Associate – Energy & Infrastructure | London | 3–7 years' PQE

CMS UK; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working policy

Generous bonus scheme

Up to 25 days holiday

Private medical insurance

Job summary

CMS UK is seeking an associate for its Energy & Infrastructure team in London. England & Wales or Scottish qualified with 3-7 years PQE will advise on UK energy regulation across electricity, gas and water, including licensing, price controls, and regulatory codes.

You will work with utilities, developers, sponsors and investors on high-profile mandates, coordinating with multiple teams and mentoring junior lawyers. A hybrid work policy is offered.

Qualifications

• 3-7 years PQE England & Wales or Scotland
• Experience in UK energy and/or water regulation
• Strong drafting, negotiation and analytical skills
• Aptitude for understanding detailed regulatory mechanisms
• Ability to manage multiple matters and meet deadlines
• Excellent communication with a commercial, client-focused approach
• Interest in energy transition and sector developments
• Collaborative approach within the firm and team

Responsibilities

• Advise across market-leading projects on UK electricity, gas and water regulation
• Support transactions and projects in energy sector including renewables and infrastructure
• Draft and negotiate revenue agreements and offtake documents
• Coordinate with finance, corporate, real estate, planning and disputes teams
• Manage workstreams, client relationships and business development
• Supervise trainees and junior associates

Skills

PQE 3-7 years

Energy regulation

Drafting

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Job description

About The Role

Our Energy & Infrastructure team in London is growing, and we're looking for an ambitious England & Wales or Scottish qualified associate with 3-7 years' post-qualification experience (PQE) to join us. You'll work on high-profile mandates for a wide range of clients, including utilities, developers, sponsors, funders and investors. The work spans renewables, conventional power, biofuels, hydrogen, carbon capture and electricity, gas, water and heat networks.

Energy and utilities sector regulatory work is central to what we do. The team advises across the UK electricity, gas and water sectors on the full range of regulatory and market reform matters.

Across a range of market leading clients and projects, this includes sector licensing and licence compliance, price controls and regulatory settlements, network access and charging, industry codes and code modifications, market reform, and investigations and enforcement. We regularly engage with the likes of Ofgem, Ofwat, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and other key stakeholders.

What You'll Be Doing

• Advising clients across market leading and often first of kind projects and initiatives on UK electricity, gas and water regulation, including licensing and licence conditions, industry codes, price controls, network charging, market reform and regulatory investigations
• Advising on the regulatory aspects of transactions and projects in the sector, including network asset and large scale renewables and BESS acquisitions together with support mechanisms including the Capacity Market, Contracts for Difference, Feed in Tariff, Long Duration Energy Storage, Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, Hydrogen Production Business Model and the Green Gas Support Scheme
• Drafting and negotiating key revenue agreements, including corporate and private wire PPAs, energy services agreements, tolling agreements, offtake agreements, and large scale private wire/microgrid document suites
• Working with colleagues in our sector specialist finance, corporate, real estate, and planning and disputes teams to give clients joined-up advice
• Managing workstreams, building relationships with clients and taking part in business development
• Supervising and mentoring trainees and junior associates

What We're Looking For

• A solicitor qualified in England & Wales or Scotland, with 3-7 years' PQE
• Experience of UK energy (electricity and/or gas) and/or water regulation, gained at a leading law firm or in-house team.
• Strong drafting, negotiation and analytical skills
• An aptitude for assimilation of detailed contractual and regulatory mechanism.
• The ability to manage several matters at once, prioritise well and meet deadlines
• Excellent communication skills and a commercial, client-focused approach
• An interest in the energy transition and developments in the sector
• A collaborative approach and a willingness to contribute to the wider team and the firm

What’s in it for you?

Benefits

We want to reward you today and help you plan for tomorrow. We appreciate that everyone is different, therefore we have designed a benefits system that offers choice and flexibility based on individual needs and lifestyles. To name a few, these include:

• Competitive basic salary (reviewed annually)
• Flexible, hybrid working policy
• Generous bonus scheme
• Up to 25 days holiday (rising to 28 days with service)
• Holiday exchange scheme
• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced parental leave
• Reasonable adjustments and accommodation for disabled talent in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.

If you would like to read more information regarding our range of benefits, please visit our Rewards & Benefits page on our website.