Associate - Project development/non-contentious construction (Junior-Mid)

The Opportunity: Key internal relationships Supervising lawyer, group partners and senior lawyers, associates/solicitors, trainees/graduate solicitors, business development staff, secretarial staff, paralegals Key external relationships Clients, university and law school peers, other firms Practice group/team: Infrastructure/Projects team Herbert Smith Freehills has been the lead adviser on many of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects and transactions throughout the world and the Middle East. This has included the firm acting on the NEOM project, the Fujairah 3 IPP, Yanbu 4 IWP, HS2, Thames Tideway Tunnel, and Hinkley Point C. The practice has a substantial presence in Dubai, Johannesburg, London, Paris, Madrid, Moscow, and throughout Asia and Australia. The firm has acted on some of the most complex and ground-breaking projects in sectors including, energy (power, water, renewables and oil and gas), mining, infrastructure and real estate. Clients include project sponsors, developers, banks, multilateral agencies, and governments. Key clients include ENGIE | Marubeni | Siemens | IFC | | BP | Gazprom Neft Badra | EDF R | KEPCO | NEOM | PIF | Bee'ah | Sojitz Corporation | Mitsui & Co. Ltd. | BNP Paribas | Standard Chartered Bank | EMAAR | Recent work within the Middle East includes advising: Marubeni Corporation on the 2.4GW Fujairah 3 power project in Fujairah, UAEthe lenders for the 450,000m³/day Yanbu 4 water project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabiathe strategic procurement and implementation of the NEOM project in Saudi Arabiathe mandated lead arrangers to an international bidder for the Facility E power and water project in Qataran international bidder on its bid for the 1.5GW PV2 solar photovoltaic power plant at Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi, UAEan international bidder for the Al Ansar hospital project in Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom's first healthcare PPPthe mandated lead arrangers to an international bidder for the Madinah 3, Buraydah 2 and Tabuk 2 sewage treatment plants in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Primary objectives Contribute to excellent client service and perform fee-earning work, both under supervision and supervising juniors.Make an effective contribution to the firm's work by aiming to meet and exceed target hours.Build on legal and commercial knowledge in chosen practice area.Begin cultivating relationships with current client contacts where possible and in some instances, be a direct point of contact. Key responsibilities Role-specific Advising a range of corporations operating in the energy and infrastructure sectors, as well as global financial institutions Involvement in project development transactions for both borrowers and lenders in large scale energy and infrastructure projects Leading and negotiating transactions, assisting and supervising more junior associates and traineesBuilding relationships with clients, identifying and acting on opportunitiesPlan, prioritise and delegate work tasks as appropriate and update supervising partner on progress.Build client relationships - provide excellent client service and prompt responses and progress updates to the client.Support the firm and others - build effective relationships with individuals and groups in other departments and offices; uphold the firm's values; and assist with the preparation of legal precedents, legal articles, marketing documents and presentations.Comply with risk requirements, firm policies and all relevant professional responsibilities and legislation. Qualifications, skills and experience: Qualified/admitted legal practitionerExcellent academics1-3 years' PQE, however we are open to considering candidates with more or less experienceDemonstrable experience of projects / infrastructure development and construction mattersExperience of real estate development work is desirableExperience of advising on project documents (power purchase agreements, land lease agreements, shareholders' agreements, fuel supply agreements)Knowledge, understanding and experience in providing advice in relation to bespoke EPC contracts as well as FIDIC (Red, Yellow and Silver Books) forms, and O&M contracts Experience of project finance work is also desirable (e.g. preparation of finance documents agreements for new infrastructure projects)Experience of acting on complex commercial contracts and undertaking major procurement exercises Experience of due diligence of projects in the M&A context is desirableKnowledge of PPP/PFI structures is essentialAwareness of current market developments and key playersStrong foundation legal skills, including drafting, writing, reviewing, negotiation and project management.Familiarity with law firm profitability and key drivers for financial efficiency.Ability and drive to work on bespoke, big-ticket and complicated transactionsA strong interest in the energy, real estate and infrastructure sectors, including:Power, water and renewables;Oil & Gas;Social infrastructure; Transportation; andReal Estate