The Role

Department: Energy, Marine and Natural Resources

Location: Guildford

Role: Permanent

The Team

We specialise in dispute resolution and international arbitration in the offshore energy sector. Our clients include international energy companies, offshore service contractors, engineering and infrastructure companies and consultants, and service companies. In addition to our mainstream energy work, we have a particular focus on offshore wind, carbon capture, biofuels and energy transition work. Some notable matters include:

• Multi-jurisdictional proceedings, including obtaining six Partial Awards and 61 interlocutory orders in Paris-seated UNCITRAL arbitration, French commercial court injunction overturned, English High Court and Court of Appeal judgments. The Court of Appeal proceedings were expedited so as to be brought on and decided within four months of the first instance judgment, and serve as authority for letter of credit issues.
• Representing Apache in Apache UK Investments Limited v Esso E&P UK Limited in a significant test of whether the Secretary of State has power under the Petroleum Act 1998 to impose an obligation to decommission on a party in regard to installations neither built nor intended during the time it had an interest in the Licence.
• Disputes arising out of charterparties for offshore construction contracts in South East Asia and Australia.
• Recent high-value arbitration cases have involved disputes relating to fields in South America and East Africa, as well as a number of disputes arising out of exploration activities offshore West Africa.
• Acting in a major dispute involving thesupply of a rig, and ultimately thetermination of the drilling contract, where virtually all systems were alleged to be seriously defective endangering life, including fire and gas systems, EX, BOP, air, water and mud systems
• Advising on decommissioning security liabilities and operational aspects and representing offshore contractors.
• Advising and representing parties in connection with the construction of offshore windfarms - arising under charterparties and/or construction contracts for transportation and installation, and/or in connection with the fabrication and transport of components.
• Bespoke drafting of charterparties for offshore supply and construction.

Essential Skills & Experience

• The candidate will work within our Energy, Marine and Natural Resources group on disputes work in the energy and renewables (primarily offshore wind. The candidate will support the team on a broad spectrum of work.
• At least 2 years post qualification experience within contractual and commercial dispute resolution experience is a requirement. Experience (either contentious or non-contentious) in any of energy, renewables, shipping or construction would be a benefit to the applicant.
• The successful candidate will have qualified as a solicitor or barrister in England & Wales.
• High attention to detail with evidence of breath of knowledge and experience

Role Competency Requirements

Technical Excellence

Technical legal expertise: the knowledge of the law and ability to apply it

Research: the ability to conduct research effectively and apply it commercially

Managing legal processes: the ability to ensure all legal processes are followed efficiently and effectively

People and Team

Guiding individual performance and development: develops the skills of self and others

Teamwork and collaboration: working cooperatively and effectively with others

Leadership: creating high performing teams

Client Relationships and Business Development

Building business relationships: establishing, maintaining and using relationships to create and develop business opportunities

Commercial thinking: understanding the commercial drivers

Cross-selling and business development

Finance and Practice Management

Finance management and understanding of the business

Project management: ensuring projects are delivered

Knowledge sharing

Personal Effectiveness

Communication

Clarity of thinking

Personal contribution

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

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