About the role
We are looking for a Legal Counsel. In this role, you will support the business by providing legal advice across major offshore energy projects and corporate activities. You will help safeguard the company’s legal interests while working closely with project and business teams during the win, execution, and operations phases.
You will play an important role in drafting and negotiating contracts, managing legal risk, supporting compliance, and advising stakeholders on legal and regulatory matters. The role requires a commercially minded legal professional who can work effectively in a complex international project environment.

About the assignment
This role sits within a global offshore energy and ocean-infrastructure environment focused on large and complex projects across the full asset lifecycle, from design and construction to installation and operation. The Legal Counsel will support business lines and project teams by providing practical legal support across commercial, contractual, compliance, and risk-related matters.
The position is based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on an initial 12-month contract, with potential for long-term extension. The working pattern is Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week, with hybrid working of 3 days in the office and 2 days remote.

Main responsibilities

• Provide accurate, timely, and practical legal advice across a range of legal topics related to offshore energy projects
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts and agreements using both company and industry-standard templates
• Support business lines from early engagement through execution and operations phase
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal procedures
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments in the oil and gas and offshore energy sectors and advise on risk mitigation actions
• Contribute to the development and improvement of legal templates, processes, and standard operating procedures
• Manage external counsel, experts, and auditors in line with internal legal procurement processes
• Keep leadership teams and key stakeholders informed on legal risks, lessons learned, and areas for improvement
• Contribute to training for business teams and internal legal colleagues to improve legal awareness across the organisation
• Promote best practices in legal, compliance, and risk management across the business

Who are we looking for?

• LL.B. or LL.M. degree, or equivalent, preferably with exposure to energy law, environmental law, or maritime law
• Admitted to the bar in a relevant jurisdiction
• Fluent in English, both spoken and written
• 3 to 8 years of legal experience in-house or in private practice
• Previous experience in the oil and gas, offshore, or energy sectors is preferred
• Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills
• Sound ethical judgment and strong legal reasoning
• Good understanding of international contract law and the challenges of operating in offshore project environments
• Able to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced project setting

Functional competencies

• Legal Research and Analysis
• Legal Language Simplification and Optimization
• Business Partnering
• Risk Awareness and Mitigation
• Legal Document Drafting and Review
• Business Acumen
• Negotiation
• Legal Knowledge
• Ethical Judgment

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.