Senior Legal Counsel - Commodities & Shipping Firm

Description :

Job Title: Senior Legal Counsel Commodities & Shipping

Location : Singapore

About Our Client :

Our client is a global commodities trading company with a strong presence in metals and bulk commodities. The firm operates across key trading routes in Asia and the Middle East, partnering with producers, traders, shipowners, and end-users worldwide.

Role Overview :

Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to support its metals and commodities trading business, with a primary focus on shipping, freight, and trade-related contracts. This is a front-line, deal-facing role requiring a commercially minded lawyer who can move quickly, manage risk pragmatically, and lead matters independently.

Key Responsibilities:

- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of shipping and freight documentation, including:

- Contracts of Affreightment (COAs)

- Charterparties (voyage and time)

- Bills of Lading

- Demurrage and despatch provisions

- Claims and settlement agreements

- Draft and negotiate physical commodities trading contracts (sales and purchase agreements for metals and bulk commodities).

- Advise traders and operations teams on contractual risk, performance issues, and mitigation strategies.

- Manage and coordinate arbitration and disputes (SIAC, LMAA, GAFTA, FOSFA, or similar), including oversight of external counsel.

- Support deal structuring and execution from a legal and risk perspective.

- Develop, update, and maintain standard contract templates and negotiation playbooks.

- Monitor legal and regulatory developments relevant to commodities trading and shipping.

Must-Have Requirements :

- 10+ years PQE (or equivalent).

- Strong, hands-on experience with freight and shipping documentation and contracts.

- Solid exposure to arbitration and disputes in shipping and/or commodities.

- Prior legal experience within metals or commodities trading (in-house or at a trading-focused law firm).

- Commercial, deal-oriented mindset with the ability to balance risk and speed.

- Confident communicator able to hold firm with counterparties.

Nice-to-Have :

- Knowledge of trade finance, sanctions, and compliance in commodities.

- Regional experience across Asia and/or Middle East trading routes.