Associate Legal Counsel - Temporary

SBM Offshore; Porto; On-site; EUR 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

SBM Offshore is seeking an Associate Legal Counsel to join our Legal, Contracts & Compliance Group. This entry‑level role offers exposure to contracting, research, and regulatory matters within a fast‑moving energy company.

You will draft and review commercial agreements under supervision, advise on legal risk, and support business lines through project lifecycles in the oil and gas sector. English fluency is required.

Qualifications

• 0-3 years of legal experience in-house or in private practice.
• Experience in the oil and gas or energy sectors preferred.
• Fluent in English (spoken and written).

Responsibilities

• Perform legal research and analyze information to support decision‑making.
• Draft, review, and assist in the negotiation of commercial contracts under supervision.
• Provide support and legal advice to relevant business lines from engagement through execution.

Skills

Legal Research

Contract Drafting

Negotiation

English Fluent

Education

Law Degree (LL.B./LL.M.)

Job description

Imagine your career taking you to the depths of innovation and the heights of impact. Our people enable continuous progress. Their commitment, collective expertise, and unique capabilities are the engine room behind SBM Offshore’s True. Blue. Transition. - shaping the future of energy, and beyond.

About Us

SBM Offshore is a global leader in deepwater ocean infrastructure, delivering floating production solutions across the full asset lifecycle—from design and construction to installation and operation. Supported by a global team of more than 8,000 professionals, the Company operates a long-term, asset-backed business model that delivers high-availability assets and predictable cash flows. SBM Offshore combines engineering expertise, operational reliability, and selective innovation to support safe, efficient, and lower‑carbon energy production, while extending its capabilities into new opportunities across the blue economy.

Purpose

• The role of Associate Legal Counsel is an entry‑level position for lawyers who may be newly qualified (or still in the process of getting admitted), who are eager to develop their legal expertise in a fast‑moving and challenging corporate environment.
• You are part of a legal team within SBM Offshore's Legal, Contracts & Compliance Group. You will handle routine legal matters, conducting legal research, and providing assistance in contract drafting, review and negotiation as well as providing advice on legal issues.

Responsibilities

• You carry out legal research and gather, consolidate, interpret, and analyze legal information from various sources to support legal decision‑making.
• You draft, review, and assist in the negotiation of various commercial contracts and agreements under the supervision and guidance of a Senior Legal Counsel, utilizing both SBM’s standard templates and industry‑standard templates.
• You provide support, assistance, and legal advice to the relevant business lines from early engagement through the execution and operations phases.
• You manage and prioritize tasks effectively to ensure deadlines are met and legal matters are handled efficiently.
• You ensure compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to the business, safeguarding SBM Offshore’s legal standing.
• You stay informed on legal and regulatory developments in the oil and gas sector that could impact SBM Offshore’s operations.
• You contribute to the development and maintenance of legal templates and standard operating procedures that align with industry best practices.
• You help mitigate legal risks for the relevant business lines, ensuring SBM Offshore’s operations are protected.
• You promote legal, compliance, and risk management best practices across the company, fostering a culture of legal awareness and adherence.

Education

• LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws) or LL.M. (Master of Laws) degree or equivalent, with coursework in energy law, environmental law, or maritime law preferred.
• Fluent in English (spoken and written).

Experience

• 0-3 years of legal experience as in‑house lawyer or in private practice, preferably with experience within the oil and gas or energy sectors.
• Ability and interest to learn from senior legal team members and develop core legal skills and ethics.

Functional Competencies

Legal Research and Analysis Legal Language Simplification and Optimization Legal Document Drafting and Review Business Acumen Negotiation Legal knowledge Ethical Judgment

GENERAL INFORMATION

SBM Offshore N.V. is a listed holding company that is headquartered in Amsterdam. It holds direct and indirect interests in other companies that collectively with SBM Offshore N.V. form the SBM Offshore Group (“the Company”). For further information, please visit our website at www.sbmoffshore.com. The companies in which SBM Offshore N.V., directly and indirectly, owns investments are separate entities.

SBM Offshore is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affine Act employer. SBM Offshore does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non‑disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.