Legal Counsel

Location: Odesa / Kyiv (with regular travel to Odesa)
Company Type: Agri-trading group with oil extraction plant and port elevator
Employment Type: Full-time
Reports to: Legal Counsel

Job Summary:

We are looking for an experienced and proactive Legal Counsel to join our legal team, primarily focusing on legal support for the company’s oilseed processing plant and port grain elevator located in the Odesa region. This role will also provide legal assistance to the corporate legal team supporting agri-trading operations.

The position requires a strong background in land law, regulatory and permitting matters, contract law, and pre-litigation work, with a hands-on approach to legal risk management in an industrial setting.

Work Location:

Primary location: Odesa or Kyiv.

If based in Kyiv, mandatory presence in Odesa region at least 2 weeks per month is required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide full legal support for the operational activities of the oil extraction facility and port elevator in Odesa region.
• Advise on matters related to land use, leases, ownership, and compliance with Ukrainian land law.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of regulatory permits and approvals, including environmental, construction, and operational documentation.
• Support the business during inspections and audits by regulatory authorities, including preparation of responses and communication with government bodies.
• Handle pre-litigation and claims-related work with contractors, service providers, and authorities.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, including construction, supply, services, maintenance, and logistics.
• Monitor changes in relevant legislation and proactively assess legal risks.
• Provide legal input to the trading legal team as needed, including support on contracts and 3rd parties check matters.
• Collaborate with internal departments (operations, compliance, commercial, finance, security) to ensure business alignment.

Requirements:

• Master's degree in Law (Ukrainian university).
• 5–10 years of legal experience, ideally in industrial production, agriculture, port infrastructure, or energy sectors.
• Strong expertise in:
  • Corporate and Land law
  • Regulatory and permitting procedures
  • Pre-litigation and claims handling
  • Contract drafting and negotiation
  • Inspections and interaction with government bodies
• Previous experience supporting industrial sites, plants, or elevators is a strong advantage.
• Bar license (advocate status) is a plus but not mandatory.
• Strong communication skills, ability to work independently and cross-functionally.
• Fluent in Ukrainian and English (written and spoken).