Environment and Planning - Jnr Level Associate
Clifford Chance
Job Overview
The Group specialises in EHS, planning, carbon market, climate change, ESG, energy and utilities regulation (including electricity market, oil and gas, nuclear renewables, water, ports and airports). 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.
Your career experience so far
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.
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 approachable, friendly and team-based way of working. Highly professional and self-assured, with an entrepreneurial streak, our people are more than happy to share their expertise and knowledge.
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.
Please see our careers site for further information on our working environment.
To find out more about what it is like to work in Clifford Chance in UK, please visit link.
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.
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