Lead Legal Counsel Full-time Job

Job description:

Lead Legal Counsel Job Purpose:

The role of Lead Legal Counsel is a challenging opportunity to play a significant role in providing broad support for international activities of the company and its affiliates through direct management and administration of assigned attorneys and legal specialists. Responsible for coordinating the provision of all aspects of legal service and guidance to senior and operations management for international activities with some focus to commercial and contract law.

Lead Legal Counsel Duties and Responsibilities:

- Serves as a legal expert and advisor in area of international laws, legislative matters, statutory interpretation and international agreements.

- Responsible for leading legal activities in commercial and contract law, supporting drafting, negotiation and implementation of all contracts related to assigned companies in the group of companies of SOCAR. Provide appropriate dispute resolution services including pre-trial and trial activities in commercial and contract related claims.

- Reviews and provides expert and strategic legal advice to management on complex or high-risk legal matters.

- Prepares opinions on legal issues related to assigned SOCAR group of companies and provides guidance regarding best approaches/strategies, including areas of substantial ambiguity or lack of clear legal precedent.

- Prepares legal briefs, pleadings and other documents necessary for providing comprehensive legal services and representing clients. - Conduct legal research on complex issues, performs factual investigation, analyses relevant information and advises management on appropriate courses of action. - Identifies training needs to the Law Department of assigned SOCAR Group of Companies related to identified trends in case matters, and emerging legislation; develops training presentations and programs to proactively minimize risks and future exposure. - Develops a thorough working knowledge and good business relationships with assigned client organizations, including familiarity with the Corporation's mission, strategic initiatives, operations, financial and service delivery processes. - Acts as liaison to outside counsel hired by or working for the Company for his assigned functional duties.

- Represents assigned SOCAR Group of Companies at various proceedings and meetings including mediations, arbitrations and settlement negotiations and may represent Company in court. - Identifies systemic problems affecting assigned SOCAR Group of Companies, research best practices and recommend improvements in the related laws, regulations and procedures.

- Support development and negotiation of transactions including due diligence, risk allocation and agreement drafting, along with advice regarding deal terms and strategies, across the SOCAR Group of Companies

Lead Legal Counsel Skills and Qualifications:

- Knowledge of legal principles and practices, laws, rules, regulations and codes sufficient to provide advice to operational or functional managers.

- Experience and ability to interpret and provide advice regarding the practical application of laws, rules, regulations, and policies

- Experience with performing legal research and writing opinions of legal issues

- Skill in advocacy sufficient to represent the Company in administrative or judicial proceedings; negotiating settlements in legal disputes and in preparing legal documents such as pleadings, contracts, deeds, etc

- Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information and legal strategies; establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external contacts

- Skill in presenting legal interpretations and recommendations to functional or operational managers in order to influence policy decision. - Legal project management skills - Time management skills to prioritize and manage many projects simultaneously in an efficient and effective manner - Experience working within cross-functional project teams.

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) is involved in exploring oil and gas fields, producing, processing, and transporting oil, gas, and gas condensate; marketing petroleum and petrochemical products in domestic and international markets, and supplying natural gas to industry and the public in Azerbaijan.