OQ
Principal Legal Counsel – Corporate, Commercial & Finance (Energy Sector)
- Permanent
- Muscat, Oman
- Experience 10 - 15 yrs
- Urgent
Job expiry date: 08/11/2025
Job overview
Date posted
24/09/2025
Location
Muscat, Oman
Salary
Undisclosed
Compensation
Salary only
Experience
10 - 15 yrs
Seniority
Senior & Lead
Qualification
Bachelors degree
Expiration date
08/11/2025
Job description
The Principal Legal Counsel at OQ Group plays a strategic role in advising and overseeing legal processes related to corporate finance, commercial law, and project finance within the energy sector. Reporting to the VP of Corporate Legal, the position involves independently advising and supervising junior legal staff, managing the structuring and negotiation of complex financial documentation, and ensuring compliance with legal and corporate governance standards. Responsibilities include supporting financial transactions, reviewing contracts, conducting due diligence, and coordinating with internal departments such as finance, accounting, and business development to provide integrated legal counsel. The role involves oversight of legal risks, policy development, regulatory compliance, and mentoring junior legal staff. Candidates should possess 10–12 years of post-qualification experience in a major law firm or in-house legal function, preferably with exposure to the energy or infrastructure sectors. Fluency in English and proficiency in legal and financial tools is essential. The position is based in Muscat and supports corporate, downstream, and commercial legal needs.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Provide independent legal advice on corporate finance, project finance, and compliance matters
- Supervise junior and mid-level lawyers on legal documentation and transaction processes
- Advise on structuring and negotiation of finance documentation including facility and intercreditor agreements
- Manage preparation and delivery of condition precedent documentation for financial transactions
- Support finance department on intra-group loans, bank accounts, and treasury functions
- Review, draft, and negotiate legal documents for loans, acquisitions, and joint ventures
- Conduct due diligence and assess legal risk for corporate and financial transactions
- Advise on and ensure corporate compliance and governance across OQ Group
- Guide commercial and legal issues, including applicable regulatory regimes
- Manage contracts and ensure legal integrity throughout contract lifecycles
- Monitor ongoing compliance with legal obligations, policies, and governance standards
- Collaborate with external counsel and internal legal teams for complex legal issues
- Mentor junior legal staff and promote legal team development and knowledge sharing
- Support legal planning, policy implementation, and contribute to legal budgeting processes
- Liaise with shared services and centers of excellence to deliver coordinated legal support
- Provide insights on legal trends and variance affecting the oil & gas industry
- Leverage technology and legal systems to streamline legal operations and reporting
Experience & skills
- Hold an LLB or equivalent from a reputable university or law school
- Be admitted to a recognized civil or common law Bar (qualified lawyer/solicitor/barrister)
- Have 10–12 years of post-qualification experience with law firms or in-house legal departments
- Demonstrate expertise in corporate, commercial, and finance law
- Possess experience managing full legal lifecycle of financial transactions
- Show familiarity with legal and regulatory frameworks in the energy or oil & gas sectors
- Demonstrate strong drafting and negotiation skills
- Exhibit proficiency in legal research tools, contract systems, and financial analysis software
- Have strong interpersonal and communication skills to engage stakeholders effectively
- Be fluent in written and spoken English
