Paralegal

James Fisher and Sons plc; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

James Fisher and Sons plc is seeking a Paralegal for its Maritime Transport Division in London. The role supports the Division General Counsel and broader legal team in handling legal, contractual and compliance matters across the group, including vessel sales/purchases and ship-building projects.

The successful candidate will oversee contract administration, regulatory research, and alignment with group policies while liaising with internal stakeholders and external counsel as needed.

Qualifications

• Previous paralegal or legal support experience, ideally in-house or maritime-related business.
• Experience reviewing, administering and managing commercial contracts and legal documents.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and legal document management systems.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparation, review, and management of customer and supplier contracts, including charter parties and other commercial agreements.
• Conduct legal/regulatory research and prepare summaries for internal stakeholders.
• Support sales in the sale and purchase of second-hand vessels and related due diligence.
• Assist with disputes, claims, litigation and arbitration matters, including coordinating with external counsel.

Skills

Paralegal experience

Legal documentation management

Microsoft Office

Tools

Contract lifecycle management systems

Job description

About the Role

Paralegal – Maritime Transport
Permanent position
London

The Role:
The Maritime Transport Division Paralegal is an integral member of the legal team, together with the Legal Counsel and the Division General Counsel.
The Paralegal will support the Division General Counsel and other members of the team in relation to the handling and resolution of all legal, contractual and compliance issues faced by the Division, and may also be asked to support matters relating to the work of the other Group companies within James Fisher and Sons plc.

Key Duties and responsibilities:

• Assist in the preparation, review, administration and management of customer and supplier contracts, including charter parties, contracts of affreightment, time charters, drydocking contracts, non-disclosure agreements and other commercial agreements. Maintain contract records, templates and legal documentation within the Division's contract management systems.
• Conduct legal and regulatory research and prepare summaries, reports and briefing materials for internal stakeholders.
• Support the sales team with the sale and purchase of second-hand vessels.
• Assist with the management of disputes, claims, litigation and arbitration matters, including document collection, organisation and liaising with external legal counsel.
• Support the sale and purchase of second-hand vessels through document management, due diligence and transaction support activities.
• Support vessel newbuilding projects through document preparation, coordination and maintenance of transaction records.
• Assist with corporate governance matters, including support for new country set ups, entity establishment, restructuring and dissolution projects.
• Assist the legal team in monitoring compliance with applicable laws, regulations and Group Corporate Policies, Standards and Procedures.
• Support implementation of the JFS Compliance Programme, including preparation of training materials, maintenance of compliance records and monitoring completion of compliance activities.
• Conduct preliminary sanctions and compliance screening and assist with due diligence processes under the supervision of legal counsel and compliance personnel.
• Support the preparation, review and updating of standard terms and conditions, policies, procedures and legal templates.
• Coordinate legal project activities and maintain trackers, reporting tools and legal risk registers.
• Work collaboratively with Group functions including Company Secretarial, Tax, Finance, HSEQ, Sustainability and Insurance Departments.
• Assist in managing legal spend administration, invoice processing and engagement records for external legal advisers.

What we’re looking for:

You will need excellent organisational and administrative skills with strong attention to detail.
Be capable of managing multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Have strong written and verbal communication skills and be confident interacting with internal and external stakeholders.
Demonstrate a proactive and solution-focused approach to supporting the legal team and wider business.
Be able to work independently while recognising when matters require escalation to legal counsel.
Maintain a high degree of confidentiality and professionalism at all times.

Key skills, knowledge and experience:

Previous paralegal, legal executive or relevant legal support experience, preferably within an in-house legal department, law firm or maritime-related business.
Experience reviewing, administering and managing commercial contracts and legal documentation.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and legal document management systems.

In addition, the following experience would be advantageous:

• Experience supporting legal matters within the maritime transportation, shipping, logistics, offshore or related industries.
• Familiarity with charter parties, vessel sale and purchase transactions, shipbuilding projects or other maritime commercial arrangements.
• Experience supporting litigation, arbitration, claims or external counsel management.
• Exposure to company secretarial and corporate governance activities.
• Understanding of sanctions compliance, anti-bribery and corruption requirements and wider corporate compliance programmes.
• Knowledge of sustainability and environmental regulations affecting the maritime transportation sector.
• Experience using contract lifecycle management systems.
• Spanish and/or Portuguese language skills.

Why join us?

Competitive benefits tailored to the division.
Opportunities for career growth and visibility across the organisation.
A supportive, inclusive culture that values your ideas and contributions.
Work that truly makes a difference in safety, innovation, and global capability.

About Us:

James Fisher is a global engineering services company with over 50 years of experience delivering complex offshore energy projects in some of the world’s most challenging environments. We operate across Energy, Defence, and Maritime Transport, leveraging cutting-edge technology and deep expertise to support the full lifecycle of our customers’ assets.

Visit our website at: www.james-fisher.com

Maritime Transport - With nearly two centuries of maritime shipping and innovation, James Fisher has an unrivalled reputation for quality, safety and reliability.
Our long-standing customer partnerships allow us to deliver the highest possible standard of maritime solutions. As a global specialist in ship-to-ship transfer and coastal shipping, James Fisher is a recognised market leader in the movement of the world’s critical resources.
Ensuring safety at sea and in port, and investing in the fleet of tomorrow, James Fisher is shaping the future of maritime.

James Fisher and Sons are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications for candidates from all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success depends on our talented and diverse workforce.