ADVICE FOR TOMMOROW
Why study law?
ELIZABETH MUIR
•
Elizabeth is an Energy
Projects lawyer and part of
Pinsent Masons LLP in
Singapore.
• Graduated with an honours
in Scots law at Strathclyde
University, Glasgow.
• She spent four years as a
Solicitor in our Aberdeen Oil
& Gas team working on many
large scale energy
transactions in the North Sea,
the Middle East and Africa.
•
She has spent time on
secondment to a number of
their clients’ in-house legal
teams, including the Dubai
branch of EnQuest PLC and
Canadian Natural Resources.
Although I studied mostly the science subjects during my final school
years, I knew that the medical or engineering route just wasn't for me.
I've always been a 'people person' and quite inquisitive… I enjoy giving
advice and solving others' problems. I'm an organised and methodical
worker, which is important (particularly for a transactional lawyer!). I
also (rightly) thought that a law degree was broad enough that it could
lead to alternative careers, rather than 'just a solicitor', so it seemed a
sensible choice aged 17...
Perhaps my interest in the sciences eventually guided me towards a legal
career in the oil and gas (and wider energy) industry. A genuine curiosity
about these markets and projects, as well as an interest in technical
procedures like offshore drilling, exploration and production, certainly
helps!
A role model?
I didn't have one single role model who inspired my decision. However, at
the time of applying to Universities, I was working part-time in a local
Italian restaurant. I got to know some customers who were
lawyers/judges, and relentlessly quizzed them on the best law schools for
commercial law in Scotland and on what subjects I should be choosing.
Clearly I was good at due diligence even back then!
But studying law is a long and winding road. I've learned to stay open-
minded and take opportunities along the way - especially where they
push me far outside the comfort zone!
The life of an energy projects lawyer
No two days are the same. Frequent tasks (as you would expect) include
drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts, project management and
dealing with local counsel, attending client project meetings and calls,
business development activities and legal research. Most of our clients
are outwith Singapore – so I frequently travel to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur,
Ho Chi Minh and beyond to attend negotiations and provide client
training. I also continue to support our international Oil & Gas teams in
London and Aberdeen, working on energy transactions in the Middle
East, the North Sea and Africa. I enjoy the variety (although it does mean
working across many timezones!).
We act up and down the oil & gas stream - on upstream M&A
transactions, joint ventures / joint operating agreements, gas supply
agreements (LNG and pipeline gas), gas transportation and processing
agreements production sharing contracts, petrochemical and refinery
projects, through to storage and the retail outlets where you buy your
petrol and groceries.