Legal Counsel

at  EDF Trading

Come work at a place where innovation and teamwork come together to support the most exciting missions in the world!
When you join EDF Trading you’ll become part of a diverse international team of experts who challenge conventional ideas, test new approaches and think outside the box.
Energy markets evolve rapidly so our team needs to remain agile, flexible and ready to spot opportunities across all the markets we trade in: power, gas, LNG, LPG, oil and environmental products.
EDF Group and our customers all over the world trust that their assets are managed by us in the most effective and efficient manner and are protected through expert risk management. Trading for over 20 years, it’s experience that makes us leaders in the field. Energy is what we do.
Most of all, we value our people. Become part of the team and you will be offered a great range of benefits which include hybrid working, a personal pension plan, private medical and dental insurance, bi-annual health assessment, corporate gym memberships, electric car lease programme, childcare vouchers, cycle to work scheme, season ticket loans, volunteering opportunities and much more. We even provide free fruit to keep you healthy.
Gender balance and inclusion are very high on the agenda at EDF Trading so you will become part of an ever-diversifying family of around 800 colleagues based in London, Paris, Singapore, Tokyo and Houston. Regular social and networking events, both physical and virtual, will ensure that you always feel connected to your colleagues and the business.
Who are we? We are EDF Trading, part of the EDF Group, a world leader in low-carbon sustainable electricity generation partnered with JERA, one of Japan’s largest utilities; the perfect organisation at which to begin or progress your career in the commodities sector.
Join us, make a difference and help shape the future of energy.
Job Description:
Department
The Legal team is involved in every significant transaction within the business and provides support and advice to the business’s commercial teams and to all the central support functions (including Credit, Procurement, and Treasury). The team is responsible for negotiating, drafting and finalising legal documentation and ensuring all legal risks are assessed and dealt with appropriately. The team also provides advice and guidance to senior management on all business issues and ensures that business is conducted in a manner that complies with all legal and regulatory requirements. The Legal team works closely with the Regulation & Transmission and Compliance functions, both of which report to the Chief Legal Officer.
Position purpose
Reporting to Deputy General Counsel, the role involves commercially oriented legal support for all aspects of EDF Trading’s business, particularly energy trading and origination activities. Support for shipping, structured transactions, and M&A work may also be required, as well as for corporate and company secretarial matters. This is a fixed-term in-house position for 12-14 months starting in October/November 2024.
Main responsibilities

This list is not exhaustive and may include other tasks assigned by the manager.

• Provide timely, technically accurate and commercially aware legal advice to the company’s trading and origination teams who cover the power, gas, environmental products, oil, biofuels, and derivatives markets.
• Ensure that all legal risks are outlined for the business and advise on the legal process as required, including how best to mitigate such risks.
• Assist all areas of the company’s organisation with legal advice, particularly the trading and origination desks, with respect to master agreements, shipping documentation, specific transactions and the legal risks associated with every form of contract the company enters into.
• Support M&A, corporate and company secretarial activities as required

Experience required

• 3 to 6 years PQE
• Strong commercial business acumen
• Experience of legal requirements in European markets desirable
• Energy commodities trading experience desirable
• Company secretarial / corporate governance experience desirable
• M&A experience desirable but not essential

Technical requirements
Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Person specification

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
• Strong relationship building skills and stakeholder management
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent analytical skills
• Proactive, independent mindset

Hours of work:
8.30am – 5.30pm / 40 hours per week, Monday to Frida

• Provide timely, technically accurate and commercially aware legal advice to the company’s trading and origination teams who cover the power, gas, environmental products, oil, biofuels, and derivatives markets.
• Ensure that all legal risks are outlined for the business and advise on the legal process as required, including how best to mitigate such risks.
• Assist all areas of the company’s organisation with legal advice, particularly the trading and origination desks, with respect to master agreements, shipping documentation, specific transactions and the legal risks associated with every form of contract the company enters into.
• Support M&A, corporate and company secretarial activities as require