Chief Counsel (2017)

Aramco Americas Company•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Chief Counsel is a member of the Management Team and leads Aramco Trading Americas’ Legal Organization. The position is primarily part of the Aramco Trading Global Legal Team and reports to the Aramco Trading General Counsel, while also reporting to and advising the Company’s Managing Director. The Chief Counsel manages the Company’s legal risks and legal affairs, provides strategic legal advice to the Management Team, supervises counsel, supports compliance with legal and statutory requirements, and manages the Corporate Secretariat function. The role also coordinates with other chief position holders in the global legal team to promote consistent advice. The Chief Counsel oversees legal advice and opinions across matters affecting the Company; analyzes legal risks and legislation; advises on governance, regulatory compliance and risk mitigation; and advises management in commercial transactions. Responsibilities include managing Board communications and governance, litigation and outside counsel, and providing guidance to the Company’s counsel. The role works with legal leaders across Aramco Trading to mitigate group legal risks and escalate critical matters at the enterprise level. The Legal Organization provides counsel on Company matters and is the exclusive entity authorized to issue legal opinions. Its support areas include Corporate Secretariat, Trading/Commodity Support, Maritime Support, Litigation, General Corporate matters (including labor and employment and procurement), Regulatory Compliance Advisory, and Tax Advisory.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school.
Admission to a U.S. Bar Association.
At least 10 years of diversified practice with a law firm, as in-house counsel, or in a business firm or organization.
Significant legal management experience.
Demonstrated track record advising companies engaged in supply, trading, and logistics.
Extensive prior experience managing the legal affairs of entities performing activities similar to those of the Company.
Practical, commercially focused, and solution-oriented outlook.
Responsiveness, communication skills, flexibility, approachability, excellent judgment, ability to succeed amid uncertainty and ambiguity, and executive presence.
Good interpersonal skills for liaison within the Company and between the Company and the Board of Directors.
Demonstrable legal leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience with multinational companies.

Responsibilities

Lead the Company’s Legal Organization as a member of the Management Team.
Manage the Company’s legal risks and legal affairs, and provide strategic legal advice to the Management Team.
Lead, manage, and supervise counsel responsible for protecting the Company’s interests and supporting its business functions and objectives.
Support compliance with legal and statutory requirements.
Manage the Corporate Secretariat function, including coordination of communications with the Board and certain Board committees.
Prepare, issue, or supervise legal opinions and advice on matters affecting the Company, coordinating with peers to ensure consistency.
Analyze legal risks and advise on legal and business solutions, governance, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation.
Review and advise management on legislation, treaties, laws, and governmental regulations affecting Company operations.
Negotiate or participate in negotiations of third-party contracts, and prepare or review contracts and other documents of legal significance.
Advise the Board of Directors and Board committee members and promote good governance and compliance with governing documents and applicable laws.
Manage litigation and appoint outside counsel; supervise counsel’s work in proceedings before courts and quasi-judicial or investigatory bodies.
Appoint outside counsel and manage their performance to ensure the Company’s interests are represented and protected.
Guide, assist, and instruct Company counsel and supervise their work.
Work with Aramco Trading legal leaders and subsidiary Chief Counsel to mitigate group legal risks and escalate critical matters at the enterprise level.