Faststream is recruiting for a Legal Counsel with 0-3 years PQE.
Reporting to the Company’s Head of Legal, as legal counsel, you will be responsible for providing legal support to offices in different countries and all areas of the clients business, including (but not limited to) chartering and operations, business development (including sale and purchase), corporate and finance.
You will have a diverse workload and your day could involve any of the following: advising on a non-disclosure agreement for a new project, drafting resolutions for one of the companies, reviewing a charterparty clause, dealing with a vessel-related query from the operations team, managing the sale of a vessel or resolving a dispute with one of the clients customers.
The in-house legal function was created in 2021 following the launch of a new company strategy. You will form a key part of the in-house legal team whose focus is to provide effective legal advice to the business in an accessible and cost-effective way. This is a unique opportunity to make an appreciable difference within a dynamic, global shipping business.
The Legal Counsel reports to the Head of Legal.
Responsibilities
- Supporting the Head of Legal with legal matters arising in the core areas of the business;
- Working directly with individual business units in different countries to meet their legal needs while appreciating the commercial context and the business’ overall needs;
- Where legal work is not completed in-house, managing work with appropriate external lawyers/firms in a proactive and cost-effective way;
- Managing legal and related risk for the company and ensuring all relevant personnel are aware of relevant obligations and risks;
- Reviewing, drafting and negotiating a range of contracts and related documentation in core areas, such as commercial agreements, joint ventures, those relating to banking and finance transactions, letters of intent and non-disclosure agreements;
- Assisting with ad hoc legal projects to support the Head of Legal.
Primary Practice Areas
- Shipping and maritime (including charterparties, bills of lading, claims, sanctions and related regulatory matters);
- General commercial, corporate and finance (drafting, reviewing and where relevant implementing, commercial contracts, joint ventures, banking and financing transactions);
- Sale and purchase (drafting MoAs, corporate and closing documents, managing the sale/purchase process).
Requirements
- Qualifications: English law qualified solicitor or barrister;
- Experience: Newly qualified to 3 years PQE, with experience in at least one of the primary practice areas listed above, preferably gained in a maritime firm/field;
- Comfortable working in a small team, often independently (and knowing when to ask for help);
- Customer-focused approach to work;
- Ability to think on your feet, adapt and learn quickly, with a willingness to step outside your comfort zone and learn about new areas of law;
- Have a commercial approach to the law and its application to the business;
- Have a team-oriented outlook and be able to communicate effectively (orally and in writing) with colleagues, customers and other external third parties;
- Ability to prioritise workload, take decisions and deliver positive results promptly;
- Comfortable working in a global, fast-paced environment across different time zones with business units that have complex legal needs.