Counsel II

BP PLC; Houston, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Relocation assistance

Job summary

BP plc is seeking a Counsel II to join its US Litigation & Disputes Legal team in a hybrid role. You will lead commercial litigation, arbitration, and disputes, guiding strategy from early assessment to resolution while advising management on risk and collaborating with internal teams and outside counsel.

The role requires a Juris Doctor, active U.S. license, and 7+ years of complex litigation experience, with travel up to 25%.

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.
• Significant experience handling complex commercial litigation matters.
• Experience with U.S. federal and state court litigation and arbitration is preferred.

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.
• Direct outside counsel and expert teams to deliver 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 other commercial litigation.
• Partner across legal, compliance, finance, communications, operations, and commercial teams.
• Drive disciplined budgeting, matter management, and cost control without compromising quality.

Skills

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

Education

Juris Doctor from an accredited U.S. law school

Job description

## Counsel IIApply: This position is a hybrid of office/remote working: United States of America - Texas - Houston: Full time: Posted Today: End Date: September 28, 2026 (13 days left to apply): RQ109512**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.**Travel Requirement:**Up to 25% travel should be expected with this role**Relocation Assistance:**This role is eligible for relocation within country**Remote Type:**This position is a hybrid of office/remote working**Skills:**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