Legal Counsel - Commodity and oil trading

Company Overview An international trading company operating across commodity and oil trading sectors, including agricultural products, raw materials, and petroleum products. The company is engaged in cross-border transactions, physical trading, and complex deal structuring, managing a full contractual chain across suppliers, buyers, logistics providers, and financial counterparties. Role Overview We are seeking a commercially driven Legal Counsel to support commodity and oil trading operations, with a strong focus on contracts, claims management, and legal support of trading transactions. The role will cover legal matters across trading deals, including contract structuring, dispute resolution, and risk mitigation in a fast-paced international environment. Key Responsibilities 1. Contracting & Deal Support Draft, review, and negotiate international trading contracts across commodities and oil trading Build and maintain the full contractual chain (suppliers, buyers, logistics providers, storage, inspectors) Support structuring of complex trading transactions, including prepayments and trade finance elements Advise on title transfer, risk allocation, and Incoterms application 2. Claims & Dispute Resolution Handle claims and disputes (quality, delivery, delays, non-performance) Prepare and manage documentation packages for claims Support and manage arbitration / litigation processes Work with external legal counsel where required 3. Risk & Compliance Identify legal and commercial risks and propose mitigation strategies Advise on sanctions, regulatory, and compliance matters (including OFAC / price cap where applicable) Ensure compliance with applicable laws across jurisdictions Monitor regulatory developments in commodity and oil trading 4. Business Partnering Act as a legal advisor to trading, operations, and finance teams Provide practical, commercially driven legal advice Support development of internal policies and procedures Requirements Requirements Law degree Qualified lawyer is an advantage Professional Experience 4-8+ years of legal experience Experience in: Commodity trading (grains, agri, metals) and/or oil trading companies, OR Law firms advising trading / oil & gas clients Experience with international contracts and cross-border transactions Exposure to Russian-speaking markets is a strong advantage Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills Experience in claims and dispute resolution Understanding of: Incoterms, Trading structures and supply chains, Experience with GAFTA / FOSFA contracts (for agri commodities) is a plus, Knowledge of sanctions / compliance frameworks (OFAC, price cap) is highly desirable Languages: Fluent Russian and English (mandatory) Benefits Competitive compensation and incentive Working hours - 9.00-18.00 Medical Insurance 30 calendar days of annual leave Employment visa Opportunity to grow together with the company