Associate

Clyde & Co LLP (Abu Dhabi Branch); Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Clyde & Co LLP (Abu Dhabi Branch) invites an experienced Oil & Gas Associate to join its busy Abu Dhabi practice. You will handle upstream drilling, procurement, and complex commercial contracts for premier national oil company clients across the Middle East.

The role emphasizes front-end work, multi-party agreements, and high-value project documentation in a leading energy law environment. The ideal candidate has 2+ years PQE, strong academic credentials, and proven experience in international,

Qualifications

• 2+ years’ post-qualification experience (PQE) or equivalent.
• Strong academic credentials with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Self-driven and proactive approach to work.
• Experience at a recognised international, regional or specialist energy law firm or in-house team.
• Strong exposure to oil and gas sector; upstream, drilling or oilfield services preferable.
• Experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts and procurement/supply chain arrangements.

Responsibilities

• Upstream oil and gas projects and commercial arrangements.
• Drilling and well services contracts.
• Day-rate rig hire agreements.
• Oilfield equipment procurement and supply contracts.
• Procurement, supply chain and general commercial contracts in oil and gas.
• Front-end construction and development of assets, infrastructure and facilities.
• EPC, EPCIC and EPCM contracts; FEED and BOOT arrangements; PMC contracts.
• Reviewing, drafting and negotiating complex project documentation.
• Support clients through contracting and procurement lifecycles.

Skills

Oil & gas

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Commercial awareness

Education

LLB / Qualified lawyer

Bar admission / UAE License

Job description

Permanent

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Oil & Gas / Associate to join our busy Oil & Gas Practice in Abu Dhabi. The team advises on a broad range of non-contentious oil and gas matters, with a particular focus on upstream drilling, oilfield services and the development and construction of oil and gas assets, infrastructure and facilities. The practice predominantly advises national oil company operators across the Middle East and is appointed to the legal panels of three of the region’s largest sovereign oil and gas companies. The team has a significant and active portfolio of matters, offering successful candidate exposure to complex, high-value projects and commercial arrangements across the sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Upstream oil and gas projects and commercial arrangements
• Drilling and well services contracts
• Day-rate rig hire agreements
• Oilfield equipment procurement and supply contracts
• Procurement, supply chain and general commercial contracts within the oil and gas sector
• Front-end construction and development of oil and gas assets, infrastructure and facilities
• EPC, EPCIC and EPCM contracts
• FEED agreements
• BOOT arrangements
• PMC contracts
• Reviewing, drafting and negotiating complex commercial and project documentation
• Supporting clients throughout the contracting and procurement lifecycle

About You

• At least 2 years’ post-qualification experience (PQE), or equivalent
• Strong academic credentials, with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A self-driven and proactive approach to your work
• Experience within a recognised international, regional or specialist energy law firm, or a relevant in-house legal team
• Strong exposure to the oil and gas sector, ideally including upstream, drilling or oilfield services
• Experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts
• Exposure to procurement and supply chain arrangements within the oil and gas or wider energy sector
• Experience with some of the following contract types: day-rate rig hire, drilling and well services, oilfield equipment procurement, EPC/EPCIC/EPCM, FEED, BOOT or PMC
• Strong drafting, negotiation and commercial skills
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to manage competing priorities effectively
• Demonstrated teamwork and collaboration skills, alongside the ability to work independently
• Strong commercial awareness and the confidence to build rapport with clients, understand their business needs and, with the support of Partners, actively develop these relationships
• The ability to lead and delegate effectively, while fostering a positive and collaborative team environment
• The ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders and clients

Direct experience across every contract listed above is beneficial rather than essential. Candidates with a strong background in non-contentious oil and gas or energy projects work who can demonstrate transferable commercial contracting experience would also be considered.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity to join an established Abu Dhabi Oil & Gas Practice with a strong client base and an active pipeline of work. The role offers exposure to major national oil company clients and sophisticated upstream, drilling, procurement and energy infrastructure matters across the Middle East.

The Firm

When you work at Clyde & Co, you join a team of 500 partners, 2,400 lawyers, 3,200 legal professionals and 5,500 people in nearly 70 offices and associated offices worldwide.

