Corporate Lawyer, Oil & Gas - Canada

Tell us about the organization you work for and your role there.

Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm with more than 50 offices throughout the world. I work out of the Calgary office, but it’s an international corporate law firm. Our clients are both domestic and foreign companies. I work within the business law group of Norton Rose Fulbright as an oil and gas commercial lawyer. My practice is largely transactional advising for clients who are selling or purchasing oil and gas assets. I also advise clients on day-to-day operational matters. Our group supports companies looking to invest and develop projects in other parts of the world, as well as companies looking to invest and operate in Canada. The Calgary office of Norton Rose is known as an office that can offer strong oil and gas expertise in both the domestic and international context.

Can you describe what an international lawyer does at Norton Rose Fulbright?

A lawyer with an international oil and gas practice will assist clients acquiring and developing oil and gas assets outside Canada. We help clients draft and negotiate agreements when they initially invest in a project. This may be a sale agreement or farm-out agreement with another private company. Or, it may be negotiating directly with a foreign government to obtain the rights to explore and produce petroleum, such as a production sharing contract. We help clients develop the agreements they need to run their operations, such as joint operating agreements and service agreements.

We are also often asked to advise on various complex legal issues which arise when operating in a foreign country. These reports often involve a significant amount of research and writing. These projects give the junior lawyers in the group a great opportunity to participate in the international side of our oil and gas practice.

Although a lot of the internationally geared work can be done right from Calgary, lawyers with an international practice will often travel as part of their work. For example, if two parties are coming together to invest in a project, we help negotiate the joint operating agreement which sets out how those partners will operate the project. One partner may be based in Canada while the other is based in Europe. Depending on the timelines involved, technology may be used to help advance negotiations; however, most people realize you can’t wholly replace the value of face-to-face interaction and in-person meetings will be held at staged intervals. The clients and their lawyers will fly in, facilitate a meeting for three to five days, then fly back to Calgary. If both parties are making a significant investment in a project, and this is a long-term project, that face-to-face interaction is crucial. There’s a business relationship that needs to be maintained.

How did you end up here? Please tell us about your career trajectory – what skills and experiences contributed to the attainment of your current role?

I’ve always had the aspiration to live and work abroad. I didn’t really know how to make that happen, but I knew I wanted some aspect of that in my career.

When I was in law school, I learned about different opportunities – for example, working with Foreign Affairs or the United Nations. But as I was finishing law school, I wanted to complete my articling, so I began looking at different law firms. I was particularly drawn to Norton Rose Fulbright because they had offices in different countries and offered an international platform for associates to travel and work abroad, while still developing their careers as lawyers. There are ample opportunities to be seconded to another office of the firm for a period of time.

The Calgary office had oil and gas lawyers with a strong international practice, and this appealed to me. I was intrigued by their work and the challenging dynamics of such work – representing clients and advising on issues in developing countries. Working under such lawyers, I had the opportunity, very early on, to work on international projects.

For example, as an articling student, I learned a great deal about various African oil and gas producing countries by assisting with the research and writing of a report which compared the current state of the petroleum regimes in such countries. As a second year associate, I assisted a senior partner at my firm in preparing various memorandums and reports on the oil and gas legal framework in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The knowledge I gained through these research tasks as a very junior lawyer provided me with a strong foundation to now advise clients operating in those countries. It also afforded me the opportunity to travel to London for a week’s worth of meetings at a very junior level, which was of course very exciting for a young new lawyer.

I remember something a senior partner said to me during my year of articling at Norton Rose Fulbright. People were always asking him ‘How do you become an international oil and gas lawyer?’ His advice was clear: first and foremost, if you want to become an international lawyer, first become a strong domestic lawyer. You need to learn the basics about how the industry works and the skills you need to become a successful lawyer. With those skills, you will be better suited to navigate the complexities of the legal framework of other jurisdictions.

What do you enjoy most about practicing international law?

