Senior Legal Counsel

First Recruitment Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel for a 12-month contract in London. This role involves providing high-quality legal support for carbon capture and storage projects, including advisory, drafting, and negotiation services. The successful candidate will work closely with internal teams and external partners, ensuring compliance with legal standards while supporting project development. With a focus on commercial acumen and stakeholder engagement, this position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative projects in the energy sector. Join a dynamic team and make a significant impact on the transition to a low-carbon business model.

Qualifications

• UK qualified solicitor or barrister with a strong academic record.
• 5-10 years post-qualification experience in CCS or comparable projects.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on UK CCS projects and negotiate legal agreements.
• Engage with internal teams and external partners for project execution.
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Commercial legal skills

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation skills

Regulatory compliance

Project financing

Dispute resolution

Education

Law degree

Solicitor or barrister qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Senior Legal Counsel - 12 Month initial contract - Based in Victoria, London

Our Client has a requirement for a Senior Legal Counsel, who will be required to work on a Contract basis in Victoria, London.

Contract: Initial 12 month contract

IR35 status: Inside IR35

Hybrid: 8 Days working from home each month

Job Title: Senior Legal Counsel – UK CCS Projects Department:

Purpose of the Role

To provide high-quality legal support to Liverpool Bay CCS Ltd (LBCCS) and, where applicable, other Eni CCS companies, in connection with carbon capture and storage (CCS) activities and initiatives across the UK. This includes advisory, drafting, and negotiation services across the full spectrum of legal matters relating to the development and operation of CCS projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver legal advice on all aspects of UK CCS projects, including real estate, consenting, regulatory compliance, engineering and construction contracts, joint ventures, commercial structuring, and project financing.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of legal agreements, including joint venture agreements, MOUs, EPC contracts, emitter agreements, and regulatory documents.
• Engage with internal teams across LBCCS and affiliated Eni business units to support project development and execution.
• Liaise externally with joint venture partners, government bodies, regulators (e.g., NSTA, DESNZ, HSE, OFGEM), external counsel, and industry associations.
• Support corporate transactions including acquisitions, divestitures, and project finance arrangements.
• Collaborate with the Company Secretariat on corporate restructuring and governance related to CCS projects.
• Ensure compliance with Eni’s internal policies and applicable legal and regulatory requirements, including HSE standards and ethical guidelines.
• Coordinate legal services across the Eni Group, including the provision of English law advice and shared legal services.
• Provide timely and accurate legal support to enable CCS project delivery and risk management.
• Lead the negotiation of key project and corporate agreements.
• Support legal aspects of regulatory approvals, DCO processes, and real estate acquisition.
• Assist with dispute resolution (litigation, arbitration, mediation, expert determination) where necessary.
• Maintain internal legal processes and contribute to knowledge sharing, training, and precedent development.
• Support Eni’s transition to a low-carbon business model through legally sound advice on emerging CCS activities.

Qualifications & Experience Education & Professional Requirements:

• UK qualified solicitor or barrister with a law degree and strong academic record
• 5–10 years post-qualification experience

Technical Skills:

• Solid experience in CCS or comparable UKCS upstream oil & gas projects
• Expertise in UK real estate and planning law, including land rights and DCO processes
• Strong commercial legal skills across contracts, regulatory frameworks, and project development
• Competency in Microsoft Office Suite

Behavioural Competencies:

• Commercially astute and self-motivated
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and negotiation skills
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within diverse teams
• Strong ethical grounding and interpersonal awareness
• Agile, adaptable, and resilient under pressure

Working Conditions:

• Based in London, with flexible hybrid working options.
• Occasional UK and international travel required.

Company information

At First Recruitment Group we understand just how important it is to secure the right people. That is why our Recruitment Consultants always take the time to understand requirements in detail and offer sound advice to both clients and candidates. We actively recruit at all levels and this is a superb opportunity for a Senior Legal Counsel looking for new employment.

As part of putting people first, we strive to be an equal opportunities employer and we are always looking to increase the diversity of our workforce, working closely with our clients to ensure everyone is included.

Sector: Commercial, Admin & Office Support