Senior Legal Counsel

Essar Oil (UK) Limited; Reading; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 15% with service

25 days’ holiday increasing with/with 

Private medical insurance

Flex benefits including holiday buy

Employee discounts

Job summary

Essar Oil (UK) Limited seeks a Senior Legal Counsel to lead structured trade and commodity finance initiatives. You will structure, negotiate and manage complex financing arrangements, advising on security packages and corporate financing with senior stakeholders across EET businesses in the UK.

The role requires a qualified solicitor in England & Wales with 10+ years PQE, strong drafting, negotiation and risk management capabilities, and the ability to coordinate with external counsel and

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales with PQE typically 10+ years.
• Experience in structured trade finance, commodity finance or banking.
• Proven ability to draft, negotiate and manage complex financing documents.

Responsibilities

• Lead legal support for structured trade and commodity finance transactions.
• Advise on security structures, intercreditor arrangements and collateral management.
• Draft and negotiate finance documentation and related agreements.
• Manage external counsel and align legal strategy with business objectives.
• Collaborate with treasury, finance and senior leadership on financing solutions.

Skills

Drafting

Negotiation

Transaction management

Commercial awareness

Stakeholder management

Education

Qualified Solicitor (England & Wales)

Job description

Career Opportunities: Senior Legal Counsel (3901)

Employment Type: Full-Time, Office Based Role 5 days (Monday-Friday)

Contract Type: 12 Month Fixed Term Contract

• 10% Company Contribution Pension rising to 15% with service
• 25 days’ Holiday, increasing with service
• Private Medical Insurance
• Additional Flex Benefits- including Holiday Purchase
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme with Exclusive access to a range of Discounts
• Free Secure On-Site Car Parking

About the Company

EET (Essar Energy Transition) plays a major role in supplying the Northwest and the wider UK with essential fuels. We produce over 16% of the UK’s road fuels, supply key feedstocks to the petrochemical industry, and are investing heavily in low‑carbon energy solutions.

We work with major retail fuel brands, supermarkets, Manchester Airport, leading airlines, and regional transport operators. We are also a key partner in the HyNet project, helping to deliver the region’s low‑carbon future.

With over 900 skilled colleagues, we offer a strong safety culture, technically challenging work, and some of the best training in the energy sector.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Structured Finance solicitor to join our high-performing Legal team as a Senior Legal Counsel.

This is a senior in-house position for an accomplished trade finance and structured finance lawyer with substantial experience advising on commodities financing, secured lending, structured credit products, and complex financing arrangements.

The successful candidate will support EET Fuels, EET Hydrogen, EET Retail and other UK group businesses on strategic financing for key UK energy infrastructure assets.

You will structure, negotiate, execute and manage trade finance facilities, commodity finance transactions, inventory and receivables financing arrangements, and wider corporate funding structures.

This is a commercial, entrepreneurial role offering autonomy, stakeholder engagement, and exposure to bespoke financing solutions with leading banks and non-bank lenders across the EMEA region.

Primary Accountabilities

• Lead legal support for structured trade and commodity finance transactions.
• Advise on receivables finance, inventory finance, borrowing base facilities, prepayment structures, supply chain finance and other structured credit products.
• Draft, review, negotiate and execute finance documentation, security packages and ancillary agreements.
• Advise on corporate financing arrangements, leveraged finance and infrastructure financing transactions.
• Support funding requirements across EET businesses, including EET Fuels, EET Hydrogen and EET Retail.
• Partner with commercial, treasury, trading, finance and executive leadership teams to develop financing solutions.
• Advise on security structures, intercreditor arrangements, guarantees and collateral management frameworks.
• Coordinate external legal counsel and other professional advisers as required.
• Identify and manage legal, regulatory and commercial risks while supporting business objectives.
• Contribute to strategic projects, investments, joint ventures and business growth initiatives.
• Monitor legal developments affecting trade finance, energy markets and financing activities.

About You

We are seeking a commercially minded lawyer who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys combining technical legal expertise with pragmatic business decision-making.

You will possess:

• Qualification as a Solicitor in England & Wales.
• Have at least 10 years (Guide for level of experience) post qualification experience (PQE) as a solicitor
• Strong background in structured trade finance, commodity finance, leverage finance, banking or structured finance.
• Experience gained within a leading law firm, financial institution, commodity trading business, or major corporate.
• Demonstrable expertise in secured lending transactions and security enforcement frameworks.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and transaction management skills.
• Strong understanding of commodity markets and financing structures.
• Ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships.
• Exceptional commercial awareness and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple strategic matters simultaneously.

Why Join EET?

This role offers the opportunity to work at the centre of one of the UK's most significant energy transition businesses, supporting critical national infrastructure and innovative financing structures that help shape the future of energy.

You will gain exposure to highly bespoke financing arrangements, strategic investment projects and complex transactions while working alongside experienced commercial, finance and legal professionals in a dynamic and entrepreneurial environment.

Closing Date

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and this vacancy will close once sufficient applications have been received. Applicants are therefore encouraged to apply early to avoid disappointment.