Commercial Real Estate Associate

Job Description

Associate / Real Estate Associate

Location: Riyadh

Brief

We are currently looking to recruit an Associate with around 3-7 years’ PQE to join the Projects team of Pinsent Masons LLP based in Riyadh.

Background

Pinsent Masons has four offices in the Middle East; Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai and Riyadh. The current role sits within the Middle East Projects team based in the Riyadh office. The team carries out a wide range of work focused on the energy & infrastructure sectors, including project finance, PPP, front-end construction and sector-focused acquisitions and joint ventures across the Middle East Asia and Africa.

We are a recognised leader in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Clients include international and local banks, development banks, governments, infrastructure asset owners, developers, contractors and service companies. This is a transactional role, involving a large amount of client contact and providing opportunities to work on innovative and high-profile projects in the Middle East region and globally. You would be working with a team of lawyers across the region but principally reporting to Tim Armsby; as senior projects partner based in Riyadh. The role demands a readiness to undertake business development and marketing activities with enthusiasm. The team and its projects have been the recipient of a number of awards and nominations including:

• 'Project Finance Deal of the Year' - Capital Markets & ESG Finance Awards 2024
• ‘Alternative Infrastructure Award’ -IJ Global April 2024
• ‘Social Infrastructure Deal of the Year’ - Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East Awards 2023
• ‘Water Treatment Deal of the Year’ (IJ Global April 2024),
• ‘PPP Deal of the Year’ (PFI February 24)
• ‘Project & Infrastructure Finance Law Firm of the Year’ - IFN Awards 2023
• ‘Social Infrastructure Project of the Year’ - IJ Global Middle East Awards 2023
• ‘Project Finance Deal of the Year’ at the PFI Awards 2024
• ‘Legal Adviser of the Year’ at the Middle East Solar Industry Association Awards 2019 to 2022
  
  
  

The Candidate Required

This is a dynamic team where every team member can make his or her own mark. Associates are a key part of the team's structure and future development and are expected to take responsibility for leading and managing projects, developing and leading client relationships, contributing to the team's business development plans, and supporting the growth of more junior team members. We have been operating in Saudi Arabia for a number of years through an exclusive association with Saudi law firm; Alsabhan & Alajaji. Following a change in law last year, Pinsent Masons LLP was granted a foreign law licence and has come together with Alsabhan & Alajaji to expand our presence in Saudi Arabia along all business lines including projects.

The role is wide-ranging and includes:

• having excellent technical legal skills;
• leading and managing transactions;
• developing on-going relationships with the existing client base as well as pitching for new opportunities;
• developing close working relationships as part of an international team.
• the opportunity to be involved in work on high profile projects and cross-border transactions on a global scale.
• contributing to our globally read Outlaw e-publication and external publications on topical issues and developments in our markets; and
• taking an active role in our business development campaigns, the development of our innovative products and pitching for new work.
  
  
  

The successful candidates will:

• Strong legal foundation with extensive experience advising on all aspects of project finance transactions from inception to financial close.
• Proven ability to structure, draft, and negotiate complex financing and security agreements, including guarantees, intercreditor arrangements, and security packages.
• Skilled in conducting and overseeing comprehensive legal due diligence across regulatory, contractual, and financing aspects.
• Advises on bankability and risk allocation in large-scale infrastructure and energy projects, ensuring alignment with local laws and international financing standards.
• Experienced in liaising with lenders, sponsors, export credit agencies, and government stakeholders throughout the transaction lifecycle.
• Demonstrated involvement in project development from both commercial and financial perspectives.
• Specialized expertise in contract law and real estate, supporting diverse project structures and asset classes.
• Capable of leading negotiations, managing cross-functional teams, and mentoring junior colleagues.
• Highly proactive and independent, with a strong sense of ownership and client service.
• Substantial experience working within Saudi Arabia and/or the broader GCC region in legal contract and agreement.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to build strong relationships across legal, commercial, and technical teams.
• Strong technical legal skills paired with sound commercial judgment and strategic thinking.
• Effective project manager with the ability to prioritize, delegate, and deliver under tight timelines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, well-suited for client-facing roles.
• Active contributor to business development initiatives, including delivering seminars and training sessions to external audiences.
• Arabic language proficiency is considered an asset.
  
  
  

What will we offer you?

• The opportunity to join the market leading team, yet one that remains dynamic with the ambition to continue to grow in the region.
• A collaborative environment where colleagues work together across offices and countries to produce outstanding results for our clients.
• Colleagues who are leading specialists in energy and infrastructure law and practice.
• A first class training and career development programme. Our training reflects our position as a market leader in energy and infrastructure. Our training will assist you to develop as a specialist with valuable sector knowledge and the ability to deliver "best of breed" services.
• The opportunity to be part of a team working on stand out high profile international, national and local assignments.
  
  
  

About The Firm

Pinsent Masons is a purpose-led, professional services business with law at its core. We have a long-standing reputation for delivering high-quality legal advice rooted in its deep understanding of the sectors and geographies in which its clients operate. With over 1,500 lawyers operating from more than 27 locations throughout the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East, Pinsent Masons is well-placed to advise on complex multi-jurisdictional matters across a full range of legal disciplines.

In recent years it has achieved more tier 1 rankings in The Legal 500 UK guide than any other firm, and is recognised among the most innovative law firms in Europe by the Financial Times. The firm has significant international credentials in the global energy, infrastructure, financial services and advanced manufacturing and technology sectors. Services provided across these sectors include corporate and M&A, commercial, competition, litigation and arbitration, banking, restructuring, insurance, regulatory, construction, projects, pensions, property, planning and environmental, procurement, outsourcing, employment, share plans, technology and tax advice.

We have been established in the Middle East since 2004 and now have more than 60 lawyers based in our offices in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. We were recently nominated “International Law Firm of the Year” at the Oath Middle East Legal Awards.

Pinsent Masons stands out in particular for its innovative approach to service delivery, for example, the firm operates a hub of freelance lawyers, called Vario. Pinsent Masons has also recently acquired a global Diversity and Inclusion consultancy, Brook Graham which further enhances the firm's innovative and market leading offering.

Should you require further details, please contact our in-house Lateral Recruitment Advisor Anwen Wallington who can discuss the role and requirements.

Contact details:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anwen-wallington-36177ba1/

[email protected]

At Pinsent Masons we value diversity and inclusion. We are committed to creating a better workplace where all our talent can succeed and feel like they belong. We want to attract, retain and develop people at all levels and encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

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