Associate / Senior Associate – Projects (Energy Regulatory)
Johannesburg
Exceptional by design. A career at the forefront of Energy Regulatory Projects.
Join a market leading team where your work directly supports the delivery of some of the most innovative energy and infrastructure projects across South Africa, Africa and several other jurisdictions. We are seeking a talented lawyer with 3-8 years of PQE to join our Projects team within the overall Finance & Projects department in Johannesburg.
You will be part of a highly regarded Projects Group and a team that is active in the infrastructure and energy sectors, advising on projects both in South Africa and across the rest of Africa. This is a great opportunity for you to join a team where your work directly supports the delivery of some of the largest and most innovative energy and infrastructure projects in South Africa and several other jurisdictions.
The Opportunity
This role above sits within the Projects team of Pinsent Masons Africa LLP based in the Johannesburg office. This is an opportunity to develop specialist expertise in a strategic, high growth sector, working alongside leading practitioners on complex, high value transactions.
It’s an ideal next move for a commercially minded lawyer with experience in a leading infrastructure and/or energy practice who is looking to take a key role in advising on significant infrastructure and energy sector projects while contributing to the continued growth of a leading international practice.
What you’ll do
The role offers exposure to premium clients, early responsibility and the chance to build deep sector knowledge within a collaborative and forward‑thinking environment. Bring your expertise to a team working on some of the most significant infrastructure and energy projects in the market.
We're looking for a commercially minded lawyer who enjoys building trusted client relationships and taking ownership of complex work. You will ideally have:
Strong Technical Expertise – Possess excellent legal skills with a working knowledge of energy regulatory frameworks, including the regulation of electricity generation, transmission, distribution and trading, with experience in advising on energy projects.
Drafting and Negotiation Skills – Have the ability to draft, review and negotiate power purchase agreements (including wheeling arrangements), implementation agreements and other connection agreements.
Transaction Leadership and Management – Be able to lead (in the case of a Senior Associate) and manage (in the case of both an Associate / Senior Associate) complex energy project transactions from inception through to completion.
Cross-Border Collaboration – Work effectively as part of an international team, including collaborating with colleagues across jurisdictions on high-profile and multi-jurisdictional energy projects.
People Management – Have the ability to supervise, mentor, and develop junior lawyers and associates within the Projects team and foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment.
Business Development Capability – Actively contribute to business development initiatives, including pitches, networking, client presentations, seminars, training sessions, and identifying new opportunities.
Thought Leadership and Market Engagement – Contribute to articles, client briefings, publications, and knowledge-sharing initiatives, helping to raise the profile of the practice and strengthen market presence.
Continuous Learning and Initiative – Demonstrate a proactive approach to professional development, with a genuine interest in energy regulation and take initiative in developing expertise in emerging areas, regulatory frameworks, and actively seek opportunities to enhance both technical legal knowledge and commercial understanding.
Most importantly, you'll be someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, takes ownership of their work, and is passionate about helping clients navigate complex regulatory and commercial challenges across the infrastructure and energy sectors.
About the Team
The Projects team in Johannesburg is led by Rob Morson and Themba Chauke, who both have extensive experience in advising private and public sector clients on various infrastructure and energy sector projects, including renewable energy facilities, mining developments and commercial property developments across various jurisdictions. This is a dynamic team where every team member can make his or her own mark. Associates/Senior Associates are a key part of the Project team's structure and future development and are expected to take responsibility for leading and managing projects, developing and leading client relationships and contributing to the team's business development plans.
Key clients include:
- IFC
- Sola
- Pele
- Voltalia
- BII
- NatWest
- Lloyds Banking Group
- KfW
- Zenobe Energy
Why Pinsent Masons
Our “exceptional by design” approach means we’ve deliberately shaped a firm where you can do your best work, combining high-quality matters, clear expectations and the support and flexibility to build a career that works for you. Why join us?
- Interesting work, real scale – the opportunity to work on complex, high-profile matters within a genuinely international firm
- A firm that backs your growth – clear expectations, structured development and real investment in helping you reach your potential
- A progressive culture – collaborative, inclusive and forward-looking, with the space to innovate and do your best work
- A clear focus on sectors and clients – giving you the chance to build deep expertise and work closely with leading organisations in your field
Our Commitment
At Pinsent Masons, we are committed to recruiting and retaining the best talent and building an inclusive and fair workplace. We value the strength that comes from different experiences and strive to create an environment where everyone feels they belong.
We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates and are dedicated to ensuring equitable opportunities throughout our recruitment processes. In line with local laws and cultural contexts across the jurisdictions in which we operate, we encourage people of all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences to apply.
If you need reasonable adjustments or accommodations to participate in our recruitment process or to perform the role, please tell us, we will work with you to identify a suitable approach.
How to apply
Applications are accepted via our recruitment portal only.
For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact our Talent Acquisition Advisor, Anwen Wallington:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anwen-wallington-36177ba1/
Email: [email protected]
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Skills Required
- 3–8 years of post-qualification experience (PQE)
- Legal experience in a leading infrastructure and/or energy practice
- Strong legal skills and working knowledge of energy regulatory frameworks covering electricity generation, transmission, distribution, and trading
- Experience advising on energy projects
- Ability to draft, review, and negotiate power purchase agreements, including wheeling arrangements
- Ability to draft, review, and negotiate implementation agreements and connection agreements
- Ability to lead or manage complex energy project transactions from inception through completion
- Ability to collaborate effectively with international and cross-border teams
- Ability to supervise, mentor, and develop junior lawyers and associates
- Contribution to business development initiatives, client presentations, seminars, training, and networking
- Contribution to articles, client briefings, publications, and knowledge-sharing initiatives
- Commercial mindset, client relationship skills, ownership, initiative, and interest in energy regulation
What We Do
Pinsent Masons is a multinational law firm with a reputation for delivering high-quality legal advice rooted in its deep understanding of the sectors and geographies in which our clients operate. Our expertise is recognised globally. In recent years we have achieved more tier 1 rankings in The Legal 500 UK guide than any other firm, and been counted among the most innovative law firms in Europe and Asia Pacific by the Financial Times. With over 1,500 lawyers operating from 27 locations throughout Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, we are well-placed to advise on complex multi-jurisdictional matters across a full range of legal disciplines. The firm has significant international credentials in the global energy, infrastructure, financial services, real estate and technology, science and industry sectors. Pinsent Masons looks at your business needs differently. This means we don't just apply lawyers to solve clients' problems; we deploy a wider range of professional disciplines, enabled by people, process and technology, to deliver a global professional service with law at its core.
