Job Description
The role
The Group specialises in EHS, carbon market, climate change, ESG, energy and utilities regulation (including electricity market, oil and gas, nuclear renewables, water, ports and airports) and real estate and infrastructure planning and consenting. The practice spans compliance advisory, transactional, project work, and disputes/litigation. The successful candidate must demonstrate experience in some of these areas, and the capability and appetite to develop their knowledge and skills across all of them.
Who you will work with
As a lawyer in the Environment and Planning Group you will be involved with all areas of work carried out by the team, and so will have the opportunity to work with all team members in London and overseas.
The Environment and Planning Group is an integral part of the firm's transactional capabilities, and provides regular support on environmental, planning and regulatory issues to the Real Estate, Corporate and Finance practices.
The Group also plays a key role in a number of sectoral and diagonal groups, including the Climate Change Group, the Energy & Infrastructure Group (working closely with the project finance and construction teams), and the firm's global offering on ESG and sustainability services.
What you will be responsible for
As a member of the Group, you will be required to be flexible and adaptable to support the Group's work across the full spectrum of practices and sectors in which it operates. The work of the Group encompasses a wide range of transactional and regulatory/advisory work as well as litigation. As a result, the workload will be varied and your role will primarily be to support the senior associates and partners based on current work streams at any given time.
In addition to the traditional environmental aspects of the role, a significant part of the Group's work is in the energy space, providing advice on transactions and projects in the renewables sector as well as advising on the development of new UK energy projects and the regulation of energy utilities both on stand-alone matters as well as advice as part of M&A and project finance transactions.
Other rapidly growing areas are utilities and infrastructure regulation (particularly water, ports, airports) carbon trading, and ESG risk and regulation.
What you will do
- Drafting and negotiating agreements for transactions and projects in the energy space (particularly renewable), such as basic SPAs (and associated ancillary documents), power and heat supply and other services agreement, coordinating the legal due diligence for clients investing in UK energy projects including reviewing and reporting on planning and environmental issues, and energy matters (including grid connection, fuel and equipment supply, contracts for difference and other renewables incentives, and offtake arrangements).
- Advising on the regulation of the energy market, focused particularly on electricity generation technologies and renewables but also covering gas and electricity distribution, transmission and supply as well as regulation of other utilities and infrastructure.
- Drafting and negotiating environmental warranties and indemnities in respect of M&A and real estate transactions and subsequent post-acquisition advice on claims.
- Providing stand-alone advice on environmental issues including the contaminated land regime and chemicals regulation.
- Collaborating with the wider firm in advising on ESG and climate change issues in different sectors.
- Advising on emissions trading and voluntary emissions reduction purchase agreements and investments into carbon offset projects.
- Supporting clients through the entire planning process including the review of planning applications, statutory agreements, inquiries and legal challenges.
- Advising on consenting and planning issues for major energy and infrastructure projects, including development consent orders, compulsory purchase orders and highways works.
You will also contribute to the Group's growth by assisting on various business development and knowledge-related initiatives including new business pitches, briefings, presentations and knowledge-sharing tasks.
Qualifications
Your experience
This is an opening for a junior-level lawyer who can demonstrate a background within a similar field of (or at least some of) environment energy, regulatory and planning work, ideally gained at a City Firm, or at an overseas common law practice with a similar highly regarded profile. You will have an outstanding academic record.
The ideal candidate should:
- Have experience of assisting in advising major corporates, financial institutions and investors in relation to some of planning, environmental, energy and utilities issues
- Have experience of assisting clients in the industrial sector and energy and infrastructure sector
- be able to demonstrate experience of advising on transactional and regulatory matters
- Have a good understanding of the fast-moving ESG agenda and topical issues such as climate change and biodiversity and how they impact on legal practice.
- be able to work in teams, sharing knowledge and motivating and coaching their juniors and contributing to overall success; and
- be empathetic, responsive and reliable
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.
Company Description
Who we are
We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise.
Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating - full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work.
You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams.
Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet.
Additional Information
Hybrid Working
This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way with the expectation of working from the office for a minimum of 50% of your time.
Equal opportunities statement
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.
We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.
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 about our inclusive culture here.
#IND1
