Counsel - Litigation and Disputes

Job Family Group:

Legal Group

Job Description:

bp’s London based Litigation and Disputes Team (“the Team”) is seeking to add a new lawyer to the Team. As part of bp’s global group of specialist litigation and disputes lawyers, the Team is responsible for managing the major non-US commercial disputes the bp group of companies are involved in throughout the world. The team’s work includes handling complex, high value international arbitrations, litigation in courts in England and numerous other common and civil law jurisdictions, expert determinations and ADR processes.

The Team plays a crucial role in bp’s management of significant legal, financial and reputational risks. In doing so, Team members work closely with bp’s commercial lawyers and business teams in locations across the globe and from bp’s various businesses and activities including: production and operations; customer and products; trading and shipping and gas and low carbon energy.

The Team’s portfolio of cases covers a wide variety of commercial disputes arising in global greening energy companies which are transitioning to net zero. This includes disputes relating to Concession Deeds/Production Sharing agreements; Joint Operating agreements; Gas Supply agreements; EPC contracts; de-commissioning agreements; equipment leases; Sale and Purchase agreements; a wide variety of novel agreements and licences arising in the low carbon space; climate related claims; tort-based claims and claims involving alleged breaches of statutory provisions and/or civil codes.

Another important component of the team’s work involves advisory work. This includes providing advice concerning the selection, drafting and negotiation of dispute resolution mechanisms; advising bp commercial lawyers and businesses on the merits of bp’s position regarding potentially contentious matters; and devising and deploying strategies to mitigate legal risks and (where appropriate) avoid formal disputes.

Key Accountabilities

• Identifying legal, financial and reputational risks arising from major non-US commercial disputes and potential disputes involving bp companies, and developing and implementing strategies and tactics to communicate, mitigate and successfully manage those risks.
• Direct oversight and management of international arbitrations, litigation, expert determinations and ADR processes occurring in jurisdictions throughout the world.
• Close and effective collaboration with other members of the Team, bp’s commercial lawyers and other bp specialist lawyers.
• Co-ordinating and leading teams of internal bp lawyers, business personnel and external lawyers.
• Developing and deploying effective settlement strategies and tactics.
• Ensuring dispute related costs are accurately forecast, budgeted, managed and reported.

Education:

• Hold a UK legal qualification and current practicing certificate.
• Have practiced for at least four years as a specialist dispute resolution lawyer acting and advising in relation to international arbitration, litigation and ADR processes.
• Have experience of handling energy related disputes.

Job Requirements

• Experience in handling disputes in both common and civil law jurisdictions (including on matters involving cross-border legal issues, multi-jurisdictional proceedings and foreign law).
• Strong analytical skills that ensure thorough and timely identification and assessment of short and longer term risks arising in complex contentious matters.
• Ability to recognise, understand and take account of business needs whilst also providing an independent assessment of risk.
• Excellent communications skills including strong writing and drafting skills.
• Pragmatic approach when problem solving.
• Ability to succinctly and effectively communicate and explain complex legal issues to non-legal audiences at all levels of a large global company.
• Desire to undertake intellectually challenging work.
• Understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Experience in building positive relationships and influencing multiple collaborators.
• Ability to effectively prioritise competing demands, including in situations involving time sensitivities.
• Thorough understanding of the English Civil Procedure Rules and the rules of the leading international arbitration institutions.
• Proven planning and project management skills.
• Possess the interpersonal skills and confidence to thrive in a collaborative environment

Desirable criteria:

Experience of working on matters involving a multidisciplinary legal team comprised of dispute resolution lawyers and other specialist legal teams (e.g. anti-bribery and corruption; Human Rights; competition/anti-trust; international trade regulations/sanctions).

Why join us?

At bp, we provide an excellent working environment and employee benefits such as an open and inclusive culture, a great work-life balance, tremendous learning and development opportunities to craft your career path, life and health insurance, medical care package and many others.

We support our people to learn and grow in a diverse and exciting environment. We believe that our team is strengthened by diversity. We are committed to crafting an inclusive environment in which everyone is respected and treated fairly.

There are many aspects of our employees’ lives that are significant, so we offer benefits to enable your work to fit with your life. These benefits can include flexible working options, collaboration spaces in a modern office environment, and others benefits.

Reinvent your career as you help our business meet the challenges of the future. Apply now

Travel Requirement:

Up to 10% travel should be expected with this role

Relocation Assistance:

This role is not eligible for relocation

Remote Type:

This position is a hybrid of office/remote working

Skills:

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

Legal Disclaimer:

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 disabilities may request a reasonable 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 accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us to request accommodations.

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.

---