You will play a pivotal role in managing, leading, and guiding a small team of junior staff while overseeing a range of responsibilities, including the following:
Responsibilities:
Contract Management:
Handle, review, draft, and assist in the execution of contracts related to:
- Sales and purchase of natural resources such as LNG.
- Derivative transactions based on ISDA agreements.
- Time charter party agreements for LNG ships.
- Other contract related matters.
Prepare necessary documentation to implement transactions, such as KYC documents, invoices, internal decision-making documents, and other relevant materials.
Legal Strategy Development:
Engage in legal work to develop strategies and solutions, especially in high-risk situations requiring quick assessments of alternatives through research, ideation, or relevant documentation.
Provide advice to other departments on contractual, commercial and financial risks associated with trading transactions and develop commercial solutions where applicable.
Collaboration with External Legal Teams:
Supervise, coordinate, and collaborate on legal work outsourced to external law firms.
Risk Management:
Understand, identify, and mitigate risks related to energy trading transactions, including market risk, operational risk, and others.
Dispute Resolution:
Provide assistance and advice in managing disputes, including litigation and arbitration, involving counterparties or external stakeholders.
Educate and advise traders and operators on such developments.
General Legal Support:
Provide effective and timely advice on laws and regulations in Singapore affecting business operations, including those arising from corporate structures and business models.
Stay informed about the latest legal and regulatory developments in Singapore and the LNG trading industry affecting the business.
Minimize contractual risks for the company (if qualified).
Liaise with parent company in Japan to provide commercial and legal advice and/or highlight key legal and contractual risks on operations issues and disputes
Perform ad-hoc assignments as assigned.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Law or Legal Studies; a Master of Laws is advantageous.
- Substantial practice experience in a law firm or corporate environment is highly advantageous.
- At least 3 years of experience handling contracts and documentation for trading, sales, and purchase of commodities, with a focus on international transactions in LNG or oil and gas markets (job title and compensation package shall commensurate based on experience and skills).
- Willingness and ability to be hands-on in contract management as well as invoicing management, including but not limited to drafting and reviewing in support of junior legal staff
- Experience working with Japanese companies is highly advantageous.
- Strong knowledge of Singapore law is highly advantageous but not required .
- Excellent written and spoken English is required.
- Proficiency in Japanese or other Asian languages is advantageous but not essential.
- Strong drafting, negotiation, and legal analytical skills.
- Solid business acumen and proactive problem-solving abilities.
- Effective communication skills and the ability to work in cross-functional teams, including collaboration with the parent company in Japan.
- Ability to identify and escalate issues in a timely and appropriate manner.
- High accountability with a sense of urgency and priority management.
- Respectful and inclusive in a multicultural work environment.
- Honesty, integrity, and a commitment to ethical practices.
- Ability to develop process-driven solutions for recurring issues is advantageous.