Commercial Counsel

Huntsman; Tees Valley; Remote; GBP 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days’ holiday plus bank holidays

Private Medical Insurance

Pension scheme with company+employee

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work & gym discounts

Job summary

Huntsman seeks an experienced Commercial Counsel for a UK-based, interim 14-month assignment. You will advise on sales and purchasing contracts, T&Cs, quality agreements and claims across the EMEAI region.

You will lead negotiations, support litigation and real estate matters, and train colleagues on legal topics, while upholding Huntsman’s values and ethical standards.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor/barrister in England and Wales or other UK jurisdiction.
• At least 5 years' PQE with solid commercial experience.
• In-house or major law firm experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide wide-ranging commercial legal advice on contracts, terms and conditions, and claims.
• Support litigation and real estate transactions with external counsel.
• Design and deliver legal training for Huntsman associates.
• Contribute to global and regional legal process improvements and harmonisation.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Legal drafting

Communication skills

Relationship building

Commercial judgment

AI tools familiarity

Education

Qualified solicitor/barrister in England & Wales or UK jurisdiction

Tools

Microsoft Office

Copilot / AI tools

Job description

Are you an experienced commercial lawyer looking for a varied, highly collaborative interim role within an international business environment?

Join Huntsman, a global chemicals company, as a Commercial Counsel, providing pragmatic and commercially focused legal advice across the EMEAI region. You will also champion compliance and ethical business practices, helping ensure Huntsman operates to the highest legal and ethical standards. You will be a member of a supportive and close-knit UK-based Commercial Legal team that values collaboration, knowledge sharing and mutual support, and part of a wider global Legal team which includes lawyers who practice in a variety of subject areas and geographic regions

Role Responsibilities:

As a Commercial Counsel, you will be responsible for:

• Provide legal advice on and manage a wide variety of matters, including sales and purchasing contracts, terms and conditions, quality agreements and claims.
• Support litigation and real estate transactions handled in coordination with external counsel.
• Design and deliver training for Huntsman associates on legal topics and procedures.
• Contribute to continuous-improvement initiatives within the global Legal team and support the harmonization of working practices across the region.
• Perform your responsibilities in accordance with Huntsman’s values of honesty, integrity, respect and responsibility.

Experience and Competencies:

What we are looking for:

• Qualification as a solicitor/barrister authorized to practise in England and Wales/other UK jurisdiction, or qualification as a lawyer with the bar exam in any EU jurisdiction.
• At least 5 years' PQE. PQE is a guide and we are open to considering candidates with different levels of PQE who can demonstrate the required skills and commercial judgement.
• Previous experience in an in-house commercial counsel role or in a major law firm.
• Solid experience in general commercial law, including areas such as sales, purchasing, competition law, tort and corporate law.
• Excellent legal drafting and communication skills.
• Well-developed negotiation capabilities, with the confidence to lead commercial negotiations when required.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish credibility across functions, business divisions and levels of seniority.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and an openness to using modern AI-enabled tools, including Copilot.
• Experience in the manufacturing sector or chemical industry is desirable but not essential.

Working Arrangements:

• This is a UK home-based position. The UK Commercial Legal team and the wider UK Legal team meet in person periodically.
• The role may also require occasional travel to Huntsman locations, particularly European sites.
• The role is a c. 14 month contract to run until the end of 2027, with a preferred start date of early November.
• The immediate ability to live and work in the UK is required.

What we offer:

Alongside the opportunity to join an international and collaborative Legal team, Huntsman offers a benefits package supporting your health, wellbeing and work-life balance.

Benefits include:

• 27 days’ holiday plus 8 bank holidays.
• Competitive pension scheme, with company contributions of up to 12%, where the employee contributes 5%. (Other percentage options are available).
• Private Medical Insurance, with the option to add family cover.
• Employee Assistance Programme and 24/7 GP access.
• Cycle to Work scheme and gym discounts.

About Us:

At Huntsman, we pride ourselves on being a people-oriented organization.

Our family-like atmosphere is cultivated by our diverse groups of team members around the world.

We welcome the talent, experience and fresh ideas that employees at all stages of their careers, from interns to seasoned professionals, bring to Huntsman.

In return, we offer you the opportunity to become an integral part of a dynamic, industry-leading company, where safety and ethics always come first.