Associate / Senior Associate - Project Finance

at  Ashurst LLP

Associate / Senior Associate, Project Finance
Ashurst, London
About Ashurst
Ashurst is a leading progressive global law firm with a rich history spanning more than 200 years. We are proud of our history and are future-focused, having expanded into new technologies through our NewLaw division, Ashurst Advance, and our consulting arm. Our in-depth understanding of our clients and commitment to providing excellent standards of service have seen us become a trusted adviser to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments in all areas of commercial law. To find out more please visit .
Team overview
Ashurst has significantly grown its project finance capability in recent years and is acknowledged as having one of the world’s leading energy and infrastructure practices and has a reputation for sensible, cost-effective commercial advice.
Our dedicated Projects and Energy Transition team, advises global corporates, financial institutions and governments operating in the sector on their most important and ground-breaking transactions. Our team is ranked Tier 1 by the most influential independent legal directories and is fully integrated with our disputes, tax, finance, competition, IP, IT, employment and pensions teams.
An opportunity exists for a suitable candidate to join our Projects and Energy Transition team advising clients predominantly on project finance matters in the UK and internationally. There will be a focus on renewables, batteries, new technologies (such as green hydrogen) and transitional technologies such as gas-fired power stations. .
The team handle transactions with both domestic and international content including large, multi-jurisdictional deals and assist with structuring transactions to accommodate different international regulatory requirements.
For more information, please visit the practice group’s page on our website.

Recent Work

• Advised Encyclis on the project financing of the Walsall Energy-from-Waste (’EfW’) Facility in the West Midlands, England, which has reached financial close and will commence construction early in the New Year.
• Advised the funders on the £2 billion project financing and development of the Moray West offshore wind farm in Scotland.
• Advised the lenders in relation to the inaugural debt raise for Pulse Clean Energy to convert biofuel peaker plants to BESS projects, as well as invest in its 1GWh pipeline of BESS projects.
• Advising an infrastructure investor on its investment into, and multi-source project financing in connection with a green steel plant (including green hydrogen) in the Nordics.
• Advising financiers on the multi-sourced (DFI, ECA and commercial bank) financing of a greenfield combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant of aprox. 1,590MW capacity and associated infrastructure in Uzbekistan.

Job overview
We are looking for one or more qualified lawyers with two to eight years’ experience in project finance; specifically, within the infrastructure, energy transition and oil and gas sectors.

Typical transaction responsibilities will include:

• Negotiating facility agreements, common terms agreements, intercreditor agreements and ancillary transaction documentation
• Advising on term sheets and debt structures
• Assisting and supervising due diligence exercises
• Playing a leading role in transaction management for regional and international transactions

Essential skills and experience

• Post qualification experience in project finance with a reputable domestic or international law firm
• Experience advising clients within the infrastructure, energy transition and oil and gas sectors on large and/or complex transactions
• Good organisational skills and experience in transaction management
• Excellent academic track record
• Enthusiasm for intellectually challenging work
• Excellent client relationship skills and experience of business development
• An enthusiastic team-player who can work collaboratively with colleagues at all levels
• Willingness to learn new skills and expand technical knowledge beyond core transactional skills
• Excellence in attention to detail, identifying inconsistencies that indicate problems with quality of work or misunderstanding of client’s needs

Career advancement
An established Associate Career Path Framework is in place clearly defining expectations and outlining opportunities for promotion.
Secondment opportunities
Opportunities often arise for associates to spend time on secondment in house with a key client of the firm. From time to time, secondment opportunities also come up within other Ashurst offices in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.
Background checks
In order to comply with regulatory and client requirements, Ashurst will undertake appropriate vetting of staff. When applicants accept a job offer, Ashurst, alongside a specialist provider, will undertake professional verification and background checks. These checks are only undertaken with consent, and in accordance with our legal and regulatory obligations.

• Negotiating facility agreements, common terms agreements, intercreditor agreements and ancillary transaction documentation
• Advising on term sheets and debt structures
• Assisting and supervising due diligence exercises
• Playing a leading role in transaction management for regional and international transaction