Job Overview:
We are seeking a Barrister or Senior Associate to join our Dublin office to help us develop our project finance practice and support major infrastructure and transport projects, including rail, highways, bridges, power generation facilities (including renewables) and sewage/water utilities, as well as other publicly and privately funded developments. The role also covers aviation-related work, such as airport infrastructure and aircraft leasing and purchasing matters.

The successful candidate will have a strong record of advising on complex infrastructure, high value, projects involving multiple stakeholders, long-term contractual structures, and, where relevant, cross-border elements.

Purpose/Main Objectives:
To support and assist the leadership team, run transactions independently and additionally identify legal service needs for clients and refer matters internally to external (foreign) counsel where appropriate.

Responsibilities:

Major Infrastructure & Transport Projects (Primary Focus)

Advising developers, sponsors, operators, funders, and public bodies on large-scale infrastructure matters (rail & transport, highways, bridges, utilities, and publicly/ privately funded developments).

Drafting, negotiate and advise on project agreements, funding agreements, commercial contracts, long-term supply and services agreements, and operation & maintenance agreements.

Advising on projects delivered under Public-Private Partnership and similar delivery models.

Managing matters involving complex risk allocation, funding interfaces, and long-term contractual obligations

Procurement & Tender Support

Assisting with procurement and tender processes for major infrastructure and transport projects, including:

Review tender documentation, invitations to tender, and procurement strategies
Support clients through competitive dialogue and negotiated procedures.
Advising on contractual risk allocation arising from procurement processes.
Working closely with sponsors, private funders, public bodies, and procurement teams to achieve compliant and commercial outcomes
Supporting contract award, mobilisation, and transition into delivery phases

Project Delivery & Leadership

The associate will be expected to run complex transactions independently from ‘Day 1’, including:

Managing complex, multi-party matters from instruction to completion
Lead key workstreams and demonstrate project ownership.
Supervise and mentor junior lawyers
Work collaboratively with partners and senior stakeholders
Contribute to business development and client relationship initiatives

Required Experience & Evidence:

Qualified solicitor in England and Wales
Typically, 5 - 10+ years’ PQE

As part of the selection process, each candidate will be required to show:

Significant experience advising on major infrastructure projects and large-scale developments
Experience handling multi-stakeholder transactions with limited supervision
Strong drafting, negotiation, organisational, and stakeholder-management skills
Client references

Ability to demonstrate through actual examples of recent transactional work:

The scale and value of projects worked on
The candidate’s specific role within those projects
Experience managing matters with limited supervision
Strong commercial drafting and negotiation skills
Excellent organisational and stakeholder-management abilities
Billing track record in current role

Desirable Experience:

Cross-border infrastructure work
Deal generation/following
Experience with public sector bodies, regulators, or concession arrangements
Familiarity with Public-Private Partnership, Private Finance Initiative or similar models
Prior client-facing or matter-lead responsibilities
Existing client following
Fluency in foreign languages

Relationships:

Internal: Supportive to the CEO, Managing Officer and/or Partner, and colleagues
External: Promoting the Practice wherever possible through PR and quality of service
Travel; flexibility to travel domestically and internationally as and when required

Skills:

Essential:

Qualified Solicitor in the UK
Collaborative and team-oriented personality
Demonstrable previous experience advising on major infrastructure and mega-projects
Ability to manage sophisticated / institutional clients effectively
Ability to multi-task and prioritise, and understand the importance of deadlines
Flexibility to adapt working hours to clients’ or projects objectives and deadlines
Highly organised; able to be productive, flexible and simultaneously manage multiple and major cases
Remain informed of changes in any area of specialisation, such that service quality is always maintained
Supervise and mentor junior team members, including through formal training sessions
Financial literacy, including an ability to review and understand complex multi-year project budgets
Superior research skills and data maintenance skills
Strong client relationship skills; the ability to establish positive, cooperative and professional relationship, both internal and external
Be highly trustworthy, discreet, and use good judgement
Able to work well under pressure, without sacrificing a high attention to detail
Excellent oral and written communication are essential
Self-starter and the ability to work autonomously
Proactive and eager to learn
Self-awareness and a commitment to using feedback to learn and develop as a professional
Ability to read, digest and process vast amounts of information into data that can be used in a legal case
Carry out file reviews as appropriate
Follow internal methods, policies, and procedures as set by the Office Manual
Advanced computer Literacy

Desirable:

Aviation & Airline-Focused Work

Advising airlines, airport operators, lessors, investors, and infrastructure sponsors on aviation-related infrastructure matters
Acting on aircraft leasing and purchasing transactions, including:

- Operating and finance leases
- Aircraft sale, purchase, and leasing agreements
- Fleet acquisition, disposal, and restructuring projects
- Lease novation, extensions, and terminations

Advising on airport and aviation infrastructure projects, including:
- Airport development and expansion projects
- Airline operational infrastructure agreements
- Long-term concessions, service agreements, and facilities arrangements

Location

Dublin (Hybrid)

Department

Commercial

Employment Type

Full-Time

Minimum Experience

Experienced

Barrister/Senior Associate - Infrastructure

Job Description