Senior Associate - Oil & Gas - Abu Dhabi

Ref FEL191 Location United Arab Emirates Sub Location Abu Dhabi Job type Lawyers Department/Practice group Corporate Position Type Permanent

Role Summary Description   We are a leader among international law firms, providing business law advice of the highest quality throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US. With over 2,700 lawyers in 28 key business centres around the world, we provide a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has an extensive history working in the MENA region for a wide range of clients, including regional and state government entities, international financial institutions and international and domestic corporations, across a range of industry sectors and Middle East jurisdictions.   Our Middle East team has over 40 lawyers across the region in the UAE (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), Bahrain and Saudi Arabia (through our strategic alliance with the Law Firm of Salah Al-Hejailan).   Role Summary   Our corporate lawyers will work on a broad mix of transactions, including public and private M&A, joint ventures, private equity and securities offerings. Most of the work will have an international dimension and will range from some of the largest and most complex transactions to smaller deals which provide greater responsibility. The group in the Middle East is particularly active in energy and natural resources.   We are currently looking to recruit a Senior Associate to join the corporate department in Abu Dhabi. The role will be part of our successful and growing international oil and gas practice. Working with worldwide clients and transactions covering a wide geographical area including MENA but extending to Africa, Europe and Far East. The role will involve international travel and regular teaming with others in the global oil and gas practice.   The role will be predominantly oil and gas work, but the candidate will have the opportunity to work in other areas where we have a particularly strong practice in the region. Key Responsibilities To lead and supervise legal team on oil and gas transactions To initiate oil and gas specific BD activities. The candidate will need to work with existing clients and work on developing business from existing oil and gas contacts Advising clients on legal and commercial issues Drafting/negotiating transaction documents Managing transactions Developing and managing client relationships Actively participating in business development/client events Training/managing trainees/junior lawyers Requirements Strong academic record and qualifications High quality lawyer with strong technical and commercial background At least four years of energy and infrastructure experience at a leading international law firm with solid sector experience in oil and gas Emphasis on upstream oil and gas experience but downstream experience also useful Good understanding of PSAs, JOAs, GSAs, farm-ins, asset and corporate deals Arabic language skills is preferred but is not essential Experience of working in the Middle East is preferred but is not essential Our lawyers in Abu Dhabi work closely with their colleagues in other offices and are responsible for transactions throughout the MENA region. The candidate must be willing and able to travel across the MENA region and further afield as and when required Strong technical and commercial abilities The Individual Able to work effectively as part of a team and supervise more junior lawyers / trainees Highly effective communicator (both orally and in writing) Able to take on a high degree of responsibility and manage a challenging workload Committed to providing an excellent service to our clients Proactive involvement in business development and knowledge management including networking, organising seminars, attending conferences and publishing Confident and self-motivated Be self assured, imaginative, team orientated, intellectually curious and driven. Other Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing. Please note that, in line with the requirements of the UK Border Agency, non-EEA candidates may not be appointed to a post if a suitably qualified, experienced and skilled EEA candidate can fill the position.   Freshfields is the official legal services provider to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (appointed February 2009)

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