Our client, an elite international law firm, is seeking an Associate to join its highly regarded Project Development & Finance team in London. The group is recognised globally for advising on some of the most complex and high-value projects across multiple industries and jurisdictions. This opportunity offers exposure to market-leading transactions involving both lenders and sponsors, and work spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific.
The team’s practice combines deep technical expertise with commercial insight, helping clients deliver projects across the energy, infrastructure, natural resources, and industrial sectors. Associates benefit from working alongside partners and senior lawyers who are consistently ranked among the market’s top advisors in project and structured finance.
The Role
The successful candidate will play an integral part in advising on a full range of project development and finance matters, including:
* Structuring, negotiating, and documenting complex cross-border project financings, often involving syndicates of lenders, institutional investors, and development finance institutions.
* Acting for both borrowers and sponsors on major energy, infrastructure, and industrial projects, including renewables, LNG, oil and gas, and power generation.
* Advising on the acquisition, construction, and operation of large-scale projects, as well as related regulatory and environmental issues.
* Supporting clients on energy transition and sustainability-driven projects, including wind, solar, and other renewable developments.
* Managing structured finance components such as export credit facilities, reserve-based lending, Islamic finance, and commodity-linked financing structures.
* Coordinating due diligence and advising on key project documents including PPAs, EPC contracts, supply and offtake agreements, and concession arrangements.
Key Sectors
The team covers a diverse range of industries, with particular emphasis on:
* Energy & Power – including conventional power, renewables, and LNG.
* Oil & Gas – upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.
* Infrastructure – transport, telecommunications, and emerging digital infrastructure.
* Mining & Metals – selective work on global resource projects.
Candidate Profile
* 1–6 PQE E&W qualified or equivalent, with solid experience in project finance, structured finance, or energy and infrastructure transactions.
* Strong understanding of project documentation, financing structures, and risk allocation principles.
* Exposure to cross-border or multi-jurisdictional matters is highly desirable.
* Excellent drafting, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
* A collaborative and proactive approach to delivering commercial solutions for clients.
Why Apply?
This is an exceptional opportunity to join one of the world’s most active and respected project finance teams. The role offers a platform to work on market-shaping transactions, gain exposure to high-value international work, and collaborate with leading practitioners in the field.
Rutherford is a leading legal recruiter that also works closely with tier one sponsors, buyside firms and investment banks for in-house roles. Please get in contact if you would like to be alerted to the most exciting Counsel opportunities.
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Job Reference: NWC8945
Keywords: project finance, development finance, energy transition, renewables, infrastructure, oil & gas, power, LNG, ECA, Islamic finance, cross-border transactions, structured finance, London, 1–6 PQE, sponsor-side, lender-side.