Senior Legal Counsel

Petrofac; Sharjah; On-site; AED 320,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Petrofac is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel based in Sharjah, UAE, to support construction projects across the EPC/EPCM portfolio. The role requires strong expertise in construction disputes, EPC contracting, and advisory work within a project team.

The successful candidate will work under the Associate General Counsel (construction), coordinating with external counsel and internal stakeholders to ensure compliant contract administration and strategic risk management across high-value projects in

Qualifications

• Experience handling construction disputes, including contract interpretation, adjudication, arbitration or litigation.
• Strong understanding of EPC contracting principles and project life cycle.
• Proven ability to provide strategic legal advice in project environments.

Responsibilities

• Oversee contract administration for EPC/EPCM projects.
• Advise on disputes, claims, and risk allocation in O&G contracts.
• Instruct and coordinate external lawyers and experts as needed.
• Provide front/back-end legal support for construction projects and bids.
• Draft/review NDAs, settlements, JV agreements, and related docs.
• Support Project Directors and Contract Managers with legal risk mitigation.

Skills

Construction disputes

EPC contracting

Common law / E&W

Project Counsel experience

Liaising with external counsel

Risk management & supply chain

Job description

Petrofac is currently looking to recruit a Senior Legal Counsel to be based in Sharjah, UAE.

What We Do

Petrofac is a leading international service provider to the energy industry, with a diverse client portfolio including many of the world’s leading energy companies.

We design, build, manage and maintain infrastructure for the energy industries. Our comprehensive and tailored service offering covers each stage of the project life cycle and a variety of commercial models, giving our clients the flexibility, they need.

Key Responsibilities

Under the supervision and guidance of the Associate General Counsel (construction), the successful candidate would:

• Become an integral part of the Project execution and administration functions for multiple high-value EPC / EPCM contracts (O&G, UAE) (USD bns)
• Ensure compliant contract administration
• Proactively identify shortcomings in processes and find solutions (eg, training, policies & procedures)
• Assess and provide strategy advice in relation to up / downstream claims
• Instruct and manage external lawyers and technical experts as required
• Ensure effective flow down of risks / obligations to the supply chain
• Provide various other ad hoc front / back-end support to the Legal function (construction focussed), eg:
  • review / drafting of NDAs, Settlement Agreements, JV Agreements (etc);
  • assisting on bidding opportunities (major O&G projects);
  • assisting with live legal disputes (all stages and fora); and
  • involvement in strategic business initiatives, organizing training, etc.

Requirements

The ideal candidate would be able to demonstrate most of the following:

• Strong experience in construction disputes (contractual, statutory adjudication, arbitration, etc)
• Strong understanding of EPC contracting principles (ideally also EPCM)
• Strong grounding in E&W / common law (exposure to civil law principles is a plus)
• Experience advising in a Project Counsel capacity
• Exposure working with / against leading counsel, delay and quantum experts (ideally to trial)
• Exposure working directly with Project teams (Project Directors, Contract Managers)
• Can do, flexible attitude and strong work ethic