Our values are the principles that guide the decisions we make, unite us in our endeavours and strengthen our delivery, for both our clients and our firm. We work as one, excel with clients, celebrate difference and act boldly. We are committed to operating in a responsible way by progressing towards a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities and clients it serves. We are devoted to providing an environment in which everyone can realise their potential, using its legal and professional skills to support its communities. We do this through pro bono work, volunteering and charitable partnerships, and minimising the impact it has on the environment, including through our commitment to the SBTi Net-Zero standard and the setting of ambitious emissions reduction targets.

Our Commitment Clyde & Co is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. Our values encourage us to support fairness, celebrate diversity and prohibit all forms of discrimination in the workplace to allow everyone to excel at work. Therefore, we welcome and encourage all applications from suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background or identity.

A Note on Privacy

Please take a moment to read our privacy notice. This describes what personal information Clyde & Co (we) may hold about you, what it’s used for, how it’s obtained, your rights and how to contact us as a data subject. If you are submitting a candidate as a Recruitment Agency Partner, it is an essential requirement and your responsibility to ensure that candidates applying to Clyde & Co are aware of this privacy notice.

This is the job description as constituted at present; however, Clyde & Co reserves the right to reasonably amend it in accordance with the changing needs of the business.

الشركة عند انضمامك إلى شركة كلايد أند كو، تصبح جزءًا من فريق عالمي يضم 500 شريك، و2400 محامٍ، و3200 متخصص قانوني، وأكثر من 5500 موظف فيما يقارب 70 مكتباً وفرعاً حول العالم. تشكل قيمنا المبادئ التي توجه قراراتنا، وتوحدنا في مساعينا، وتعزز جودة أدائنا سواء تجاه عملائنا أو شركتنا. نعمل بروح الفريق الواحد، ونتميّز في خدمة عملائنا، ونحتفي بالاختلاف، ونتصرف بجرأة. نلتزم بالعمل بمسؤولية من خلال السعي نحو بناء قوة عاملة متنوعة وشاملة تعكس المجتمعات والعملاء الذين نخدمهم. كما نكرس جهودنا لتوفير بيئة تمكّن الجميع من تحقيق إمكاناتهم الكاملة، وتسخير مهاراتهم القانونية والمهنية في دعم مجتمعاتهم. نُجسّد هذا الالتزام من خلال تقديم الخدمات القانونية المجانية، والمشاركة في الأعمال التطوعية، وبناء شراكات خيرية، إلى جانب تقليل أثرنا البيئي، بما في ذلك التزامنا بمعيار صافي الانبعاثات الصفرية ووضع أهداف طموحة لخفض الانبعاثات. التزامنا تفخر كلايد أند كو بكونها شركة ملتزمة بمبادئ تكافؤ الفرص. تشجعنا قيمنا على دعم العدالة، والاحتفاء بالتنوع، ورفض جميع أشكال التمييز في بيئة العمل، مما يتيح لكل فرد فرصة التميز والنجاح في مسيرته المهنية. ولذلك، نرحب بجميع طلبات التوظيف من الأفراد المؤهلين، بغض النظر عن خلفياتهم أو هوياتهم. للتعرّف على خطوات عملية المقابلة لدينا. ملاحظة بشأن الخصوصية نرجو منك تخصيص بعض الوقت لقراءة إشعار الخصوصية الخاص بنا، والذي يوضح البيانات الشخصية التي قد تحتفظ بها الشركة، وأغراض استخدامها، وآلية جمعها، وحقوقك بصفتك صاحب بيانات وطرق التواصل معنا. إذا كنت تقدم مرشحاً بالنيابة عن وكالة توظيف شريكة، فإن من مسؤوليتك الأساسية والضرورية التأكد من أن المرشح المتقدم للعمل لدى الشركة قد اطّلع على هذا إشعار. يرجى ملاحظة أن هذا الوصف الوظيفي يعكس الوضع الحالي، إلا أن شركة كلايد آند كو تحتفظ بحقها في تعديله بشكل معقول بما يتماشى مع احتياجات العمل المتغيرة.