Associate, ENRI

A&O Shearman; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 365,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Paid leave

Life insurance

Health insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) plan

Job summary

A&O Shearman in the United States is seeking a mid-senior associate to join the Energy, Infrastructure and Natural Resources (ENRI) practice in our U.S. offices.

The role focuses on finance and development, asset acquisitions, and complex workouts of infrastructure assets across power, mining, renewables and transportation. Ideal candidates have 5-7 years of post-qualification experience in project finance, with cross-border deal experience, strong drafting and negotiation skills, and a JD from

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of post-qualification experience in project finance, with a strong focus on energy infrastructure.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills with attention to detail and commercial awareness.
• Experience coordinating with counsel in multiple jurisdictions on cross-border transactions.

Responsibilities

• Advising on structuring, negotiation, and documentation of project finance transactions across energy, resources, and infrastructure sectors.
• Drafting and negotiating key project finance documents (facility agreements, intercreditor agreements, security documents, direct agreements).
• Managing workstreams and coordinating with multi-disciplinary teams across jurisdictions.
• Conducting due diligence on project documents and regulatory frameworks.
• Liaising with clients and external counsel to maintain strong relationships and oversee matters.

Skills

Project finance

Cross-border transactions

Negotiation

Legal drafting

Client relations

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

A&O Shearman is a new global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 29 countries worldwide.

Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world's most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world's leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to an inclusive environment, and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.

Job Description

Department purpose and structure

A&O Shearman is seeking a mid-senior-level associate to join the Firm's Energy, Infrastructure and Natural Resources (ENRI) practice group in any of our U.S. offices. The ENRI practice group focuses on finance and development, asset acquisitions and dispositions, and complex workouts and restructurings of infrastructure assets across the breadth of infrastructure sectors, including power, mining, renewables and sustainable development and transportation.

Role purpose

Ideal candidates for this position will have 5-7 years of solid experience of financing advising lenders and project sponsors on complex, cross-border projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors, and experience in debt, equity, and mezzanine financing. The ideal candidate has financing experience from an Amlaw 100 law firm and strong academic credentials from a top-tier law school. The salary range for this position is $365,000 to $420,000 depending on the candidate's JD year. We offer competitive compensation and benefits package which includes a discretionary bonus, paid leave, life, health, accident, and disability insurance; and a 401(k) plan.

Role and responsibilities

The ideal candidate will have meaningful law experience from a major law firm as well as excellent academic credentials. Other responsibilities include:

• Advising on the structuring, negotiation, and documentation of project finance transactions, including limited and non-recourse financings, across the energy, resources, and infrastructure sectors.
• Drafting and negotiating key project finance documents, including facility agreements, intercreditor agreements, security documents, direct agreements, and ancillary finance documents.
• Managing workstreams and coordinating with multi-disciplinary teams across practice areas and jurisdictions.
• Conducting due diligence on project documents, concession agreements, offtake agreements, and regulatory frameworks.
• Advising on refinancings, restructurings, and secondary market transactions involving project assets.
• Liaising directly with clients, counterparties, and external counsel, maintaining strong client relationships.
• Supervising and mentoring junior associates and trainees on day-to-day transactional matters.

Requirements

• 5-7 years of post-qualification experience in project finance, with a strong focus on the energy, resources, and/or infrastructure sectors.
• Proven ability to manage complex documentation processes and run workstreams with minimal supervision.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills, with a keen eye for detail and commercial awareness.
• Experience working on cross-border transactions and coordinating with counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrated ability to build client relationships.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple matters simultaneously.

Team

This individual will report directly to the New York ENRI partners. The Team also works closely with other partners, associates, and staff both in the U.S. and abroad.

Minimum requirements

• A Juris Doctor (JD) degree (LLM or foreign equivalent) from an accredited law school.
• Must be admitted, and in good standing, to the bar in the jurisdiction in which you will practice; or must provide written confirmation as to ability to become admitted in that State or District.

Equal Employment Opportunity, including Veterans and Disability

A&O Shearman is an equal opportunity employer, including Veterans and Disability. Every individual has the right to work in a professional environment that promotes equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination and harassment. This policy applies to all aspects of an individual's relationship with A&O Shearman, including, without limitation, recruitment, hiring, training and development, promotion, compensation, discipline, termination, and all other terms and conditions of employment.

If you are vision-impaired or have another disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law and wish to discuss accommodations related to applying for employment at A&O Shearman, please contact US HR Transactions at [e-mail] or call [phone] and ask for HR Transactions.