With energy and projects work heating up, an expert from Marsden helps us break down lateral recruitment in a practice area that's cooking on gas.
With the current climate, there are rarely days when discussions about artificial intelligence, oil and gas, or renewable energy don’t wind up in newspaper column inches. The discussions surrounding these sectors feel inescapable, but for good reason: these sectors are either already indispensable to the global economy or fast becoming vital to its future. Perhaps unsurprisingly, energy and projects, a legal practice area at the intersection of these sectors (and many more), is hotter than ever right now, and skilled, experienced associates are very much in demand.
To understand what’s driving appetite, and what it means for associates, we sat down with George Webster, a legal headhunter with specialization in the energy and projects industry from recruitment firm Marsden. Having placed 17 attorneys in the last 24 months across the energy and projects sector specifically, there are few better placed to dispense some valuable career wisdom. Our conversation with Webster covered:
- What’s driving demand in the market;
- When and why associates move;
- Routes in-house;
- And how to transition into the practice.
What’s fueling the energy and projects boom?
First and foremost, let’s unpack the current state of the energy and projects sector and what’s keeping lawyers in the area busy. Naturally, the current AI boom and the surge of data centers is top of mind for many, and as a result, the demand for lawyers well-versed in energy and projects related work is increasing.
"This increased demand for energy is driving growth in areas like renewables, oil and gas, and liquefied natural gas, and that’s having a knock-on effect across the whole market."
“While the financing and development of a data center works similarly to a solar farm, for example, data centers need a lot of energy to power them, and they need lots of water to cool them down,” Webster notes. In turn, this creates complex financing, infrastructure, and regulatory challenges which fall within the remit of energy and projects teams. “This increased demand for energy is driving growth in areas like renewables, oil and gas, and liquefied natural gas, and that’s having a knock-on effect across the whole market,” he adds.
That increase in demand is also changing the way lawyers in the area work. As a result, many energy and projects lawyers are having to work cross-functionally with tax, regulatory, and environmental teams – to list just a few. By way of example, a single project may require financing advice, environmental approvals, and tax structuring during construction and operation.
Offering further insight into the rise in renewable energy work in particular, Webster points to the political landscape: “Under the Biden administration, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 had a large impact on the renewables market.” The IRA introduced a number of tax credits and financial incentives designed to accelerate investment in renewable energy projects (like solar, wind, and energy storage), coinciding with a rise in sentiment from a newer generation of associates looking to work on cleaner energy projects.
Under the Trump administration, markets have shifted slightly in favor of more traditional oil and gas work with the introduction of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025, though the IRA is still very much in play to some extent. Ultimately, the uncertainty across the market means energy and projects lawyers are in demand for clients needing to navigate shifting legal frameworks.
That demand is also shaping where the work is concentrated. For associates, this means opportunities are often closely tied to geography, with certain markets offering more specialized experience depending on their sector focus.
So, where are the hotspots? It’ll come as no surprise that Texas remains a large oasis for energy work, leading the charge for the nation’s production of crude oil, natural gas, biodiesel, and wind power, and hosting the world’s major energy players. As the nation’s capital, Washington DC is also a hotbed for energy policy and regulation, while New York remains a key area for its strengths in project finance. Los Angeles is also emerging into the spotlight, with California’s position as a national leader in renewable energy, including wind energy projects and clean tech.
Associate moves and opportunities
Demand is also reshaping how and when associates choose to move. For associates already specializing in energy and projects work, Webster notes that while three to six years of experience is typically the sweet spot for making a lateral move, in a market where demand is outpacing supply, associates have more leverage than usual. He tells us, “I've helped a few second-years make lateral moves already this year. There's demand from class year 2024 all the way up to counsel.”
“I think there’s an opportunity for everything right now."
A move to a more up-market firm is also something that Webster was keen to stress is absolutely on the table at the moment. “I think there’s an opportunity for everything right now," he says, optimistically noting, “If you’re at a firm considered a little further down market and maybe couldn’t look at one of the top two or three groups historically, now is the time you can.”
By the same token, Webster notes that those looking to take “a step down-market” can do so as well. As he puts it, “Everyone wants people!” noting that smaller firms are also on the hunt for experienced associates wanting a change, both at the junior end and the senior end of the spectrum.
