Houston Corporate Transactions and Advisory Associates (Oil & Gas)

Clifford Chance•Houston, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Houston office of Clifford Chance is seeking an experienced associate to join its Corporate Transactions & Advisory group with a primary focus on upstream, midstream, and broader oil and gas transactions. The position will support the growing Houston-based team led by Global Co-Head of the Energy & Resources Sector and Head of Oil & Gas practice, David Sweeney, and Joclynn Marsh. The successful candidate will work on sophisticated domestic and international energy transactions across the full oil and gas value chain, including acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures, project development, infrastructure transactions, and other complex commercial arrangements. The ideal candidate will have at least three years of recent law firm experience representing energy companies, private equity sponsors, infrastructure investors, and other market participants in transactional matters. Candidates should have meaningful experience advising on upstream and midstream acquisitions and divestitures, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, development projects, farmouts and farmins, joint operating agreements, gathering, transportation and processing agreements, produced water and related infrastructure arrangements, and other energy-sector commercial contracts. Experience working on cross-border transactions and large-scale strategic deals involving oil and gas assets is strongly preferred. The successful candidate will be a proactive and collaborative lawyer who combines strong transactional execution skills with a deep understanding of the energy industry. The candidate should be able to independently manage significant portions of transactions, coordinate with specialists across multiple practice areas, communicate effectively with clients and opposing counsel, and provide practical, business-oriented advice. Candidates should be comfortable working directly with clients and should possess strong drafting, negotiation, issue-spotting, and project management skills. Familiarity with the commercial and operational aspects of the energy industry, including upstream, midstream, LNG, offshore, and infrastructure projects, will be viewed favorably.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school.
Active membership in good standing with the Texas Bar, or eligibility to waive into the Texas Bar.
At least three years of law firm experience focused on oil and gas, energy, infrastructure, or natural resources transactions.
Significant experience with mergers and acquisitions, acquisitions and divestitures (A&D), joint ventures, project development, and related energy-sector transactions.
Experience drafting and negotiating transaction documents and commercial agreements commonly used in the oil and gas industry, including purchase and sale agreements, joint operating agreements, farmout agreements, joint development agreements, gathering and transportation agreements, and other midstream arrangements.
Ability to independently manage transaction workstreams and coordinate multidisciplinary teams in complex transactions.
Strong understanding of the energy industry and the commercial drivers affecting upstream, midstream, LNG, offshore, and infrastructure projects.
Excellent legal research, analytical, drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple matters and deadlines in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
Sound judgment, commercial awareness, intellectual curiosity, and a practical, client-focused approach.

Nice To Haves

Experience working on cross-border transactions and large-scale strategic deals involving oil and gas assets is strongly preferred.
Experience representing private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, major energy companies, or infrastructure investors is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Work on sophisticated domestic and international energy transactions across the full oil and gas value chain, including acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures, project development, infrastructure transactions, and other complex commercial arrangements.
Advise on upstream and midstream acquisitions and divestitures, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, development projects, farmouts and farmins, joint operating agreements, gathering, transportation and processing agreements, produced water and related infrastructure arrangements, and other energy-sector commercial contracts.
Independently manage significant portions of transactions.
Coordinate with specialists across multiple practice areas.
Communicate effectively with clients and opposing counsel.
Provide practical, business-oriented advice.
Work directly with clients.
Draft and negotiate transaction documents and commercial agreements commonly used in the oil and gas industry, including purchase and sale agreements, joint operating agreements, farmout agreements, joint development agreements, gathering and transportation agreements, and other midstream arrangements.
Manage transaction workstreams and coordinate multidisciplinary teams in complex transactions.