Associate/Senior Associate, Corporate Energy (Oil & Gas)

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About Ashurst
Ashurst is a leading progressive global law firm with a rich history spanning more than 200 years. We are proud of our history and are future-focused, having expanded into new technologies through our NewLaw division, Ashurst Advance, and our consulting arm. Our in-depth understanding of our clients and commitment to providing excellent standards of service have seen us become a trusted adviser to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments in all areas of commercial law. To find out more please visit www.ashurst.com .
Team overview
Ashurst is acknowledged as having one of the world's leading international corporate energy practices, with a reputation for concise, pragmatic and commercial advice. We routinely advise all industry stakeholders on high-profile transactions and projects that define the market. Providing strategic advice to all of these industry players allows us to understand the commercial and legal issues from a number of different perspectives. Our corporate energy practice is fully integrated with our tax, finance, competition, IP, IT, employment and pensions teams.
The team is ambitious to build on the extremely successful practice that already exists by adding team members with the same passion and drive for the industry as them.
Job overview
As a result of a growing pipeline of work within the energy space, our Corporate Transactions team is looking to hire an experienced lawyer to join our team in London. The role will be primarily focused on private M&A and project development across a wide variety of geographies, specifically within the oil and gas (including LNG) and broader energy sector, including energy transition transactions in sub-sectors such as hydrogen, sustainable fuels and CCUS.
Main tasks:
Drafting and negotiating transaction documents: Draft, review and negotiate legal documents to effect private M&A transactions, including sale and purchase agreements (for corporate and business sales), share subscription and joint venture agreements, pre-bid agreements and ancillary transaction documents;
Due diligence: Project manage and lead large-scale due diligence exercises (both sell- and buy-side) and disclosure processes;
Transaction management: Liaise with colleagues and other advisors to ensure clients receive seamless advice and to ensure that client objectives and timelines are met;
Business development and networking activities;
Contributing to department know-how and training activities;
Nurturing and mentoring junior lawyers;
Risk and Control: Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with our regulatory requirements and internal policies.
Description of role:
You will act with integrity to provide incisive advice to clients, and to work collaboratively with your colleagues in doing so;
You will take day to day responsibility for matters, with suitable direct client contact, and will proactively progress complex matters with appropriate partner support;
You will be able to demonstrate well developed verbal and written communication skills, and innovative drafting skills;
You will be confident and effective in negotiations with clients and counterparties;
You will be effective in communicating with clients in order to understand their needs and how best to meet them. You will also have the ability to assist clients in arriving at practical and cost effective solutions;
You will be effective in forming and maintaining relationships with clients and identifying opportunities to strengthen client relationships;
You will understand the way our business, competitors and clients are developing and work with the business development team to use this information to develop business opportunities;
You will build and maintain a network of business contacts, both internally and externally;
You will have excellent attention to detail, identifying inconsistencies that indicate problems with quality of work or a misunderstanding of clients' needs;
You will gather information from a variety of sources to identify your own strengths and weaknesses;
You will be able to identify when a team member needs support and will be approachable for advice, giving constructive feedback; and
You will contribute to the creation of a positive work environment and assist with training and development.
Essential skills and experience
The successful candidate will have the following skills and experience:
Associate/Senior associate with between 4-6 years post qualification corporate transactional experience across a wide range of matters, including private M&A transactions and project development within the oil and gas and broader energy sector
Enthusiastic team-player who can work effectively with colleagues at all levels
Excellent academic track record
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
Experience of drafting, reviewing and negotiating legal documents and agreements in a private practice environment
An adaptable person who is a fast learner, with experience of dealing with multiple jurisdictions
Client facing experience and the ability to understand and respond effectively to client needs and build client relationships
Willingness to learn new skills and expand technical knowledge beyond core transactional skills
Technically excellent with strong attention to detail and well-developed analytical and drafting skills
Commercial approach and an ability to advise and negotiate in an considered, confident and authoritative manner across a wide variety of contractual arrangements
Ability to lead team on transactions or designated parts of transactions
Passion for delivering outstanding outcomes for clients in innovative ways
Recent work
OMV on its agreement to sell its 50% stake in the Malaysian-headquartered SapuraOMV to TotalEnergies for $903 million
JX Nippon on its $1.6bn sale of its UK upstream oil and gas business to Hitec-owned NEO Energy
GIC on its strategic investment, alongside global investment firm Carlyle, in Eneus Energy to support the development of a 14GW+ pipeline of green hydrogen/green ammonia projects
Mitsui on its investment in Storegga Geotechnologies, the lead developer of a major Carbon Capture and Storage ("CCS") project to reduce the UK's carbon footprint in support of the country's net zero emissions targets
IBMS, a biogas to hydrogen developer on its investment by Lazard Asset Management to create the platform Bio4gas
Brookfield on its $1.87bn acquisition of the East-West Pipeline from Reliance
A Japanese investor on a proposed investment in an energy trading optimisation company
New Energy Technology on an equity investment in electrolyser manufacturer Supercritical
Northleaf Capital on its acquisition of the Douglas Terminal in Belgium
Career advancement
An established Associate Career Path Framework is in place clearly defining expectations and outlining opportunities for promotion.
Secondment opportunities
Opportunities often arise for associates to spend time on secondment in house with a key client of the firm. From time to time, secondment opportunities also come up within other Ashurst offices in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.
Background checks
In order to comply with regulatory and client requirements, Ashurst will undertake appropriate vetting of staff. When applicants accept a job offer, Ashurst, alongside a specialist provider, will undertake professional verification and background checks. These checks are only undertaken with consent, and in accordance with our legal and regulatory obligations.
Partner Profiles
Nick Williamson, Michael Burns, Julia Derrick, Quentin Robinson, Yann Alix
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