Current Vacancies at Pinsent Masons

JOB DESCRIPTION

The successful candidate would ideally be from a specialist construction disputes background, with experience in energy and infrastructure disputes and/or adjudication and arbitration experience  with a genuine enthusiasm for our work and desire to join our leading team. Experience in the standard forms of construction contracts used in South Africa and internationally is necessary.

Candidates must have an excellent academic background and be technically excellent but, equally important, be commercially aware and enthusiastic about business development.  They will be a team player with a strong client focussed approach, excellent communication and organisational and leadership skills, plus a good sense of fun.  

The Team 

Ranked the number 1 global firm for construction for the past ten years in a row, with a first class team of over 170 lawyers specialising in construction, energy and infrastructure, Pinsent Masons LLP is recognised both nationally and internationally as the leading adviser to the construction and engineering industries and for infrastructure and energy projects.  We have an unrivalled reputation in acting for contractors, project companies, developers, public bodies, funders and insurers.  We act for over half of the UK's top 50 contractors, a large number of the top contractors worldwide and an impressive range of private and public sector clients.            

Our deep understanding and close alignment to the construction sector enables us to offer an "entire project life cycle" service to our clients.  Our legal services span national and international procurement techniques and strategies  and all forms of dispute resolution. 

The Opportunity

• Highest quality engineering and construction work, both domestic and international, joining the recognised world's best construction law team.
• Early responsibility and active encouragement to develop rewarding and sustainable client relationships. 
• Opportunities for international travel, secondments to other PM offices and to gain 'in house’ client experience
• Genuine long-term career prospects supported through our "best in class" hub training and Academy personal development programmes

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Brief

We are currently looking to recruit an Associate Lawyer with around 4-8 years PQE to join the Finance and Projects team of Pinsent Masons LLP in Johannesburg.

Background

The role sits within the Finance & Projects team based in the Johannesburg office. The team is predominantly active in energy sector projects. Of key importance to the role is the ability to navigate around project agreements, and in particular power purchase agreements, construction contracts and operation and maintenance agreements.  The practice also advises clients on PPP projects in South Africa and Africa more broadly, as well as representing funders and financiers in infrastructure projects in Africa. Infrastructure projects lawyer Claire Barclay, energy finance specialist Apicksha Patel and local and international projects expert Jurg van Dyk are all key members of the department. Legal director Emma Dempster joined the team from Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr in April 2021.

The Candidate Required

This is a dynamic team where every team member can make his or her own mark. Associates are a key part of the team's structure and future development and are expected to take responsibility for leading and managing projects, developing and leading client relationships, contributing to the team's business development plans, and supporting the growth of more junior team members.

The role is wide-ranging and includes:

• having excellent technical legal skills;
• supervising associates and junior lawyers in the team;
• leading and managing transactions;
• developing on-going relationships with the existing client base as well as pitching for new opportunities;
• developing close working relationships as part of an international team;
• the opportunity to be involved in work on high profile projects and cross-border transactions on a global scale;
• contributing to our globally read Outlaw e-publication and external publications on topical issues and developments in our markets;
• taking an active role in our business development campaigns, the development of our innovative products and pitching for new work.

The successful candidates will:

• have gained experience in a firm with an established energy and/or infrastructure practice;
• have experience of project development transactions from a commercial and/or finance perspective;
• demonstrate experience of acting in a leading role in key transactions, being a self-starter and taking responsibility for client service and of managing the transaction and the team;
• be a team player, able to forge strong working relationships with colleagues;
• be technically strong and exercise good commercial judgment;
• be receptive to different ways of working including strong project management skills;
• have interpersonal skills necessary for this client-facing role;
• have experience in business development activities including presenting seminars or training sessions to external parties.