Energy & Natural Resources Solicitor

The role

Our Platform. Your Impact.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Solicitor to join our Energy & Natural Resources team in Australia, based in Perth supporting the team on contentious matters and disputes in the mining and natural resources industry.

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 and with Western Australia retaining its’ lead role in supplying mineral resources and LNG to the world, it is set to emerge as a leading exporter of clean energy. 

Energy & Natural Resources is a key sector at the firm, and with a dedicated team based in Perth including DLA Piper’s Global Co-Chair of Energy & Natural Resources, the team are already part of the journey in sharing our expertise to the world.

Our team are dedicated to supporting individual career journeys and have an established track record of developing and supporting in the career progression of our people. And we know that when we connect the best people and ideas around the globe, that chemistry sparks bold progress.

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 are looking for a Solicitor with commercial disputes and litigation experience to support the team in the management and resolution of high quality, complex disputes and regulatory issues. With the opportunity to work in a high performing and collaborative team, you will be supported to develop your experience and skills (including advocacy) in areas including judicial and administrative proceedings before the Mining Warden and in the Wardens Court, judicial review applications and technical mining disputes and litigation in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, and Western Australia Court of Appeal. 

Our team looks after a large stable of ASX listed and private 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. 

At the moment we are:

• securing title to the world’s most exciting lithium project in one of Africa’s more challenging jurisdictions;
• supporting the development of 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;
• implementing an Asian steel-maker’s green-steel vision in Australia;
• seeking the free, prior informed consent of an Aboriginal community to one of Australia’s most significant undeveloped nickel-copper deposits;
• acting in Supreme Court  and Court of Appeal proceedings to resolve a boundary dispute in respect of an iron ore resource dating back to the very beginning of WA’s iron ore industry;
• acting for various clients seeking judicial review of decisions of the Mining Wardens or the Minister’s delegate in the Department of Energy, Mines, Infrastructure, Regulation and Safety; 
• acting in industry test case in the Supreme Court on construction of section 58 and validity of exploration licence applications in Western Australia; 
• acting in industry test case on the rateability of miscellaneous licences against Local Government and the interpretation of the Local Government Act 1995 (WA); 
• acting for and advising a publicly listed company in a number of disputes concerning one of the world’s largest lithium deposits in the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa;
• acting for a range of clients in relation to the defence of prosecution for non-compliance with regulatory requirements; 
• 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;
• securing port capacity for a small private iron ore operation to take advantage of short-term demand;
• developing a regulatory solution for the development of an underground compressed air storage facility utilising an underground mine for construction access;
• supporting administrators on the management and sale of a distressed mining project;
• 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;
• undertaking vendor due diligence on the sale of proposed pumped-hydro project.

ABOUT YOU

The ideal candidate will:

• be a qualified Solicitor, ideally qualified in Australia or a Commonwealth jurisdiction with 1 – 4 years PQE with an interest in developing your advocacy skills;
• have a passion and interest in Commercial Litigation and the Energy & Natural Resources Sector;
• have confidence to use your own initiative, be results orientated, with a pragmatic and flexible approach;
• have strong written and verbal communication skills with experience drafting and creating legal and court documents in English;
• have comprehensive research and analytical skills; 
• have a collaborative approach, with the ability to work on your own initiative as well as within local and virtual teams, and often to demanding timelines;
• deliver sustainable, high quality client service (internal and external) whilst also considering and demonstrating an interest in the client’s business and objectives; 
• be commercially minded and energised to work together, sharing in the excitement of new engagements; and
• exhibit 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.

This opportunity will provide you with the widest platform to progress your career. The firm offers comprehensive training, learning and development programmes as well as a genuine opportunity to experience a wide range of work and clients in an inclusive and diverse environment. 

ABOUT US

DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers and business service professionals 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.

HYBRID WORKING

We recognise 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 and where relevant, 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 work-related references.