asset management. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their values and how they operate. This way, you can tailor your answers to show how you can add value to their team.

Tip Number 3

Practice your negotiation skills! As a Senior Legal Counsel, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to secure contracts and manage disputes. Role-play scenarios with a friend to build confidence.

Tip Number 4

Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Legal Counsel in Aberdeen

Legal Qualification
Contract Drafting and Negotiation
Commercial Awareness
Risk Management
Multi-Jurisdictional Legal Expertise
Interpersonal Skills
Communication Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in managing complex project agreements. We want to see how your skills align with our needs, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!

Showcase Your Legal Expertise:When writing your application, emphasise your understanding of liability frameworks, indemnities, and multi-jurisdictional matters. We’re looking for someone who can navigate the legal landscape with ease, so let us know how you’ve done this in the past.

Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, especially when it comes to your experience and qualifications. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your key achievements.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Petrofac

Know Your Legal Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of complex project agreements, liability frameworks, and multi-jurisdictional matters. Be ready to discuss how you've navigated these in past roles, as this will show your expertise and confidence.

Understand the Company’s Operations

Familiarise yourself with CB&I Asset Solutions' business model and recent projects. Knowing how they operate and their approach to asset management will help you tailor your answers and demonstrate that you're genuinely interested in the role.

Prepare for Scenario Questions

Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific legal challenges or disputes. Think of examples from your experience where you successfully managed risks or negotiated contracts, and be ready to explain your thought process.

Showcase Your Interpersonal Skills

This role requires strong relationships across various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you've built and maintained these relationships in the past, and highlight your communication style to show you can work effectively with senior management and diverse stakeholders.