Mid-Level Project Finance Lawyer

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.

Our one firm global strategy is focused on targeted growth led by the needs of our core clients, those who we can best support with the breadth and depth of Clifford Chance expertise, across the sectors and geographies, which matter most to them.

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.

Job Description

The Role

Clifford Chance Dubai is a full service office which is completely integrated with, and supported by, our global network. We advise clients on major transactions in the Middle East and beyond. Our clients include public and private corporations, investment banks and financial institutions, governments and international bodies. Our lawyers specialise in providing a seamless integrated service.

We have the leading finance practice in the region and have the depth and breadth to manage large scale local and cross-border transactions. Our clients include governments, project sponsors, lenders, debt and equity financiers, borrowers, export-credit agencies and international financial organisations.

"Clifford Chance offers a leading project finance practice in the Middle East, with lawyers operating primarily from its UAE and Riyadh offices. The team is particularly commended for its experience inIslamic financing as well as its broad range of work. The firm has a strong oil and gas team active across the region, with noteworthy experience regarding projects in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman. The group's lawyers are acclaimed for their representation of lenders and project companies, notably in the energy sector, and including renewables. The team is also active on major IPPs.
Chambers Global 2024: Middle East – Projects & Energy

The Work

Our work spans the whole of the MENA region and beyond. We work on a broad variety of matters under both English and UAE law including:

• Acting as lenders' counsel to the syndicate of banks supporting the winning Masdar team to achieve financial close on the 1.8GW sixth phase of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MBR) Solar Park in Dubai, UAE.

• Advising Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM), Société General and Bank Muscat (the Lenders) in relation to the 500MW Manah Solar IPP, Oman (the Project).

• Acting as counsel to the lenders on a consortium comprising Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar, Nesma and EDF Renouvelables in connection with the 1100MW Al Henakiyah solar project, one of the projects part of Round 4 of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's National Renewable Energy Program (REPDO 4). 

Key Attractions

Recent awards include:

Tier One: Projects & Energy – Middle East
Chambers Global 2024: Middle East – Projects & Energy

Ranked #1 Projects & Energy – Global-wide
Chambers Global 2024

Power Finance Deal of the Year: Saudi Electricity Company Islamic Term Loan: Bonds, Loans and Sukuk Middle East Awards 2024

Banking & Finance Team of the Year: Legal 500 MENA Awards 2024

UAE Banking & Finance Law Firm of the Year: Chambers Middle ast Awards 2024

• You will work on ground-breaking deals for top tier clients. The range, calibre and international scope of our deal flow is unique - and makes us stand out from our competitors. 

• We are proud of our reputation for being a very informal, supportive, meritocratic and diverse group and reinforce this with regular social events - both ad hoc and organised.

• We are based in one of the most prestigious business developments in Dubai.

• We run a sophisticated internal training programme that is unmatched in Dubai, including local monthly courses run by The Academy plus annual residential training courses in Amsterdam or London.

• Our remuneration package is one of the most attractive in the market.

Key Responsibilities

• You will be given responsibility for running transactions and working closely with clients. This means that you will develop outstanding transaction management and organisational skills as well as developing superb technical abilities.

Qualifications

Skills & Experience

• We are currently seeking a committed and ambitious mid-level Project Finance lawyer. 

• In all cases, you should have first class legal ability coupled with a practical commercial approach; and excellent drafting, analytical and communication skills.

• All candidates should be fluent in English. 

• You must also have exceptional results throughout your academic history.

Client Focus

In order to provide outstanding client service, we need to understand, anticipate and fulfil the unique needs and expectations of each client. We call this "Client Focus" and to help deliver this core part of our business strategy, we want to recruit lawyers who not only have the very highest level of technical skills but are also Client Focused.

We are looking for lawyers who:

• can demonstrate a keen interest and enthusiasm to learn about our clients' business;

• can work in teams, sharing knowledge, motivating and coaching their juniors and contributing to overall success;

• are empathetic, responsive and reliable;

• are commercial and innovative in the solutions they deliver to clients; and

• are good at fostering relationships with clients and team members.

Additional Information

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.