Legal Counsel

About the role

This role provides critical legal support to a fast-paced and evolving business environment, ensuring timely, accurate counsel that advances strategic and commercial goals for TotalEnergies Oil & Products trading activities across the Americas.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and support to crude oil, refined products, and petrochemical trading businesses.
• Negotiate, draft, and review a wide range of commercial agreements, including:
  • Term purchase and sale agreements
  • Master trading agreements (including ISDA, NAESB, and similar agreements)
  • Storage and logistics agreements
  • Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)
  • Related ancillary documentation
• Review and ensure the appropriate application of General Terms and Conditions governing trading transactions.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders, including Credit, Tax, Operations, Shipping, and Demurrage teams, to ensure comprehensive review and input on commercial agreements.
• Provide legal support to the Operations team in the drafting, review, and amendment of spot contracts.
• Maintain and manage term agreements, storage contracts, and related documentation within designated contract management and document retention systems.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve legal workflows, document templates, record retention practices, and knowledge-sharing processes.
• Leverage legal technology, automation, and AI-enabled tools to enhance efficiency, consistency, and quality of legal services.
• Support the adoption and effective use of approved digital tools and technologies across the legal function.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that streamline legal processes and support business objectives.
• Apply sound legal judgment and risk-based decision-making to identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks associated with transactions.
• Collaborate and coordinate effectively with cross-functional stakeholders to facilitate comprehensive contract review and support informed commercial decision-making.
• Drive the continuous improvement of legal processes, templates, playbooks, contract management practices, and knowledge-sharing resources to enhance efficiency, consistency, and risk management.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• 3 to 5 years of experience as in-house or external legal counsel in the United States, preferably supporting the oil and gas industry.
• Strong knowledge of trading agreements, logistics, shipping, and risk management.
• Experience with ISDA documentation is preferred.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal.
• Experience with legal technology solutions, contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems, process improvement initiatives, and AI-enabled productivity tools preferred.