Legal Counsel at Wood, Milan
Wood (Wood plc) ·
5 to 8 years post qualification experience in-house or private practice; strong legal analysis, drafting, commercial contracting, disputes, stakeholder management; fluent Italian and English; desirable EPC/construction exposure, M it is a gateway to multi-jurisdictional exposure, high-value projects, and a career that spans the entire asset lifecycle of the energy industry.
With over 33,000 employees across roughly 50 countries and clients in the chemical, petrochemical, oil it is a leadership position where your judgment directly influences Wood’s operational success across continents. The Ideal Candidate Profile: 5–8 Years of Commercial Law Mastery Wood is looking for a lawyer with 5 to 8 years post-qualification experience, whether gained in-house or in private practice.
The emphasis is on commercial acumen, analytical skill, and the ability to communicate complex legal issues to non-lawyers. You don’t need to be a specialist in energy law from day one, but you must demonstrate a strong grasp of core contractual concepts such as scope, risk allocation, indemnities, limitation of liability, variations, termination, and dispute resolution.
Fluent Italian and English are non-negotiable, reflecting the role’s Milan base and its international reach. The desirable qualifications include exposure to engineering, construction, or projects work, including EPC/EPCm models; experience with claims, variations, and delay/disruption; employment/HR advisory; M and a multi-jurisdiction mindset.
Wood explicitly encourages applications from candidates who may not meet every single criterion, signaling a culture that values potential and trainability over a perfect checklist. This is a subtle but important signal: don’t self-select out if you have a strong commercial law foundation and a willingness to learn the energy sector inside out.
Wood’s commitment to equal opportunities means they are looking for the right brain, not just the right resume. Compensation, Benefits, and the Hybrid Milan Setup Contract type: Permanent
Benefits
Free shuttle bus from Metro, company canteen, biannual free medical check-ups, free parking, extra-occupational accident insurance Beyond the package, Wood offers flexible working arrangements, a commitment to diversity and inclusion, and tailored professional development plans.
The hybrid working model—up to two days from home—makes this exceptionally attractive for lawyers seeking work-life balance while staying connected to a global team. The role’s location in Corsico, just southwest of Milan, is well-connected and supported by the company shuttle.
It’s also worth noting the transparency in compensation. Wood discloses the salary range upfront, which is a growing trend among forward-thinking employers. The final offer may vary based on experience, but the openness signals a fair and structured hiring process.
How to Position Yourself as the Winning Candidate If this role resonates with you, here’s how to stand out in a competitive pool of over 200 applicants (as LinkedIn already indicates): Tailor your CV to highlight commercial contracting experience: Use keywords like EPC, risk allocation, indemnities, and dispute resolution.
Demonstrate international exposure: Even if you haven’t worked across time zones, emphasize language skills, cross-border project experience, or adaptability to unfamiliar legal frameworks. Prepare for behavioural questions: Expect scenarios around stakeholder management, budget control, and leading external counsel.
Show your commercial instinct: Discuss how you’ve aligned legal advice with business objectives in past roles. Leverage LinkedIn: Connect with current or former Wood legal team members to gain insights and potentially secure a referral.
Given the role’s emphasis on autonomy and proactive legal risk management, your interview should showcase examples where you identified risks before they materialized and implemented mitigation strategies. The ability to simplify complex issues for senior business leaders is something they explicitly value.
Career Trajectory: Why In-House at Wood Is a Springboard For lawyers eyeing a career in the energy sector, this role is a launchpad. You’ll work with experts at the leading edge of the industry, shape standards, and build a portfolio of multi-jurisdictional work that is highly transferable. The exposure to M