Associate Legal Counsel (Commodities Trading)

About Us

Engelhart was founded in 2013 by BTG Pactual Group as a commodities trading company. Our business model is “asset light” and highly diversified – giving us the ability to adapt effectively and nimbly to changing market conditions. We have assembled successful multidisciplinary teams, leveraging advanced fundamental analysis with deep quantitative and weather research capabilities.  Our activities are underpinned by strong risk management practices and by powerful technology and operational excellence. We have exceptional teams with diverse global backgrounds and decades of experience, and are driven by a highly collaborative culture, across products and competencies.

In 2024, Engelhart acquired Trailstone, a global energy trading and technology company. The acquisition provides us with new expertise, analytics and proprietary technology which is being used to provide risk management and optimisation services to help maximise the value of our clients’ renewable power. The acquisition also expanded Engelhart’s capabilities into physical natural gas across North America, a critical fuel to support the energy transition.

Our talented and experienced individuals work together according to its four company values: be bold, be collaborative, be proactive, be your best.

Associate Legal Counsel – London, UK

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and flexible junior lawyer to join the Berlin or London office of Engelhart with broad jurisdictional and product scope.  Whilst the primary geographic coverage will be Europe, the role will also involve exposure to and support for the wider global businesses in North America and Asia as necessary.  

We are seeking a hands-on commercial attorney to complement our experienced Legal Team to support in the growth of our energy/renewables/environmental products businesses in Europe, focusing on power purchase agreements, master agreements and other energy and commodity trading agreements, related credit support and financing agreements, corporate governance and other legal and compliance matters and initiatives.

• The successful applicant will provide legal support to a number of businesses and support functions globally (with a European focus), collaborating with colleagues at global offices and in all areas of the firm.
• We are seeking a candidate with at least two years’ experience (whether through a relevant law firm and/or corporate legal department) in commodities, energy or renewables-related businesses and markets.
• The Legal & Compliance team are based in our Stamford, Houston, Austin, London, Berlin, and Beijing offices, with a team philosophy predicated on a flat, hybrid, highly collaborative and roles/responsibilities cross-sharing model.
• This opportunity offers a flexible hybrid work schedule.

Role Responsibilities

• Provide legal support primarily to the European commercial businesses – including supporting business transactions and negotiating electricity and related products, natural gas, renewable, environmental and other commodity-related product and service agreements (including power purchase agreements, balancing services agreements, ISDAs, EFETs, and other master agreements and GTCs).
• Draft, review, advise on and negotiate credit support, collateral, and security agreements (e.g., guarantees, credit support annexes, letters of credit, and master netting agreements).
• Work closely with other senior members of the legal team and support functions to negotiate and complete complex and strategic transactions, including investments and acquisitions.
• Advise on legal-related issues as they arise in day-to-day trading, including relating to brokerage agreements, data subscriptions, vendor contracts and the physical movement and storage of products.
• Provide legal support in respect of corporate governance matters including corporate re-organisations, filings, authorizations and approvals and ongoing compliance projects.
• Assist with setting up and maintaining effective and efficient document management systems and procedures including approvals, execution, storage and retention.
• Participate in cross-team collaboration and help to support the global legal workload, with colleagues primarily in Europe but also with other team members in North America and Asia.
• Liaise and support relevant groups throughout the company, including Senior Management, Compliance, Finance, Credit, Operations, People Team, Risk, Treasury, and Tax.
• Collaborate with colleagues to implement cross-functional initiatives and projects.
• Develop and maintain solid working relationships with staff across the global companies and businesses.
• Liaise with, and effectively use, internal and external counsel resources with cost-effective management.

About You

We are seeking a highly motivated and adaptable individual with excellent communication, organizational, and decision-making skills. You should demonstrate a strong willingness to learn, manage a full workload, and prioritize competing demands while remaining composed under pressure. If you excel at navigating complexity and turning challenges into opportunities, we’d love to hear from you!

We believe the following experiences and skills are required to best set this individual up for success:

• Minimum of two (2) years of demonstrated commodities trading/commodities marketing experience in relevant products/markets, including transactional experience with energy trading documentation (physical preferred), with top-tier law firm and/or leading commodities firm in-house experience.
• Demonstrable working experience in a legal function covering commodities; specifically physical and financial trading of natural gas, renewable energy, and environmental products. Experience with Freight, Softs (grains, oilseeds, sugar, coffee, cotton), Metals, Energy (oil/oil products, LNG, ethanol), Minerals, and/or Equities is highly desirable but not required.
• Fluent written and verbal English language skills (or CEFR Level C2). Italian language skills are desirable but not required.
• Proven accountability, judgment and ownership of responsibilities and managed matters.
• Hands on team player with a flexible attitude, with demonstrable ability to collaborate and communicate with a wide range of stakeholders, both internal and external. 
• An enthusiastic self-starter, able to work under pressure to become an integral member of a busy global team.
• Highest professional and ethical standards and a strong commitment to compliance.
• Strong academic credentials, including a relevant degree in German or English law.

What we offer

• Competitive compensation and participation in Engelhart’s discretionary bonus plan.
• 25 days of annual holiday entitlement plus English public holidays.
• Robust benefits package such as private medical and dental cover, life insurance, and supplemental benefits partially subsidised by the Company.  
• A 9% employer pension contribution.

We believe in inclusivity and are therefore dedicated to ensuring all employees – across gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, life experience, background and more – feel welcome and included in the company. We promote diversity because we believe it is essential to our ability to think holistically.