Senior Associate - Infrastructure

Job Overview

We are seeking a Senior Associate to join our London office to help develop our project finance practice and support major infrastructure and transport projects, including rail, highways, bridges, power generation facilities (including renewables) and sewage/water utilities, as well as other publicly and privately funded developments. The role also covers aviation-related work, such as airport infrastructure and aircraft leasing and purchasing matters.

The successful candidate will have a strong record of advising on complex infrastructure, high-value projects involving multiple stakeholders, long term contractual structures, and, where relevant, cross border elements.

Purpose and Main Objectives

To support and assist the leadership team, run transactions independently and identify legal service needs for clients and refer matters internally to external counsel where appropriate.

Major Infrastructure & Transport Projects (Primary Focus)

• Advising developers, sponsors, operators, funders and public bodies on large scale infrastructure matters (rail & transport, highways, bridges, utilities, and publicly /privately funded developments).
• Drafting, negotiating and advising on project agreements, funding agreements, commercial contracts, long term supply and services agreements and operation & maintenance agreements.
• Advising on projects delivered under Public Private Partnership and similar delivery models.
• Managing matters involving complex risk allocation, funding interfaces and long term contractual obligations.

Procurement & Tender Support

• Assisting with procurement and tender processes for major infrastructure and transport projects.
• Reviewing tender documentation, invitations to tender and procurement strategies.
• Supporting clients through competitive dialogue and negotiated procedures.
• Advising on contractual risk allocation arising from procurement processes.
• Working closely with sponsors, private funders, public bodies and procurement teams to achieve compliant and commercial outcomes.
• Supporting contract award, mobilisation and transition into delivery phases.

Project Delivery & Leadership

• Managing complex, multi party matters from instruction to completion.
• Leading key workstreams and demonstrating project ownership.
• Supervising and mentoring junior lawyers.
• Working collaboratively with partners and senior stakeholders.
• Contributing to business development and client relationship initiatives.

Required Experience & Evidence

• Qualified solicitor in England and Wales.
• Typically 5 10+ years PQE.
• Significant experience advising on major infrastructure projects and large scale developments.
• Experience handling multi stakeholder transactions with limited supervision.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, organisational and stakeholder management skills.
• Client references.

Evidence of Recent Work

• The scale and value of projects worked on.
• The candidate's specific role within those projects.
• Experience managing matters with limited supervision.
• Strong commercial drafting and negotiation skills.
• Excellent organisational and stakeholder management abilities.
• Billing track record in current role.

Desirable Experience

• Cross border infrastructure work.
• Deal generation/following.
• Experience with public sector bodies, regulators or concession arrangements.
• Familiarity with Public Private Partnership, Private Finance Initiative or similar models.
• Prior client facing or matter lead responsibilities.
• Existing client following.
• Fluency in foreign languages.

Relationships

• Internal: Supportive to the CEO, Managing Officer and/or Partner and colleagues.
• External: Promoting the Practice wherever possible through PR and quality of service.
• Travel: flexibility to travel domestically and internationally as and when required.

Skills Essential

• Qualified Solicitor in the UK.
• Collaborative and team oriented personality.
• Demonstrable previous experience advising on major infrastructure and mega projects.
• Ability to manage sophisticated / institutional clients effectively.
• Ability to multi task and prioritise, and understand the importance of deadlines.
• Flexibility to adapt working hours to clients' or projects' objectives and deadlines.
• Highly organised; able to be productive, flexible and simultaneously manage multiple major cases.
• Remain informed of changes in any area of specialisation to maintain service quality.
• Supervise and mentor junior team members, including through formal training sessions.
• Financial literacy, including the ability to review and understand complex multi year project budgets.
• Superior research and data maintenance skills.
• Strong client relationship skills; the ability to establish positive, cooperative and professional relationships, both internal and external.
• Be highly trustworthy, discreet, and use good judgement.
• Able to work well under pressure, without sacrificing a high attention to detail.
• Excellent oral and written communication.
• Self starter and the ability to work autonomously.
• Proactive and eager to learn.
• Self awareness and commitment to using feedback to develop professionally.
• Ability to read, digest and process vast amounts of information into data useful in a legal case.
• Carry out file reviews as appropriate.
• Follow internal methods, policies and procedures as set by the Office Manual.
• Advanced computer literacy.

Desirable

• Experience with aviation and airline focused work.
• Advising airlines, airport operators, lessors, investors and infrastructure sponsors on aviation related infrastructure matters.
• Acting on aircraft leasing and purchasing transactions, including operating and finance leases, aircraft sale, purchase and leasing agreements, fleet acquisition, disposal and restructuring projects, lease novation, extensions and terminations.
• Advising on airport and aviation infrastructure projects, including airport development and expansion projects, airline operational infrastructure agreements and long term concessions, service agreements and facilities arrangements.