Job Description
The role
As a Lawyer at Clifford Chance your remit will be to apply your full knowledge of the law within your specialist area by identifying legal issues, drafting and advising clients. We have an extensive education programme, but you will also be expected to be proactive in ensuring that your technical expertise is up to date. You will collaborate in knowledge initiatives for the Firm.
Lawyers working in our Construction Group act for sponsors/developers, funders, contractors and other project participants and you can expect to be involved in the drafting, negotiation and analysis of construction (in particular EPC), operation/FM and ancillary documentation.
There is a clear transactional bias to the Group's work and our Lawyers are required to involve themselves in the management and organisation of teams of clients, Lawyers and professional advisers. You will utilise client focus initiatives to understand and drive service levels to meet client needs.
Managing matters with a disciplined practice is key, including adhering to matter opening and conflicts clearance processes.
We have a wide range of tools and support services available and you will be expected to utilise Best Delivery tools: e.g. templates, Legal Support Centre, Resource Management, Legal Project Managers and Matter Balance Reports.
You will be expected to complete any mandatory and relevant skills, risk and legal training.
Who you will work with
The prominence of our Construction Group makes this an unrivalled opportunity for high calibre candidates who wish to work on the biggest and most iconic projects in the Middle East to develop their careers in a fast-moving sector. We aim to be market leaders in the sectors in which we operate to provide a best-in-class service to our clients, and look for lawyers who share this ambition.
As part of the group, you will work closely with the firm's top-ranked Project Development & Finance, Corporate, Real Estate, and International Arbitration Groups, often in other offices in the network. Our clients are primarily project sponsors, state-owned enterprises and developers, but we also advise lenders, investors and contractors.
The UAE Construction team is fully integrated with the International Construction Group, and regularly works with Construction team across our global network (with a particularly close relationship with our Construction team members in Riyadh, London, Singapore and Sydney).
The group is non-hierarchical and highly focused on the development of its team members. Junior lawyers will find themselves working directly with Partners as well as senior associates and also handling certain matters themselves.
What you will be responsible for
As a Lawyer at Clifford Chance your remit will be to apply your full knowledge of the law within your specialist area by identifying legal issues, drafting and advising clients. We have an extensive education programme, but you will also be expected to be proactive in ensuring that your technical expertise is up to date. You will collaborate in knowledge initiatives for the Firm.
Lawyers working in our Construction Group act for sponsors/developers, funders, contractors and other project participants and you can expect to be involved in the drafting, negotiation and analysis of construction (in particular EPC), operation/FM and ancillary documentation.
There is a clear transactional bias to the Group's work and our Lawyers are required to involve themselves in the management and organisation of teams of clients, Lawyers and professional advisers. You will utilise client focus initiatives to understand and drive service levels to meet client needs.
Managing matters with a disciplined practice is key, including adhering to matter opening and conflicts clearance processes.
We have a wide range of tools and support services available and you will be expected to utilise Best Delivery tools: e.g. templates, Legal Support Centre, Resource Management, Legal Project Managers and Matter Balance Reports.
You will be expected to complete any mandatory and relevant skills, risk and legal training.
Qualifications
Your experience
Minimum criteria / essential requirements
- You will be a qualified lawyer.
- You will have gained experience at a similar firm, or at an overseas similar common law practice.
- You will have gained junior to mid-level non-contentious construction experience as a practising lawyer working on large international or complex construction projects.
Skills and knowledge
- You will be able to demonstrate excellent document drafting skills and attention to detail.
- Strong communication and analytical skills, along with a high level of commercial and cultural awareness.
- Good exposure to collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams and other jurisdictions.
- To have an appetite for working on the most complex projects, developing client relationships, supporting junior talent and thought leadership.
Company Description
Who we are
Clifford Chance's Middle East Construction Group is unique in operating at the top tier of all construction industry sectors across the MENA region. Our approach is to be innovative and commercial, providing a complete and market-leading service to clients to bring their most significant projects to fruition.
The Group's four main areas of work comprises
Energy and Utilities
We work across the energy spectrum. We have a market leading position on major renewable and energy transition projects, including green hydrogen, nuclear, wind, BESS, solar and CCS projects as well as on major thermal utilities, water/wastewater and projects across the oil and gas value chain. Recent examples include advising on the development of the world's first 24/7 gigascale solar PV and battery storage project, a USD 6bn offshore gas project, a cogeneration and desalination plant in KSA and LNG liquefaction and regas projects.
Real Estate & New Communities
From development of whole new cities to urban regeneration; from sports stadia and theme parks to luxury hotels and other iconic single assets; and dynamic new asset classes such as data centres, film studios and major railway infrastructure-adjacent developments. Recent examples include advising on the Disney theme park in Abu Dhabi and the National Tennis Centre in KSA.
Social and Transport Infrastructure
We are proud to be associated with some of the world's most iconic and vital transport, utilities, defence and social infrastructure projects. We are currently working on light and heavy rail projects, new hospitals, greenfield and brownfield airport projects and major new bridges and tunnel projects across the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Latin America.
Key Attractions
The only elite law firm to maintain a dedicated specialist construction team of such size and multi-sector focus.
The future of the practice: the quality of our instructions and the continuing success of the Construction Group make it one of the leading places to be doing this kind of work.
A wide variety of instructions from a variety of clients, including the very biggest and complex deals. We work with some of the firm's strategic clients on projects which will touch and change all of our lives – often involving pathfinding technology.
Regular training sessions, alternating between detailed, single issue reviews and broader industry topics – an intensive regime of training and skills development keeps us at the top of our game as Construction lawyers.
Knowledge sharing – members of the Group regularly contribute to blogs and pitches as well as delivering workshops to clients and contacts.
A highly competitive base salary, with potential for a substantial bonus under the Clifford Chance bonus scheme.
Great prospects for long-term career development.
Additional Information
How we will support you
From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and development your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.
As well as recruiting the best people, we insist on the professional development of all our employees. Our Lawyers work continuously to develop both legal and personal skills through the training programmes offered by the 'in-house' law education system, the Clifford Chance Academy.
About the Firm
Whatever your area of expertise, you will find a range of career opportunities at Clifford Chance. And wherever you’re heading, Clifford Chance is where you can be true to your ambitions.
Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures and languages. In a world where commercial success increasingly relies on globalisation, we offer clients a truly international perspective, and we offer our people a rewarding and stimulating career.
We're proud of our hard-working and results-driven yet approachable, friendly and team-based culture. Highly professional and self-assured, with an entrepreneurial streak, our people are more than happy to share their expertise and knowledge.
Equal opportunities
At Clifford Chance we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.
We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.
Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. Find out more here.
