Solicitor

Shakespeare Martineau is a Top 50 law firm that combines creativity, commerciality and clarity. We work with blue-chip companies, leading organisations, high street brands and individuals across the country.

As enterprising and original thinkers, we’re driven to create exceptional experiences for our clients and our people. We handle personal and business-critical issues and game-changing deals across many dynamic sectors. It’s stimulating and rewarding.

We’re hardworking and deeply ambitious about creating opportunities for our employees; to move forward and achieve our ambition together. We provide an environment in which you’re supported to reach your potential.

Our people have a blend of excellent technical and business skills with the talent to do things differently.

Here you’ll find top quality work, cutting edge training, high profile clients, and supportive colleagues. We think it could be time you joined us.

Our Corporate and Commercial group undertakes various corporate, commercial, tax, banking and employment work at all levels. Our specialist teams combine unsurpassed expertise with a sound understanding of the corporate landscape to provide exceptional solutions for every aspect of our clients’ corporate and business law requirements.

Top ranked in Legal 500, our Energy & Projects team delivers innovative and intuitive solutions for our clients, helping them to make the most of the opportunities that exist in this diverse and fast-paced industry. The team acts for regulated network and retail supply companies  in the gas and electricity sectors, as well as developers and funders of energy infrastructure projects (including battery, wind/solar and biomass), and is increasingly active for clients involved in electric vehicle infrastructure. We advise on wholesale energy markets and trading, retail energy supply, renewable energy projects, energy regulation, industry codes and agreements, and planning and consents.  The team keeps an EU focus to its work through a collaboration with lawyers in Brussels.

The role:

We are looking for a 2 - 5yr PQE Solicitor to join our Energy & Projects team, part of the firm’s Corporate Commercial group.  The team is split between its London and Birmingham offices, and we will consider a candidate for either office.

You will be part of a team providing legal and regulatory advice and contract support work for a range of regulated network and retail supply companies in the gas and electricity sectors.  The team also works for developers and funders of energy infrastructure projects (including battery, wind / solar and biomass), and is increasingly active for clients involved in electric vehicle infrastructure, and here you will often work alongside specialists from different teams across the firm. 

Your key duties will include:

• drafting and negotiating a wide range of contracts with an energy context, often high value and/or industry standard documentation
• advising on the energy industry codes and agreements
• advising on regulatory matters related to Ofgem and associated licensing issues
• providing energy regulatory input to energy projects and M&A transactions, including due diligence review
• providing energy regulatory support to relevant litigation matters  
• advising on related procurement and state aid issues
• advising on renewable energy support schemes
• advising on European energy law and policy
• playing a proactive role in the team’s client care and business development activities

Skills and experience you will have:

• between 2-5 years’ experience handling contracts and related legal matters, ideally gained within an energy / regulatory background
• proven experience working in a team environment, with strong commercial acumen
• strong IT skills
• project management skills

Key competencies you will need:

• a desire to specialise in the energy sector
• a high degree of initiative and the ability to cope in a demanding environment
• excellent organisational and prioritising skills
• the ability to work in a busy team
• excellent communication skills

Due to the nature of the work undertaken, confirmation of employment will be subject to a variety of checks which will be carried out once an offer of employment is accepted. Details of the checks can be found here.

Shakespeare Martineau is a committed equal opportunities employer. We seek to attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures. We value and respect individuality and encourage a culture within our business where people can be themselves and be valued for their strengths and experiences. Everyone who either applies to or works for the firm is treated equally, regardless of their gender, age, ethnic origin, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.