Legal Counsel – 12‑Month Fixed‑Term Contract

About the role

We are looking for a Legal Counsel to join our Geneva legal team on a 12‑month fixed‑term contract covering a maternity leave. The role sits at the core of a global commodity trading business, providing hands‑on legal support to oil trading desks across multiple jurisdictions.

Key responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on sale and purchase agreements (spot and term), shipping, storage, transshipment and related contracts.
• Draft and review ancillary documentation such as letters of intent and guarantees.
• Support contract negotiation and execution in close collaboration with compliance, credit, finance, tax, risk and insurance teams.
• Advise on pre‑contentious and contentious matters, including trading and shipping disputes, arbitration, litigation, mediation and enforcement.
• Manage external counsel and contribute to legal knowledge management by developing templates, precedents and internal guidance.
• Collaborate with the global legal team to ensure consistent, high‑quality legal support.

Required profile

• Several years of experience as an in‑house lawyer or in private practice with strong exposure to trading.
• Experience in commodity trading, shipping or the energy sector is strongly preferred.
• Robust expertise in international trade, commercial law and dispute resolution.
• Strong commercial acumen, risk‑assessment capability and ability to operate in a fast‑paced, trading‑driven environment.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Fluent English (drafting and negotiation level); additional languages are a plus.

Required skills

What we offer

• Opportunity to work on complex cross‑border transactions and disputes within a leading global commodity trading firm.
• Exposure to a dynamic, international trading environment.