Legal Counsel at Wood, Milan

Why This Legal Counsel Role at Wood Demands Your Attention

In the high-stakes world of global energy, legal counsel are no longer just advisors—they are strategic gatekeepers who shape billion-dollar transactions and navigate complex regulatory landscapes. Wood, a global leader in consulting, engineering, and operations for the energy and materials sectors, is now seeking a Legal Counsel to join its award-winning Eastern Hemisphere Legal team in Corsico (Milan), Italy. This is not merely another in-house role; 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 & gas, and emerging energy sectors, Wood offers a legal professional the rare opportunity to work on matters that literally power the modern world. The role is permanent, based in Milan with hybrid flexibility (up to two days per week working from home), and comes with a transparent salary range of €59,000–€88,000 paid in 14 instalments. But beyond the numbers, this position is a career-defining move for lawyers who thrive on complexity and international collaboration.

Inside the Mandate: From EPC Contracts to Multi-Jurisdictional Disputes

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Legal Counsel to join Wood’s award winning Eastern Hemisphere Legal team.

The job description reveals a role that is anything but mundane. You will be responsible for delivering precise, commercial, timely, and cost-effective legal advice on matters that have potential or actual legal or reputational implications. This includes supporting Wood’s legal needs in Italy and across the UK & Europe, Middle East, Africa and CIS, and APAC regions. The breadth of work is staggering:

• Litigation and dispute resolution, including pre-action strategies, ADR, arbitration, and court proceedings
• Contract and project support, especially EPC/EPCm models
• Mergers & acquisitions and joint ventures
• Employment law and real estate matters
• Company establishment and compliance issues

What makes this role especially attractive is the autonomy it offers. You are expected to work autonomously and proactively, managing external counsel relationships, budgets, and the full lifecycle of strategic transactions. This is not a support role; 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&A/corporate exposure; 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
• Collective Agreement: Industria Metalmeccanica (CNEL C011)
• Classification: Impiegato
• Gross Annual Salary: €59,000–€88,000 in 14 instalments
• 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&A, JVs, disputes, and compliance across the UK, Europe, Middle East, Africa, CIS, and APAC means you’ll emerge as a well-rounded legal professional with global credibility.

Moreover, Wood’s connection to Sidara—a global partnership of multidisciplinary engineering and project management companies—opens doors to even broader opportunities. The company’s focus on lower-carbon future and resilient operations positions you at the heart of the energy transition, a sector that will only grow in legal complexity and importance.

In summary, this Legal Counsel role in Milan is not just a job posting—it’s an invitation to join a global legal elite. If you have the experience, the linguistic fluency, and the ambition to work on projects that span continents, this could be your defining career move. Applications are already pouring in, so act strategically and prepare to demonstrate why you are the counsel for the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the Legal Counsel role at Wood open to lawyers outside Italy?

Yes, the role is based in Milan but supports Wood’s legal needs across several regions. Fluent Italian and English are required, so candidates with strong bilingual skills are encouraged to apply, even if they are not Italian nationals.

2. What is the deadline for applying?

The job posting does not specify a deadline, and LinkedIn indicates the role was posted recently with over 200 applicants. As with most in-house roles, applications are typically reviewed on a rolling basis, so it is best to apply as soon as possible.

3. Can I apply if I don’t have direct energy sector experience?

Yes. Wood explicitly states that even if you don’t match every statement, you should apply. The role values commercial contract experience and analytical skills, and a demonstrable interest in developing EPC/construction expertise is considered a desirable but not mandatory requirement.

4. What does the hybrid working arrangement look like?

The position is based at Wood’s Corsico (Milan) office, with the possibility to work from home up to two days per week. The company provides a free shuttle bus from the Metro station to the office, making commuting convenient.