Counsel II

Oil Authority; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

bp is seeking a talented litigation attorney to join its US Litigation & Disputes Legal team. This is an opportunity for a commercially minded lawyer to work on a broad range of significant disputes and develop their in-house litigation experience within a global company.

You will be part of an experienced legal team protecting the company’s interests, collaborating with internal clients and external counsel, and contributing to case strategy and execution.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited U.S. law school and active license in at least one U.S. jurisdiction with 7+ years of relevant litigation experience.
• Significant experience handling complex commercial litigation matters.
• Strong experience in U.S. federal and state court litigation; arbitration preferred.
• Experience managing multiple high-stakes matters simultaneously.
• Excellent written advocacy, oral communication, and executive presence.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 15-25%.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial litigation, arbitration, and disputes from early assessment through resolution.
• Develop strategies across pleadings, discovery, dispositive motions, expert issues, trial prep, hearings, appeals, and settlement.
• Advise management and business leaders on legal, financial, operational, and reputational risk.
• Translate legal issues into clear business recommendations that drive sound decision-making.
• Direct outside counsel and expert teams to deliver outstanding results efficiently.
• Conduct witness preparation, key interviews, factual investigations, and strategic internal engagement.
• Manage a range of disputes involving contracts, environmental matters, business torts, class actions, and more.
• Partner across legal, compliance, finance, communications, operations, and commercial teams.
• Drive budgeting, matter management, and cost control while maintaining quality.

Skills

Litigation experience

Executive presence

Oral communication

Written advocacy

Strategic judgment

Education

Juris Doctor from an accredited U.S. law school

Job description

Job Family Group:

Legal Group

Job Description:

BP is seeking a talented litigation attorney to join its US Litigation & Disputes Legal team. This is an opportunity for a commercially minded lawyer to work on a broad range of significant disputes and develop their in-house litigation experience within a global company.

We are looking for a thoughtful, practical, and execution-focused attorney who can work effectively in a fast-paced environment and collaborate with colleagues across the legal function and business. The role will involve working with business leaders, external counsel, and experts on a variety of matters, including commercial litigation, arbitration, regulatory matters, and other disputes.

You will be part of an experienced legal team responsible for protecting the company’s interests and helping the business manage legal risk. The role provides meaningful responsibility for litigation matters, opportunities to contribute to case strategy and execution, and exposure to a diverse portfolio of disputes.

Why This Role

This position is designed for lawyers who want to take on meaningful responsibility for a range of litigation matters. You will help manage cases, analyze legal and business issues, contribute to litigation strategy, and work closely with internal clients and external counsel. You’ll work in a collaborative environment that values sound judgment, accountability, practical problem-solving, resilience, and teamwork.

What You Will Do

• Lead commercial litigation, arbitration, and disputes from early assessment through resolution.
• Develop strategies across pleadings, discovery, dispositive motions, expert issues, trial preparation, hearings, appeals, and settlement.
• Advise management and business leaders on legal, financial, operational, and reputational risk.
• Translate legal issues into clear business recommendations that drive sound decision-making.
• Direct outside counsel and expert teams to deliver outstanding results efficiently.
• Conduct witness preparation, key interviews, factual investigations, and strategic internal engagement.
• Manage a range of disputes involving contracts, environmental matters, business torts, class actions, property damage, and other commercial litigation matters.
• Partner across legal, compliance, finance, communications, operations, and commercial teams.
• Drive disciplined budgeting, matter management, and cost control without compromising quality.

Who You Are

• A skilled litigator with strong judgment, sound legal instincts, and experience handling a broad range of disputes.
• Comfortable operating under pressure with competing priorities and executive visibility.
• Strategic, practical, and decisive.
• Highly credible with business leaders, colleagues, and decision makers.
• Motivated by challenge, responsibility, and meaningful work.
• Collaborative leader who raises standards and improves teams around you.

Experience & Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited U.S. law school. Active license to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction with minimum 7+ years of relevant litigation experience (law firm, clerkship, in-house, or combination).
• Significant experience handling complex commercial litigation matters.
• Strong experience in U.S. federal and state court litigation, as well as arbitration, is preferred.
• Experience managing multiple high-stakes matters simultaneously.
• Excellent written advocacy, oral communication, and executive presence.
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed (approximately 15-25%)

At bp, we support our people to learn and grow in a diverse and ambitious environment. We believe that our team is strengthened by diversity. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment in which everyone is respected and treated fairly.

There are many aspects of our employees’ lives that are meaningful, so we offer benefits ( https://exploreyourbenefits.com/landing.html) to enable your work to fit with your life. These benefits can include flexible working options, a generous paid parental leave policy, and excellent retirement benefits, among others!

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Up to 25% travel should be expected with this role

This role is eligible for relocation within country

This position is a hybrid of office/remote working

Business Acumen, Coaching, Collaboration, Commercial Acumen, Communication, Conflict Management, Creativity and Innovation, Decision Making, Digital Fluency, Influencing, Managing strategic partnerships, Mentoring, Organizational Knowledge, Resource and budget planning, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management, Supplier Relationship Management

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, neurodiversity/neurocognitive functioning, veteran status or disability status.Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bp's recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment process,please contact us. If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre-placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.