General Counsel

TotalEnergies UAE Services; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

TotalEnergies UAE Services is seeking a senior legal expert for its Legal Department. The role involves providing comprehensive legal support, managing contracts, and ensuring compliance with UAE laws, particularly in the dynamic energy sector. Candidates should possess significant experience and relevant law degrees.

Qualifications

• Senior legal role requires a minimum of 15 years' experience in E&P law.
• Involvement in legal advice and negotiations for high-value contracts.
• Candidate should manager legal team and assist various assets.

Responsibilities

• Advise on terms of agreements and participate in negotiations.
• Prevent disputes and defend TotalEnergies' interests.
• Plan and manage legal department activities.

Skills

Petroleum law

International business law

Public law

Community law

Environmental law

Company law

Education

LL.B Honors degree

Master's in Petroleum Law

Job description

The Legal Department provides legal advice to all of TotalEnergies companies in the UAE to protect the interests of TotalEnergies and minimize legal risks. The scope of the job includes managing high-value assets with complex contractual arrangements.

Working in an environment where the legal regime, especially in the energy sector, is not highly developed and is subject to recent and constantly changing legislations, clear answers are often not available. The Legal Department is involved in negotiations and discussions that can be protracted and require a flexible, diplomatic approach to achieve business objectives without significant compromise on legal issues.

The General Counsel provides support and advice to minimize legal risks, optimize our commercial position, and find pragmatic, diplomatic solutions to problems. Major activities include:

1. Negotiations and Agreements: Advising on terms of existing agreements, participating in negotiations with the state, national companies, and joint venture partners, and supporting the preparation, review, and implementation of new agreements and major contracts.
2. Disputes and Litigation: Preventing disputes and litigation, and defending TotalEnergies' interests in the event of disputes or litigation.
3. Additional Legal Support: Maintaining effective contact with DGEP/JA, selecting and managing external legal support in the UAE as required, and maintaining legal databases.
4. Legal Team Management: Planning and overseeing departmental activities, leading team creation, evaluating employee performance, validating training plans, and contributing to the Emiratization of the department.

Degree: Law degree, with a minimum of LL.B Honors from a civil or common law jurisdiction (Europe, UK, US); a Master's in Petroleum Law is preferable.

Experience: Minimum of 15 years' experience in E&P law.

Knowledge/Skills: Petroleum law, international business law, public law, community law, environmental law, company law. The candidate should be a senior member of the UAE management team, providing legal assistance to various assets and corporate entities, and serving as Sanction Officer for all TotalEnergies affiliates in the UAE.