Junior Legal Counsel

As an energy park developer, the UKA Group plans, builds, operates, and sells wind, photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage projects. It contributes to a sustainable power supply in Germany, Europe and America that is independent of fossil fuel imports, ensures lower power prices, and is climate-friendly. UKA is an owner-managed company that has been pursuing a long-term business strategy since its founding in 1999. The company’s employees are committed to delivering the best possible project results that meet the highest economic and quality standards. All projects are systematically advanced, even when external circumstances require an extra measure of patience and perseverance.

The UKA Group is one of the leading project developers for renewable energies in Germany with 1.5 GW of onshore wind projects under construction in its home market. Furthermore, an impressive project pipeline of currently 6.5 GW in the international markets alone underlines its attractive business prospects abroad.

To further expand this international growth, the UKA Group is strengthening its presence in Italy - one of its focus markets - through its office in Rome, where a dedicated team is advancing a portfolio of utility-scale PV, onshore wind, and BESS projects.

The Role

The Junior Legal Counsel will support the senior legal counsel in advising on contractual, compliance, regulatory, and corporate matters within the rapidly evolving renewable energy sector. Joining the legal office and reporting directly to the senior legal counsel working closely with the project development experts and external stakeholders, this role contributes to ensuring that all business activities comply with Italian and EU legal frameworks governing renewable energy projects, including wind, (agri-)PV and battery storage.

Responsibilities

- Conduct legal research on civil, commercial, and real-estate matters, with specific reference to Italian and EU laws regulating renewable energy projects in Italy.
- Conduct legal research on environmental compliance, permitting, grid connection, and energy market regulations
- Support legal and risk assessments for project development, including land acquisition contracts, environmental authorizations (e.g., VIA, AIA), AU and construction permits.
- Assist in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating real-estate and commercial agreements, including “diritti di superficie and usufrutto”, land lease agreements, land purchase agreements, service agreements, NDAs, EPC, O&M, PPA, and procurement contracts.
- Support due diligence activities for the acquisition or financing of renewable energy assets.
- Support the contract management function, including monitoring contractual deadlines and renewals.
- Collaborate with internal teams and external consultants to address legal aspects of ongoing project development.
- Assist in obtaining permits and managing interactions with local authorities, regulatory agencies, and notaries.
- Support the management of pre-litigation matters and contractual disputes.
- Assist with general corporate matters, including board resolutions, compliance registers, and corporate filings.
- Maintain organized legal documentation and contribute to internal process improvements.

Requirements

- Master’s degree in Law (Laurea Magistrale in Giurisprudenza) from an accredited Italian university.
- Qualified lawyer (Avvocato) or completed “pratica forense” (legal traineeship).
- Strong academic background in civil, commercial, environmental, administrative and energy law.
- 2 or 3 years of relevant experience in law firms or corporate legal department in the energy renewable sector; exposure to permitting, project finance, or contract law is desirable.
- Solid understanding of Italian regulatory frameworks governing renewable energy and environmental permitting (VIA, PAS, AU).
- Excellent legal drafting and analytical skills.
- Strong research abilities and attention to detail.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Italian and English (C1).
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize in a dynamic project environment.
- Strong team player with a proactive and problem-solving mindset.
- Comfortable working cross-functionally and collaborating with external stakeholders.
- Willingness to travel for site visits or regulatory meetings.
- High ethical standards and adherence to confidentiality.
- Ability to work with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.) and familiarity with tools such as QGIS, other map viewers, Google Earth, as well as the Italian territorial agency platforms for cadastral searches and procedures (e.g., SISTER).

What do we offer:

- Opportunity to work in an international environment
- An interesting range of tasks in a dynamically developing renewable energy industry
- Opportunities for personal and professional development
- A friendly and supportive working atmosphere