Senior Legal Counsel Expert - M&A and Port Infrastructure Projects

CMA CGM; Marseille; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

CMA CGM is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel Expert focused on M&A and port infrastructure projects in Marseille. You will provide strategic and hands-on legal guidance for complex external growth initiatives across the group’s global operations.

The role requires substantial experience in corporate law, M&A, and port concessions, with fluency in English and strong negotiation skills. You will collaborate with diverse teams in a demanding international environment.

Qualifications

• Strong academic background in civil and business law; ideally a common law degree abroad (US/UK LLM).
• At least 6 years' experience in a major international group or leading law firm (lawyer or solicitor).
• Demonstrated expertise in port infrastructure projects, concession agreements and tender processes for port concessions.
• Experience in corporate law, private/public M&A, investments, consortium and JV arrangements, and infrastructure projects.
• Fluency in English, written and spoken, in civil and common law.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted legal partner on external growth projects, including private and public M&A, investments, restructurings and disposals.
• Structure, draft and negotiate consortium and JV agreements; oversee due diligence and manage transactions through signing, closing and post‑closing.
• Advise on port infrastructure projects, negotiate concession agreements, and support bids for port concession projects with cross-functional teams.

Skills

English fluency

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Civil and business law degree

Common law degree abroad (LLM)

Job description

Senior Legal Counsel Expert - M&A and Port Infrastructure Projects

Req ID: 592617

Posting Start Date: 07/10/2026

Marseille, FRA CMA CGM Legal - Insurance Permanent contract Full Time

Led by Rodolphe Saadé, the CMA CGM Group, a global leader in shipping and logistics, serves more than 420 ports around the world on five continents. With its subsidiary CEVA Logistics, a world leader in logistics, and its air freight division CMA CGM AIR CARGO, the CMA CGM Group is continually innovating to offer its customers a complete and increasingly efficient range of new shipping, land, air and logistics solutions.

Committed to the energy transition in shipping, and a pioneer in the use of alternative fuels, the CMA CGM Group has set a target to become Net Zero Carbon by 2050.

Through the CMA CGM Foundation, the Group acts in humanitarian crises that require an emergency response by mobilizing the Group’s shipping and logistics expertise to bring humanitarian supplies around the world.

Present in 160 countries through its network of more than 400 offices and 750 warehouses, the Group employs more than 155,000 people worldwide, including 4,000 in Marseilles where its head office is located.

YOUR ROLE

Reporting to the M&A Legal Director, you will act as a senior legal counsel and recognised subject-matter expert, providing strategic and hands‑on legal advice in connection with complex external growth projects across the Group’s international activities.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ?

• Act as a trusted legal partner to operational teams and Group functions on external growth projects, including private and public M&A transactions, majority and minority equity investments, corporate reorganisations and disposals.
• Structure, draft and negotiate consortium agreements, joint venture agreements and related transaction documentation; oversee legal due diligence and manage transactions through signing, closing and post‑closing.
• Advise on port infrastructure projects, including the negotiation of concession agreements and support in preparing bids for port concession projects, while coordinating closely with operational teams, finance and relevant legal specialists.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR ?

• Strong academic background in civil and business law, ideally complemented by a common law degree abroad (US/UK LLM) or in a business school;
• At least 6 years' experience in a major international industrial group or a leading business law firm (lawyer or solicitor);
• Demonstrated expertise in port infrastructure projects, concession agreements and tender processes for port concessions would be a strong advantage.
• You have substantial experience in corporate law, private and public M&A, majority and minority investments, consortium and joint venture arrangements, and infrastructure or concession projects.
• You are fluent in English, both written and spoken, in civil and common law;
• You demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility and ownership, and are able to work autonomously while maintaining sound judgement and a pragmatic, solution‑oriented approach.
• Highly organised and rigorous, you are comfortable coordinating multiple stakeholders and workstreams in a demanding international environment.
• You combine strong interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills with a collaborative team spirit and the ability to build trusted relationships across functions and cultures.
• Agile, flexible, responsive and adaptable, you have a genuine interest in the transport and logistics sectors and are motivated to contribute to the Group’s growth as part of a committed legal team.

Come along on CMA CGM’s adventure !

Information at a Glance

Rise in motion with CMA CGM Group: where ambition meets opportunity.

Join a global team of nearly 200 nationalities, shaping the future of global trade, moving essential goods, forging newpaths, and pushing boundaries to serve an ever‑changing world.

The pace is fast, the challenges are real, but the rewards are greater: growth, purpose, and thechance to make a meaningful impact. Thisis more than a job. It’s a journey on which you rise.

See how you can rise

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