I enjoy learning about the socio-political complexity of other countries – it’s fascinating. There’s a whole range of issues that we have to consider and advise on. In some countries, the legal framework governing oil and gas is developing. As lawyers advising our clients, we must consider what legal frameworks are in place – there could be a constitution, some basic oil and gas legislation and a form of petroleum contract. However, there could also be gaps in framework – such as regulations which would address how to deal with certain situations.

Regardless of the legal framework in place, we must always be aware of the ever-changing political climate in the countries our clients operate. In Kurdistan, for example, there are practical realities that bear significant weight on our client’s operations. To me, this complexity is very interesting. It’s critical to understand, as we’re not going to give helpful advice unless we’re aware of the much larger political landscape and situation.

Can you describe any professional challenges you’ve encountered as an international lawyer?

We’re working with clients all over the world, living and working in different time zones. My practice is mixed: clients are based both domestically and internationally. One of the most challenging things about this kind of work is managing relationships and meeting the clients’ needs while working across various time zones. Trying to manage everyone – keeping up with different timelines on drastically different time zones – is a juggling act. You have to strive to organize your time effectively and find balance within it.

What abilities and qualities does it take to be able to succeed in international law?

As a junior lawyer, you need to focus on getting your fundamental lawyer skills up to speed. You need to develop strong analytical, drafting and negotiation skills, as well learning the overall building blocks which make up a country’s legal petroleum regime. I would advise those who want to go down this route to not focus solely on doing international work. There are different ways to build your foundational skills as a lawyer – many of them here in Canada, or at home, wherever that may be. Take the opportunities that come to you, regardless of where they are in the world, and learn how to become a good lawyer. From there, you can transfer these skills to different setting and different countries.

Additionally, if you’re serious about pursuing international work, it’s important to be flexible when it comes to time and scheduling. You’ll need the flexibility to pick up for a week, or two, and travel to another country. It’s important to realize the necessity to make it work for your personal situation. This isn’t your typical 9-5 job where you’ll always be free on the evenings and weekends. If it’s something you want to do, of course, you can make it work – but this will require flexibility and adaptability on your part.

What kinds of jobs are out there at the moment in your field? Where do you see openings developing?

There are different opportunities out there. In order to pursue commercial law with an international focus, I would recommend looking for positions with larger, internationally based law firms. These firms recruit early from law schools starting with summer positions after first year of law school. Try to identify law firms early on that offer internationally focused practices. Globally based law firms will often offer associates opportunities to travel and work in other offices. Every year there are rounds of recruitments – Norton Rose Fulbright hires law students on a continual basis, for example. There are many advantages to working with a larger, international based law firm – it provides you with the opportunity to explore and work in other offices, while still developing your career and reputation within the same firm.

Do you think having a specific degree or type education is important or relevant to getting work in your field?

During my undergraduate degree, I studied political science and economics. I was quite interested in development economics, and also sought to take many courses with cross-cultural content matter. I also participated in several exchange programs during both my degrees. I’m not entirely sure if it helped me land a job with Norton Rose Fulbright, but it definitely strengthened my interests and appreciation for working in dynamic, cross-cultural settings. However, I wouldn’t say that specialization is necessarily key. I think that anyone who graduates from law school is going to have the basic foundational knowledge that’s required to become a lawyer.

For people who are either just starting out in their careers or looking to move into this kind of work, what’s your best advice in terms of tangible steps a person could take to move in that direction?

Generally speaking, if you’re going to be a lawyer practicing in private practice, but you want an international opportunity, look into the law firms that offer those opportunities. That said, it’s definitely a competitive process to get hired. In order to stand out, you need to have excellent marks in law school. But beyond meeting the academic threshold, I recommend having a resume that reflects your interests, hobbies, and fully demonstrates that you’re an interesting, curious, intellectually minded person. Highlight your different past experiences – international, or domestic – and let your personality shine through. Why? When you’re working long hours at the firm, you want to be working with people who are personable, cooperative, and capable of working collaboratively under pressure. In both your CV and interviews with law firms, do your best to demonstrate to employers your interests and personality.