Sr. Legal Counsel, Commercial and Downstream

Job title

Sr. Legal Counsel

Grade

Stream

Commercial Downstream – RPI and Plastics  

Function

Legal

Location

Oman –

Budget control

*OPEX and/or CAPEX and/or Revenue amount as relevant*

Reporting to

VP Legal Commercial and Downstream Assets/Managing Director OQ Polymer Marketing  

Direct Reports

0

Job purpose

Provides Legal advice and support to OQ Commercial and Downstream (C&D) Strategic Business Unit (SBU) – RPI and Polymer Cluster (OQ Refineries LLC, OQ Polymers LLC, OQ Refineries and Petroleum Industries LLC and OQ Marketing LLC) in respect of all legal matters in respect of the marketing function, corporate, operational, and procurement, acting as an agent for change, constructively challenging the status quo, by (1) Provides legal support to RPI and Polymer Cluster (as well as Polymer Marketing Division) and the required interactions with C&D for Legal Corporate Governance, Marketing and Sales Agreements, Contracts and Procurement, Corporate Transactions, Risk Assessments,  Litigation and Dispute Resolution, (2)  Dealing with customers, stakeholders, contractors, clients and business relationships with relevant external stakeholders to stay updated on legal developments and collaborate on matters relevant to these company's operations in accordance with applicable laws and regulations in Oman.

Main tasks and responsibilities

Scope

• Legal Corporate Governance
• Operational and Marketing Business matters
• Contracts Assessments, reviews of Tenders and support to Procurement and Contracting Function in formation of contacts and contact documents  
• Legal Risk Assessments
• Claims and dispute management
• Litigation and Dispute Resolution
• Drafting and Negotiations of material agreements

Accountabilities:

Legal/Marketing  Strategy and Support

• Assists the companies forming part of the Cluster in all legal matters, prepare, review and advice on contracts, corporate documents, drafting and negotiations and providing legal opinions and assessments on a variety of business and commercial contracts, as well as liaising with external legal counsels (as needed) and government authorities from time to time in order to minimize, mitigate and manage exposure and potential liabilities and risks.
• Provides legal advice and reports to Cluster and as required to the SBU. 
• Conducts legal research and analysis on a variety of topics and prepared internal memos, opinions and notes for the business and management to consider.
• Drive integrated legal support to Marketing Through collaboration with VP Legal C&D
• Work with Leader Marketing and team on most critical business unit matters that require additional Legal guidance/ support
• Providing guide and legal advice to Marketing legal processes/ activities and coordinate with legal firms (locally/ internationally) to ensure compliance.
• Guide on how strategize Legal Marketing legal process in alignment with OQ C&D.
• Provide insights associated with key variance / legal trends arising from reports, forecasts, and plans for Downstream Oil & Energy related with Marketing plansAssess, consider and provide legal analysis and advise on deviations to OQ contract documents and tenders from contractors and service providers on acceptability of proposed changes and deviations.
• Assist in contract formation activities managed by Contracts and Procurement Function as well as contract management activities.
• Drafting and negotiation of a number of operational and business contracts and contract documents.
• Advises on, contributes to and maintains robust and effective compliance controls to ensure full compliance with statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations with a specific focus on establishing and maintaining a governance framework for OQ Marketing OQ Refineries LLC, OQ Polymers LLC, OQ Refineries and Petroleum Industries LLC in compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.

Corporate Governance and Compliance

• Contribute to the integrity of the organizational structure, to policies and procedures and other functions (risk, internal audit, governance).
• Work closely with CDS Compliance legal team members and advising and assisting on compliance issues across the OQ marketing offices (India, Turkey, China, Singapore and Dubai).
• Appointment, management and engagement with external legal counsels in various jurisdictions. 

Contracts and Agreements (negotiations/drafting) & External Communications

• Develops and maintains a contracts and legal database for the OQ RPI and Plastics Cluster.
• Drafting and negotiations of variety of commercial agreements.
• Assists in the legal support and contractual assessments of claims and disputes against these entities/projects undertaken.
• Assist in commercial negotiations with customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders including the commercial aspects of the deal, such as pricing, volume commitments, delivery schedules, and performance guarantees, as well as the legal implications of the contract.
• Assist in labour and employee disputes in offshore OQ marketing offices (India, Turkey, China, Singapore and Dubai).
• Reviews and advises (or draft) external communications to stakeholders, contractors and government authorities as well as provide recommendations and representation to management which include all corporate, investment and commercial transactions, vendor service contracts, commercial and business agreements, third party outsourcing contracts and other related matters.

Tendering Process

• Coordinates with project managers, commercial and procurement functions in tenders' processes, considering and advising on exemptions and deviations on OQ standard contract documents, awarding of contracts and contracts management in accordance with internal policies and procedures.

Continuous Improvements

• Maintains current and up-to-date knowledge of relevant laws including, the Labor Law and the Commercial Companies Law, and advise of any amendments that may affect the companies' activities.

Risk Assessment and Management

• Assist in minimizing legal risks, monitor compliance with laws, industry regulator requirements and license conditions and interface with other legal counsel when required
• Conducting legal research, developing risk management strategies, and providing guidance on new initiatives.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

• Advise on litigation and dispute resolution, liaise with external legal counsel on contentious matters and claims including employment and labour disputes.

External Stakeholder Relationships

• Represents legal department in informal and formal meetings, provides advice on legal enquiries and aspects, takes minutes of meetings, and ensures legal actions are followed up and completed.
• Act as a focal point in dealing with external lawyers by selecting and recommending appointments of all external legal counsel, managing, and coordinating the use of their services including effectively managing legal costs within agreed technical and cost parameters and with applicable procurement policies

Key interactions:

Internal: OQ Commercial and Downstream Assets

External: External Legal Counsels and specialized consultants

Notable Working Conditions

Office environment, intensive computer screen use, and sporadic visits to the operation site.

Education requirements

Bachelor's degree in laws and regulations or a related field (required)

Language

Excellent knowledge of written, read, and spoken of Arabic and English (required)

Background and experience

Competencies and skills

• 8 + years of relevant experience in a similar role.
• Experience in oil and gas industry is preferred.
• In-house and or legal firm knowledge is required.
• Sound knowledge of contracting and contract law (non-contentious) is required, as claims and dispute management (contentious) as well as tendering processes and procedures
• Good working knowledge of all legal laws and regulations of Oman.
• Strong experience in:
  • Legal frame for the Downstream/Commercial/Marketing Business Unit
  • Commercial
  • Legal Compliance
  • Corporate Law, Omani law or English law
  • Corporate Governance
  • Multi-jurisdictional contracts

General:

• Strong presence in front of senior executives
• Ability to negotiate and influence
• Ability to identify and mitigate legal, compliance and contractual risks
• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills

Technical:

• Maintaining effective, accurate and transparent communication with all stakeholders
• Good knowledge of the legal practices and requirements
• Knowledge of contracts development, drafting, negotiation, assessment of legal and contractual risks, and claims

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