Julian Poullain’s passion for the environment and the buzz around the renewables sector attracted him to a role with Ocean Winds seven years ago.
We caught up with Ocean Winds’ Senior Legal Manager to learn more about his route into offshore wind, highlights of working across Ocean Winds’ international portfolio and what he gets up to in his spare time.
Can you describe yourself in three words?
Calm, positive and curious.
I’ve always been naturally inquisitive. I like understanding how things work and discovering the bigger picture. That curiosity lends itself well to my role in the legal function because it’s such a central part of the business, supporting every other aspect of our projects.
It’s this drive to know more that’s motivated me to seek to gain a holistic understanding, not just of what’s happening within the Caledonia project, but across the entire Ocean Winds portfolio and the offshore wind sector more generally.
Did you always want to work in the offshore wind industry, or did you have other career ambitions?
Throughout school, my strengths and interests lay firmly in humanities subjects like modern studies, politics, and English literature. I gained strong grades in these subject areas and that gave me the confidence to aim high in my higher education pursuits. As I thought about my next steps, I wanted to choose a path that would allow me to challenge myself and apply these skills in a meaningful way. While subjects like maths, science and engineering didn’t spark my interest, law stood out as the perfect fit. If not law, I would have pursued something closely related, like politics or economics, as they naturally align with my interests and aptitudes.
Did you always want to work in the offshore wind industry, or did you have other career ambitions?

After graduating, my primary focus was securing a traineeship — this is the final step towards qualifying as a Scottish solicitor. Gaining this two-year supervised in-office training is a highly competitive process, but I was fortunate to gain a position in a commercial real estate practice. Reflecting on that experience, I realise it taught me invaluable lessons about good habits, effective ways of working and the importance of a strong work ethic. However, I also recognised that commercial real estate wasn’t a field I saw myself pursuing long term.
As I approached the end of my traineeship in 2009, I noticed a growing buzz around the renewables sector. My interest in the environment, coupled with a strong sense of purpose, drew me to this emerging industry. I could see the potential for exciting opportunities in renewables and felt this path would lead me to a legal career that I could feel good about and be proud of, which can be a difficult balance to find. I’ve been with Ocean Winds (and previously EDPR) for seven years now and I consider myself very lucky to be in a role that aligns with my own personal values within an industry that I have a wider interest in.
Can you tell us about your role as a Senior Legal Manager?
In early 2024, my primary focus was Caledonia. However, my role has since shifted to concentrate on project delivery during the construction phase. This primarily involves negotiating and closing construction, maintenance and operations focused contracts, supporting the process of achieving financial close, and managing the legal aspects of construction packages while providing legal advice throughout the construction phase.
Since Caledonia is currently in the consenting phase, my involvement with the project has lessened for now. However, as it transitions into the construction phase post-consent, I look forward to getting more involved again. Much of my current focus is directed towards Moray West and BC-Wind – the first Polish wind farm project within the Ocean Winds portfolio.
Beyond contracting, my work has also included advising on regulatory issues and reforms, grid connections, seabed lease agreements, corporate matters and project structuring which adds variety and breadth to my role.
I have enjoyed the opportunity to apply the expertise I’ve developed on Scottish projects to our international portfolio, including some in the USA as well as Poland. Ocean Winds places a strong focus on leveraging synergies across countries, fostering collaboration and encouraging mobility within the company. This approach not only broadens my experience but also makes my role dynamic and rewarding, working with a range of different people in different countries and learning more about their issues.
What has been the highlight of working on Caledonia so far?
I’ve been heavily involved with Moray West, having been part of the team from the very beginning of my time with Ocean Winds. My role spanned the supply chain contracting phase, achieving financial close, and more recently advising throughout the construction phase, which is now coming to an end. The continuity of being involved across so many phases of the project and working alongside many members of the Ocean Winds team who have seen it through from start to finish has been really rewarding. These projects can have such long development and construction phases, and it’s not uncommon for people to come and go over the years. That’s why I’m especially proud to have been part of this journey for so long and to see Moray West nearing completion.
How has your learning and development been supported during your career at Ocean Winds so far?
I’ve been encouraged to work autonomously, with the freedom to choose what I want to be involved in. This level of freedom has been instrumental in my development, allowing me to take ownership of my responsibilities and have a say in the direction of my work, which I can tailor to my interests.
What excites you most about your future career in offshore wind?
The UK is now recognised as a market leader in offshore wind and I’m excited to see other nations building their capabilities and becoming part of this global movement. I’m keen to get more involved with the BC-Wind project, bringing my experience and hopefully getting involved in other global markets as they begin or continue to develop.
Closer to home, I’m also excited about getting more involved with Caledonia in its post-consent phase. This next phase is not only a milestone for the project but also promises significant benefits for the local community. I look forward to seeing these efforts come to life and the positive impact they’ll have both locally and globally.
What is the best professional advice you can give, or you have been given?
Quite simply, it’s all about your approach. This shapes how you work and how people interact with you. It’s important to have a strong foundation of softer skills which can often be overlooked and to take a real interest in understanding what is going on around you, beyond your immediate role Don’t underestimate the importance of communication, organisation and a positive attitude. These skills encourage others to collaborate and want to work with you, which is key to your professional development.
Tell us something about yourself that would be a surprise to most people
I’ve been practicing yoga and meditation for the past 10 years. Initially, I started yoga because I knew it was a great workout that would improve my fitness. However, during a trip to Costa Rica to visit my brother I became aware of a whole new side to yoga that goes beyond just the physical advantages. I began to appreciate the mental and emotional benefits, and it deepened my practice and appreciation for it.