The Future is Green: Opportunities for Lawyers in the Renewable Energy Sector.

It goes without saying that renewable energy is the future. Many will remember the advertising campaign, ‘the future is bright, the future is orange’ – well, right now, the future is looking a lot more green! It’s a burgeoning industry for those in legal and beyond. We may still be in a transitionary period when it comes to renewables, but the current opportunities for lawyers are huge – both in private practice and in-house.

At Cyan, we’re passionate about renewables. And we know others are too. We’ve noticed that the global impact of climate change and a need to shift to a more sustainable way of life has changed the key priorities for a lot of the people we work with in the legal sector. A universally shared interest to invest in the planet means there are opportunities at all levels. Law firm partners find it easier to grow their ‘business’ and build new relationships in a comparatively new sector, and junior lawyers gain a competitive advantage within a booming domestic and international market.

The renewables and technology sectors often go hand in hand and are both markets which constantly evolve, throwing up new and interesting legal challenges. The combination of the growing green economy and the speed of technological development in this area makes it a truly exciting time to be working in renewables. There is such creativity and imagination in what is being developed and potential for the future.

Key practice areas

The renewable energy sector is large, and lawyers have a varied choice when it comes to legal career opportunities. It is a huge growth area within legal; from law firms building renewable practices, oil majors investing in their renewables offering to electric vehicles and EV infrastructure.

The main practice areas in demand are:

• M&A
• Project Finance
• Construction/Project Development
• Commercial & Regulatory
• Real Estate
• Disputes

At the junior lawyer level, whilst previous experience in the energy sector is beneficial, employers will also look for lawyers who have transferable skills and enthusiasm for the renewables sector. We are often told by clients that raw technical skill is their key consideration, as they can teach the renewables sector expertise. For partners and those aspiring to partnership, a strong network of contacts is always going to be important. However, this does genuinely appear to be a sector (less mature than others, but incredibly fast moving) which is under-lawyered. This means it is easier to raise your profile when it comes to establishing credibility and client relationships.

On the ground support.

In the UK, there are certain geographical strongholds when it comes to renewables - Scotland, Northern Ireland, London and the South-west, amongst them. At Cyan, due to our deep experience in the sector and holistic understanding of the national legal market, we’re well positioned - with many of our clients located across these regions.

We understand the geographical placement, structure and spread of the businesses and law firms based in these areas because we’re talking to them day-to-day. Our solid track record of placing candidates with them comes from understanding the context they’re operating in and being proactive in understanding what the business needs.

What are the long-term development opportunities?

The Inflation Reduction Act in the US and its EU equivalent, the Green Deal Industrial Plan, are just two significant legislative measures that indicate the global focus on renewables, and this will ensure that the current rapid growth will also be sustained over time. It’s a young industry but a dynamic one being developed all the time with new people and new ideas driving us towards a sustainable, circular economy. Many of today’s renewables start-ups and scale-ups are the giants of the future.

It seems to us that the opportunity to make a strong personal impact is much greater in this area, as you can develop a dynamic network in a growing sector and relationships with clients and contacts that will stay with you throughout your legal career.

Do it on purpose.

There is a groundswell of people wanting a legal career that does more than just pay the mortgage. Renewables is clearly a purpose driven sector that aligns with the desire for a role that allows individuals to feel authentic and have genuine enthusiasm for what they do. Businesses must increasingly communicate and commit to their ESG agenda to attract talent – we know this is a real priority for many lawyers looking to make their next move.

The future is green and purposeful – and we’re leading the way when it comes to legal recruitment that matches!

Want to find out more about making a change? 

Get in touch with one of us at Cyan Partners to explore opportunities for lawyers in the renewables sector and beyond.