Energy & Natural Resources Solicitor and Senior Associate

The role

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is an exiting opportunity to our Energy & Natural Resources team in Perth. You will work with our global team to drive change, open new opportunities and accelerate growth for both our clients and our people. 

DLA Piper’s global footprint means that it is the perfect platform for a Perth based Energy & Natural Resources team. The global economy will experience radical change as the world’s transition to clean energy accelerates. The energy transition will see unprecedented demand for mineral resources to support electrification. Western Australia will retain its lead role supplying mineral resources and LNG to the world but also emerge as a leading exporter of clean energy. And the Western Australian industry will export its know-how to the world. The Energy & Natural Resources team at DLA Piper is already part of that journey.

Our team are dedicated to supporting individual career journeys. We have an established track record of nurturing talent. All of our partners secured their first partnership opportunity here at DLA Piper. One of them is now the Global Co-Chair of Energy & Natural Resources and one if the International Sustainability and ESG Lead. But they both started out as junior lawyers in the team. Our future leaders will be home grown talent.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Energy & Natural Resources team at DLA Piper in Perth supports clients with the acquisition, structuring, feasibility assessment, funding, development and operation of mining and energy projects. We look after a large stable of ASX listed and unlisted Australian companies on domestic and offshore projects and we assist foreign companies with inbound investment into Australia. We also join cross-border teams on some of the most exciting projects around the world. 

This opportunity will provide you with the widest platform to progress your career and develop expertise across all of our core services. Your role will involve supporting us on a number of exciting projects, including: 

• Supporting the structuring and development of the world’s most exciting lithium project in one of Africa’s more challenging jurisdictions
• Closing the financing on Australia’s first green hydrogen pilot plant
• Assisting with the development, financing and construction of a fully integrated gas production, renewable energy generation and urea conversion project
• Scoping issues for the roll-out of a steel-makers green-steel vision in Australia and elsewhere
• Seeking the free, prior informed consent of an Aboriginal community to one of Australia’s most exciting nickel-copper deposits
• Acting in Supreme Court proceedings to resolve a boundary dispute in respect of an iron ore resource dating back to the very beginning or WA’s iron ore industry
• Preparing an IPO to raise funds to assess the feasibility of recommissioning of gold assets
• Supporting the issue of Nordic bonds to fund the development of a mining project in WA
• Securing port capacity for a small private iron ore operation to take advantage of the prevailing iron ore price
• Resolving objections before the Mining Warden to the grant with the grant of some of WA’s biggest mining leases for a new solar salt project
• Assisting with the global expansion of one of Australia’s leading mining contractors
• Supporting administrators on the management and sale of a distressed mining asset
• Drafting the Somali Mining Act and Regulations
• Securing battery mineral supply chains across Australia and Africa for a new battery chemicals plant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Formulating land access strategy for one of Australia’s leading green hydrogen proponents. 

ABOUT YOU

The ideal candidate will:

• Be a qualified Solicitor, ideally qualified in Australia or a Commonwealth jurisdiction
• Have a passion and interest in the Energy & Natural Resources Sector
• Be able to create and deliver sustainable, high quality client service whilst also considering the client’s wider business objectives 
• Use of initiative and being well organised, with the ability to juggle numerous tasks at once
• Capable of working on own initiative as well as within local and virtual teams, and often to demanding deadlines
• Results orientated, with a pragmatic and flexible approach to work 
• Takes ownership for achieving agreed objects 
• Experience working within an international multi-jurisdiction law firm
• Commercially astute and stays current on key legal and business news 
• In-depth experience drafting and creating legal documents in English
• Exhibits behaviour consistent with the firm’s values and builds relationships based on respect, trust and integrity.

This job description is not designed to be exhaustive and can be varied as required to develop or fulfil this role. 

The firm offers excellent training, learning and development programmes as well as a genuine opportunity to experience a wide range of work and clients in a friendly, supportive and diverse environment. 

ABOUT US

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Our global reach ensures that we can help businesses with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We strive to be the leading global business law firm by delivering quality, service excellence and value to our clients and offering practical and innovative legal solutions to help them succeed. Our clients range from multinational, Global 1000, and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry-leading technologies, as well as government and public sector bodies.

OUR VALUES

In everything we do connected with our People, our Clients and our Communities, we live by these values:

• Be Supportive – we are compassionate and inclusive, valuing diversity and acting thoughtfully
• Be Collaborative – we are proactive, passionate team players investing in our relationships
• Be Bold – we are fearless and inquisitive, challenging ourselves to think big and find creative new solutions
• Be Exceptional – we are strategic and driven, exceeding standards and expectations

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At DLA Piper, diversity and inclusion underpins how we live our values and everything we do.  We believe that everyone has a voice, and that everyone’s voice counts. We know that the rich diversity across our firm makes us stronger, more innovative and creative, which helps us to better serve our clients and communities. We are committed to providing an inclusive working environment and culture across our global firm, where everyone can bring their authentic self to work. 

Diversity of perspective, thought, background and culture combine to make us the leading global law firm; that’s why we actively seek to build balanced teams. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

We support anyone with a disability or long term health condition to ensure they have the opportunity to perform at their best. If you have not done so already, please let us know if you require any support so we can make the right adjustments and considerations should they be required.

AGILE WORKING

We know that people have responsibilities and interests outside of their career and that as a business, we all benefit from working flexibly. That’s why we are open to discussing with candidates the different ways in which we are able to support requests for agile working arrangements.

PRE-ENGAGEMENT SCREENING

In the event that we make an offer to you, and where local legislation permits, we will conduct pre-engagement screening checks that may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, your eligibility to work in the relevant jurisdiction, any criminal records, your financial stability and references from previous employers.