Project Finance & Energy Lawyer

Centurion Law Group • Johannesburg, Gauteng, ZA

30+ days ago

Job description

Tier: Mid-Level
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Type: Full-time

Company Description

Centurion Law Group (CLG) is a leading pan-African corporate and commercial law firm advising governments, financial institutions, investors, developers, state-owned entities and multinational companies across the energy, natural resources, infrastructure, finance and investment sectors.

Our work combines legal expertise with a practical understanding of African markets and the commercial realities of developing, financing and executing complex projects across the continent.

Role Description

We are looking for a commercially minded and technically strong Project Finance & Energy Lawyer to join our Johannesburg office.

The successful candidate will work on complex domestic and cross-border mandates involving project finance, energy, infrastructure, investments, acquisitions, joint ventures, commercial agreements and regulatory matters.

This is not a purely execution-focused legal role. The successful candidate will also be expected to develop client relationships, identify opportunities and contribute directly to the growth of CLG’s energy and project finance practice.

Key Responsibilities

The role will include:

Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating financing, investment and project documentation
Advising on project development, debt financing, security structures, joint ventures, concessions, power purchase agreements, offtake arrangements and related commercial contracts
Conducting legal due diligence and providing practical, commercially focused advice
Managing transaction workstreams, conditions precedent and cross-border closings
Working with clients, lenders, investors, developers, governments and advisers across multiple jurisdictions
Identifying potential clients and new mandates and helping convert relationships into business
Contributing to pitches, proposals, conferences, thought leadership and wider business development initiatives

Experience and Qualifications

Applicants should hold a recognised law degree and be qualified or professionally eligible to practise law in at least one jurisdiction.

Admission in South Africa is not required.

We expect approximately four to seven years of relevant experience in project finance, banking and finance, energy, infrastructure, corporate and commercial law, M&A or a related transactional practice.

Experience working on cross-border transactions or matters involving African jurisdictions will be highly regarded.

Exposure to oil and gas, power, renewable energy, mining, infrastructure or natural resources would be advantageous.

An existing professional network and demonstrated ability to build relationships or originate opportunities will also be viewed positively.

Skills and Attributes

The successful candidate should have strong drafting, analytical and negotiation skills, sound commercial judgement and the ability to manage multiple matters with limited supervision.

They should be confident interacting with senior clients, counterparties, investors and public-sector stakeholders and comfortable representing the firm externally.

We are looking for someone who combines technical legal capability with commercial instinct, ownership, responsiveness and a genuine interest in building a practice.

Excellent written and spoken English is essential. French, Portuguese, Arabic or other languages relevant to African markets would be advantageous.

What We Offer

This role offers exposure to significant energy, infrastructure, finance and investment transactions across Africa, direct interaction with major clients and decision-makers, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the growth of a leading pan-African legal practice.

It would suit an ambitious lawyer who wants to combine high