“If associates feel like they are too pigeonholed where they are and want a role with broader exposure, that may be a reason to make a move,” says Webster, offering some insight into common triggers behind a lateral move. Similarly, he notes, “If you're looking at the more senior end, some teams around the senior associate/counsel mark have bottlenecked pathways to partnership. For those associates, it makes sense to move if there is an opportunity that you can see elsewhere in the market where you've got a better run at making partner or it's a platform that fits your skill set better.”
Ultimately, “mid-to-senior level associates who have got the skill set to come in and run a deal from day one are being well looked after wherever they go,” Webster concludes.
Those flirting with the idea of leaving BigLaw altogether will be pleased to know that the overall demand for energy and projects lawyers means opportunities to go in-house are aplenty. “A lot of M&A and private equity lawyers are finding homes at infrastructure funds,” says Webster. In some cases, the opportunities are particularly lucrative: “Someone I spoke to the other day has come in as a legal counsel for a company involved in building data centers. They’ve come in with equity, and they’re trying to go public in five years, so if all goes well, it could be very lucrative.”
Further reading: Is the grass really greener in-house?
Transitioning into energy and projects
Aside from an increase in related work creating a demand for energy and projects lawyers, there’s also the problem of there simply not being enough to start with. “If you go back five years ago, there weren’t as many people starting their careers in energy and projects practices as there was less demand in the market,” Webster notes. “Combine that with the fact that the mid-to-senior level is where you have an attrition point for associates making moves in-house and leaving BigLaw altogether, you can see why there is so much demand for energy and projects lawyers right now,” he concludes.
Thankfully, however, it is possible for associates to retool and transition into energy and projects work. “Over the last couple of years, we’ve had a lot of success helping general debt finance and leveraged finance lawyers that have an interest in the sector,” Webster notes, particularly as a lot of US energy infrastructure work is debt-financed and the work requires similar skills and experience.
“We’re seeing the same on the M&A side as well,” he continues, noting, “There are a lot of firms that have put a ton of investment into energy M&A and private equity specific teams.” Energy projects work often involves elements of asset acquisitions and joint ventures, which puts traditional corporate/M&A associates in a good position to pivot.
The caveat to switching practice areas is often “people will take a one-year haircut and come in one level below what they were in their previous firm,” says Webster. That said, the future of energy and projects work is particularly bright, as Webster notes, “I think it’s going to stay as busy as it currently is for the foreseeable future. The infrastructure funds and private equity shops have so much dry powder to invest in the current AI boom.”
"We’re seeing companies like Google and Meta who have historically been tech clients for law firms now becoming energy and projects clients because of the data center activity.”
Further hammering home the point, Webster underscores, “Everyone in the US wants to get involved in these sorts of deals right now because it’s cutting edge, innovative stuff. For example, we’re seeing companies like Google and Meta who have historically been tech clients for law firms now becoming energy and projects clients because of the data center activity.” Ultimately, the combination of ongoing regulatory uncertainty and the scale of investment flowing into both traditional and renewable energy indicates it’s not a bad time to be an energy and projects lawyer.
Working with a recruiter
Whether you’re an energy and projects associate looking for a change of scenery, or you’ve got your heart set on transitioning into the energy and projects sector, to work with a recruiter or to not work with a recruiter may be the conundrum on your mind.
So, what benefits does working with a recruiter bring? First off, having someone who can liaise with multiple firms on your behalf and schedule interviews for you is an advantage, particularly as you’re balancing your job search with your current full-time job. Having someone versed in liaising with firm partners is a plus as well, as Webster notes, “I often give specific advice on partners, their interview style, typical questions, and any extra things you can prepare.”
It can also be a positive to have an experienced recruiter on your side when it comes to negotiating an offer. “When you’ve got an offer on the table, that’s when recruiters can be incredibly valuable,” Webster underlines. “If you’ve got a recruiter who knows partners in the market and can speak with them directly, they can advise the partner on what a market offer is and help you negotiate,” he continues, noting, “It’s never ideal having to negotiate an offer against your future employer, so if you’d rather have a middleman do that, we can! Additionally, if you’re speaking to multiple places, we will also advise on how to leave things amicably.”
