Department purpose

A&O Shearman is the world's leading Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure practice. With over 70 partners and 250 lawyers worldwide, we have, since 2000, consistently closed more project finance deals globally than any other law firm and are an acknowledged market leader across the project development space.
We advise the most sophisticated sponsors, project and construction companies, debt providers and governments across a wide array of sectors, including all aspects of the energy transition (including hydrogen, green fuels and carbon capture), renewables, power generation (thermal & nuclear) and transmission, social infrastructure, road, rail, ports, telecommunications, waste & water, mining and natural resources and oil & gas (upstream, midstream and downstream).

We provide our clients with a totally integrated service on all aspects of projects and acquisition work in both the primary and secondary markets, drawing on and marshalling A&O Shearman's specialist skills in relation to, among other things, project development, construction, deal-structuring, bankability, equity strategy, debt financing and refinancing (including bank, private placement capital markets, ECA and multilateral) and regulatory compliance.

Role purpose

The group is currently recruiting for a mid or senior associate with a specific skill base focused on construction and project development to join our market-leading Project Development & Construction team which sits within our global Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure practice.

We are looking for someone with strong experience of EPC/construction contracts, revenue contracts (including from the oil & gas or hydrogen sectors, as well as PPAs), concessions, and other commercial contracts, all within an energy, infrastructure and, preferably, project finance context. This experience will have been gained through advising on actual greenfield project development matters, and while our preference is for sponsor side experience, experience advising lenders, offtakers, governments and contractors (in that order) is also helpful.

Role & responsibilities

• Providing strategic guidance to clients and leading on transactions through strong market awareness and an understanding of market trends and client requirements.
• Drafting, reviewing, amending and negotiating project contracts.
• Managing client expectations, deadlines and project delivery appropriately.
• Collaborating across teams, departments and jurisdictions in a fast paced, intellectually rigorous environment
• Matter (or workstream) management and maximising financial contribution.
• Leadership and supervision of junior team members.
• Recognising and acting upon opportunities for business development together with assistance on, and implementation of, group and firm-wide business development strategies.
• Proactive engagement with clients both on and off deal with a view towards building and maintaining strong client relationships.
• Legal and sector knowledge development and sharing (internally and externally).
• Assisting with billing activities and timely invoicing.

Key requirements

• Qualified lawyer in the 4 - 8 PQE range (with some flexibility above that), currently within a leading international law firm.
• Resilient self-starter with the intellectual curiosity and versatility to continuously acquire, build upon and share knowledge.
• Evidence of a keen interest in project development allied to strong technical knowledge across multiple disciplines.
• Highly motivated team player with excellent organisational skills.
• Clear and concise verbal and written communicator with outstanding interpersonal skills and a good eye for detail.
• Entrepreneurial drive.
• Strong commercial/business acumen.
• Clear understanding of law firm economics and an understanding of the firm's strategic priorities.
• A person of sound judgement and core values, able to establish a high level of credibility.