At a Glance
Type of work | Transactional + regulatory
Who you advise | Energy companies, project developers, governments, infrastructure funds
Pace | Complex, long-cycle projects; deal-driven with significant regulatory milestones
Law school relevance | Administrative Law, Contracts, Secured Transactions, Environmental Law
What Is It?
Energy and infrastructure lawyers work on large-scale projects: power plants, pipelines, renewable energy facilities, transportation systems, and more. The practice combines project finance, M&A, regulatory work, and complex commercial contracting. It is particularly prominent in Texas, given the state’s dominant role in U.S. energy markets.
What Will You Actually Do?
- Structure and document project finance transactions (non-recourse debt for large projects)
- Draft long-term commercial agreements — power purchase agreements, supply contracts, offtake agreements
- Navigate regulatory approvals for energy and infrastructure projects
- Advise on M&A involving energy companies or infrastructure assets
- Counsel clients on environmental and regulatory compliance
As a Junior Lawyer, Expect To…
- Draft and review project agreements and financing documents
- Organize and track regulatory approvals and permits
- Assist with due diligence on technical and regulatory aspects of projects
- Help manage closing deliverables across complex multi-party transactions
This Might Be a Good Fit If You…
- Are interested in energy, climate, and infrastructure
- Want to work on large, impactful, tangible projects
- Like combining regulatory knowledge with deal-making
- Are drawn to Texas’s outsized role in the U.S. and global energy landscape
Key Terms to Know
FERC: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission — the U.S. agency that regulates interstate energy transmission and wholesale energy markets.
Project Finance: A financing structure where the loan is repaid solely from the cash flows of the project — not backed by the sponsors’ general assets.
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA): A long-term contract between a power producer and a buyer for the sale of electricity at an agreed price.
Offtake Agreement: A contract to purchase a set amount of a project’s output — gives lenders and investors confidence in the project’s revenue.
Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV): A separate legal entity created specifically to hold a project’s assets and liabilities, isolating them from the sponsor’s other business.