Legal Counsel | Global Freight

Bunge Iberica SA; Rotterdam; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ongoing training and development opportunities

Competitive compensation and benefits

Job summary

Qabird in Rotterdam is looking for a Legal Counsel to support its Freight Value Chain. The role encompasses providing legal advice and navigating challenges in global freight and shipping.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, manage disputes, draft essential contracts, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.

The ideal candidate has strong legal qualifications and experience in maritime law, along with excellent communication and analytical skills.

Qualifications

• 2+ years PQE with international law firms or in-house counsel experience.
• Proficiency in drafting and negotiating complex legal agreements.
• Understanding of commercial, maritime, and trade law.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal counsel on global freight-related matters.
• Draft and negotiate commercial documents for freight.
• Manage commercial disputes and litigation in the freight sector.

Skills

Legal expertise in freight/maritime law

Strong communication skills in English

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Education

Fully qualified solicitor or comparable qualification

Tools

Legal technology tools (e.g., Docusign, Tracker)

Job description

Legal Counsel – Global Freight (Freight Value Chain)

Location: Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland (NL-ZH), Netherlands. Requisition Number: 46258.

Are you a dynamic legal professional eager to apply your expertise in the specialized field of global freight and shipping? We are seeking a Legal Counsel to provide vital legal support to our Freight Value Chain, navigating its unique legal challenges and opportunities. This role is crucial for ensuring the smooth and compliant operation of our global freight activities.

What's in it for you

• Strategic contribution: Actively contribute to strategic business development and provide vital legal advice to the business across our Freight Value Chain.
• Global network: Collaboration with our international legal department and cross‑functional teams worldwide to ensure seamless and aligned legal support.
• Growth & development: Ongoing training and exciting development opportunities within a dynamic, globally active organization.
• Creative freedom: Independent work in an environment that values initiative and entrepreneurial thinking, combining best practices from legal department colleagues globally.
• Attractive overall package: Competitive compensation and benefits commensurate with your experience and impact.

Your Responsibilities

• Provide general and strategic legal counsel and support on all legal matters involving global freight across our Freight Value Chain, proactively identifying and addressing legal risks and issues.
• Act as an integral part of the global freight legal team, offering broader support to the European regional team.
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating various commercial documents specific to freight, including charterparties, letters of indemnity, guarantees, novations, assignments, bills of lading, agency, and port agreements.
• Managing and advising on commercial disputes, litigation, and arbitrations arising in the freight sector, both in‑house and with external counsel, including monitoring legal fees and reserves.
• Partnering closely with the Freight Value Chain and cross‑functional teams to ensure a unified approach to global freight legal issues, gaining a deep understanding of business strategies, challenges, and opportunities.
• Monitoring regulatory developments affecting global freight and shipping, and advising on compliance matters (including credit and risk management) in conjunction with relevant functions.
• Developing and delivering internal training sessions on relevant global freight legal topics.
• Supporting the use of legal technology tools (e.g., Docusign, Tracker) and contributing to efficient legal operations.
• Providing management with required reports on litigation, projects, and costs.
• Developing, overseeing, and managing relationships with external law firms, including cost control and budgeting.

Your Profile

• Fully qualified solicitor (preferably UK qualified) or comparable qualification with English and common law experience.
• At least 2 years PQE (Post‑Qualification Experience).
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in an international law firm and/or as in‑house counsel, dedicated to commodities trading and/or shipping, with a strong preference for freight/maritime law experience.
• Excellent skills in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex legal agreements and contracts, especially those pertinent to global freight.
• Deep understanding of commercial law, maritime law, trade law, and regulatory issues pertinent to global freight and shipping.
• Strong communication skills in English (both oral and written) with the ability to effectively convey complex legal concepts; additional languages are a plus.
• Analytical strength, excellent research, and problem‑solving skills, with a pragmatic approach.
• Team‑oriented personality with the ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively, build relationships, prioritize effectively, and demonstrate business acumen.