Legal Counsel, Trade Support

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods. Our activities span the entire value chain from farm to fork, across a broad range of business lines, we leverage our global reach and extensive asset network to serve our customers and consumers around the world.

Structured as a matrix organization of six geographical regions and ten platforms, Louis Dreyfus Company is active in over 100 countries and employs approximately 18,000 people globally.

Overall Purpose:

The Trade Support lawyer we are seeking for this position will be based in Geneva to support LDC’s EMEA region.

This lawyer will provide legal support and advice to LDC and its subsidiaries throughout EMEA, supporting commodities platforms, international shipping and commercial activities.

This lawyer will have excellent communication skills and judgement, together with a commercial and business orientated mindset, to provide sound advice and direction to platform leaders.  This lawyer will also be pro-active, driven and have the ability to manage and prioritise numerous competing matters and projects.

This lawyer will thrive in a collegiate team setting within a complex, fast changing and challenging environment.

LDC’s lawyers typically manage their assignments themselves and therefore the successful candidate will be expected to take responsibility for their own matters and work independently with minimal supervision, yet as part of a wider Trade Support team. Where it is necessary to instruct external counsel, the lawyer will need to be able to supervise them and manage them effectively.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide commercial legal advice focused on trading and operational activity, including contract drafting and negotiation supporting businesses in the EMEA region.
• Provide legal and compliance support with a focus on trading, financial engineering/structured product and capital market transaction matters.
• Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of commercial contracts; this will include LDC trading and sales activity and LDC’s industrial activities;
• Advise on P&I Club and other insurance issues;
• Regulatory and compliance advice and assistance;
• Support with respect to dispute resolution / management of litigation issues, co-ordination with LDC Legal team;
• Assisting with LDC project activities and other business development transactions;
• File management and liaising with local counsel in each jurisdiction as required;
• Active involvement in legal cost reporting and tracking
• Analysis and monitoring of legal and regulatory developments
• Act as mentor and quarterback to the more junior lawyers in the trade support legal team regionally
• Act as main point of contact for auditors to monitor and report material (trade support related) litigations in the region
• Give strategic advice to the Group General Counsel and regional CLO’s to improve terms of business leveraging on lessons learned on the dispute side

Experience

• Experience (including number of years):  More than 15 years, ideally including time in private practice ideally with 5+ years in a trading house with experience training in-house at a commodities trading company a plus.
• Knowledge: UK qualified lawyer. Dual qualification a bonus.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong individual with excellent communication skills is essential.
• Team player and collaborative/collegiate approach.
• Strong attention to detail and high levels of accuracy.
• Commercial and pragmatic  mindset.
• Must have the ability to assess  situations quickly and propose effective solutions.
• Ability to translate complexity into simple solutions and provide continuous feedback and to regularly follow up on all outstanding issues.
• Ability to work within a small team, and across geographies in a large global company.
• Experience in solving day to day complex problems and operational and logistics issues arising from the flow of commodities globally.
• Ability to understand legal and commercial issues quickly, to digest and analyse the situation, to form hypotheses, to draw inferences and to question assumptions, to test ideas, to propose solutions, to discuss and argue constructively. 
• Strong business and legal judgment and commercial attitude
• Analytical approach to identifying and practical approach to solving issues
• Excellent aptitudes for communication and presentation, experience of working in an international environment.
• Ability to work well under pressure, to respect deadlines and to assume responsibilities.

Languages:

• Languages: English ,French and/or Spanish as well would be an advantage.

Academics

• Law degree or equivalent.
• Admitted to practice law in any jurisdiction (common law jurisdiction preferred)

Diversity & Inclusion

LDC is driven by a set of shared values and high ethical standards

Diversity is part of our DNA. LDC strives to create a diverse and inclusive work environment where people can thrive regardless of gender, sexuality, ethnicity or background.

Sustainability

Sustainable value is at the heart of our purpose as a company

We are passionate about creating fair and sustainable value, both for our business and for other value chain stakeholders: our people, our business partners, the communities we touch and the environment around us.

Additional Information for the job

Diversity & Inclusion

LDC is driven by a set of shared values and high ethical standards, with diversity and inclusion being part of our DNA. LDC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity, equity and inclusion.

LDC encourages diversity, supports local communities and environmental initiatives. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Sustainability

Sustainable value is at the heart of our purpose as a company.

We are passionate about creating fair and sustainable value, both for our business and for other value chain stakeholders: our people, our business partners, the communities we touch and the environment around us

What We Offer

We provide a dynamic and stimulating international environment, which will stretch and develop your abilities and channel your skills and expertise with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the largest and most solid private companies in the world.

Our Benefits

- Competitive salary

- Attractive social and financial benefits

- Flexible working environment

- Access to training and development