Executive Legal Counsel - Legal BD

Acwa China; Dubai; On-site; AED 420,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

ACWA Power is seeking an experienced lawyer to manage the provision of legal advice and support for a complex project, drafting and reviewing contracts, and mitigating legal risks to ensure regulatory compliance.

You will lead negotiations with EPC contractors, government authorities, and external counsel, oversee templates, and support M&A activities as required for brown-field projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws degree.
• 5–8 years of experience in projects law or legal function, with at least 3 years in a management role.
• Extensive depth of legal knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Manage an assigned project/ deal independently, from a legal perspective and provide advice on legal and policy matters.
• Provide legal advice to the Legal Assets Team and support on contract interpretation, disputes, and changes in terms.
• Provide support on M&A activities for assigned brown-field projects/deals, coordinating with external consultants.
• Support NOMAC's BD Team to ensure O&M agreements reflect bankability and business sustainability considerations.
• Identify legal risks and advise on mitigation to protect project interests.
• Review and supervise templates of legal agreements for assigned projects.
• Review and contribute to all relevant agreements and contracts for the assigned project; negotiate with key stakeholders such as EPC contractors and government bodies.
• Assist with shortlisting external legal partners and recommend external counsel selections.
• Liaise with external lawyers and internal stakeholders to ensure timely flow of information and documents.

Skills

Project finance

Regulatory matters

Policy knowledge

Commercial exposure

Broad legal knowledge

Risk identification

Strategic legal advice

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Contract drafting

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor of Laws degree

Job description

Job Description

We are a developer, investor, and operator of power generation and desalinated water plants, with 90 assets in operation, construction, or advanced development across 13 countries.

Job Purpose

To manage the provision of legal advice and support with respect to the assigned complex project/ deal of the Company, drafting of legal documents and agreements, and the identification and mitigating legal risks across this project, in order to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.

Key Accountabilities

People Management

• Manage self in line with ACWA Power’s people management policies, procedures, processes, and practices to ensure adherence and to maximise own and employee contribution to business performance.
• Regularly report to VP-Head of Legal (BD) on the operational activities of relevant projects, challenges and issues faced, mitigations taken, etc. as required, to keep them informed and updated on assigned matters.

Legal Advice and Support

• Manage an assigned project/ deal independently, from a legal perspective and provide advice and guidance on legal and policy matters for the project, in order to ensure legal aspects of the project are considered during critical decisions.
• Provide legal advice to the Legal Assets Team, as required and support on matters such as interpretation of contracts, disputes, and change in contractual terms, etc., on an ad-hoc basis, in order to ensure effective utilisation of expertise and legal know-how.
• Provide relevant legal support on M&A activities for an assigned brown-field projects/ deals, in coordination with external consultants, in order to ensure the work is carried out effectively.
• Provide support to NOMAC's BD Team to ensure O&M agreements are drafted to reflect bankability and business sustainability considerations.

Legal Risk Management

Manage the identification of legal risks and issues with respect to assigned complex project, and provide inputs on how to mitigate them, in order to proactively manage risks, minimise its occurrence, and protect the projects interests.

Legal Documentation

Review and supervise the development, updating and maintenance of the templates of legal agreements for an assigned complex project and make necessary changes, in order to ensure the templates are accurate and cover all required aspects for projects.

Agreements and Contracts

• Manage the review of all agreements and contracts relevant to the assigned project from a legal perspective, and provide inputs/ amendments, in order to ensure compliance with the legal requirements.
• Manage working group level negotiations and presentations with key stakeholders such as EPC contractor, government, etc. as required, for the assigned project, in order to ensure the interests of the project is safeguarded.
• Provide support to the relevant project company/ies, as required, on dispute matters or amendments to contracts, etc. as per any service level agreement.

Selection of Legal Partners

Assist with shortlisting external legal partners; and provide recommendation on the selection of external counsel for the assigned project, in order to ensure the right partner is selected.

Relationship Management

• Liaise with the legal community, including the company’s relationship law firms, external lawyers, etc. and represent the company externally, as required, in order to ensure these relationships, serve the best interest of the assigned project.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders including the Business Development function, as required with respect to legal matters/issues, legal opinions on the assigned project, in order to ensure the information, documents, etc. are provided in a timely manner.

Continuous Improvement

Identify opportunities to contribute to organisational and departmental change initiatives, programmes and projects taking into account best practice and standards in the business environment.

Related Assignments

Perform other related duties or assignments as directed.

Internal

COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Working closely with the relevant project working teams, the senior lawyers and/or the VP-Head of Legal (BD), the Legal Assets Team the BD, CFO and CTO teams, and, as may be required, the EMOs/EMDs of relevant project companies.

External

Liaise with external legal entities, regulatory bodies, consultants, etc. as required.

Minimum Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, & SKILLS

• Bachelor of Laws degree

Minimum Experience

• 5 – 8 years’ experience in projects law or legal function, with at least 3 years in a management role
• Extensive depth of legal knowledge

Skills

• Good expertise in project finance, regulatory and policy matters, complemented with substantial commercial exposure and broad knowledge of the Company’s business
• Have a holistic view on relevant legal knowledge and translating it into practical legal advice for the business.
• Ability to identify potential legal risks and mitigate them
• Ability to provide trusted and strategic legal advice
• Ability to effectively present the Company's or the project's position to third parties and negotiate autonomously with counterparties
• Ability to deal with multiple stakeholders
• Ability to draft and negotiate agreements for a project
• Good organisational skills, analytical skills, and ability to work under pressure
• High degree of rigor and attention to detail
• Good interpersonal and communication skills

Committed to creating a culture that is as diverse AND vibrant as the markets we serve