Senior Counsel - Public Sector Operations (Base in Beijing) - Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

ZipRecruiter; London; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A major multilateral development bank is seeking a Senior Counsel for Public Sector Operations in London. You will lead legal and policy advice, ensuring compliance with standards and policies. Candidates should have a minimum of 8 years of experience in international law, possess an LLM or equivalent, and be proficient in drafting legal documents in English. The role offers the opportunity to mentor colleagues and work in a collaborative, cross-cultural environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of relevant post-qualification practice experience.
• Qualified to practice law in at least one jurisdiction.
• Excellent understanding of multilateral development bank operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal and policy advice to PSO project teams.
• Draft and negotiate legal documents for sovereign operations.
• Conduct research and prepare legal opinions.

Skills

Legal drafting

Negotiation

Research

Policy development

Mentoring

Education

LLM degree or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Senior Counsel - Public Sector Operations. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a multilateral development bank whose mission is Financing Infrastructure for Tomorrow in Asia and beyond—infrastructure with sustainability at its core. We began operations in Beijing in 2016 and have since grown to 110 approved members worldwide. We are capitalized at USD 100 billion and AAA-rated by the major international credit rating agencies. Collaborating with partners, AIIB meets clients' needs by unlocking new capital and investing in infrastructure that is green, technology-enabled and promotes regional connectivity.

The Senior Counsel - Public Sector Operations will lead and provide legal and policy advice and support to the Public Sector Operations (PSO) team and the relevant vice presidencies, with a view to protecting AIIB's interests and ensuring compliance with its mandate, policies, and procedures. The Senior Counsel will be responsible for advising on the structuring, negotiation, and implementation of sovereign-backed financing operations, including results-based financing, policy-based financing, guarantees, and co-financing arrangements with development partners. The Senior Counsel may also be assigned by the line manager to work across functional boundaries, including collaboration with other Legal Units, the Office of the General Counsel, and other institutional functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead in providing legal and policy advice to PSO and project teams on the design, structuring, and implementation in the context of the Bank's public-sector investment operations, with a view to ensuring compliance with AIIB's social and environmental standards and other policy requirements.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex legal documentation for sovereign operations, including financing agreements, guarantee agreements, and co-financing arrangements.
• Develop and revise legal model forms.
• Advise on legal and policy matters relevant to sovereign operations, including restructurings, waivers, and remedies in sovereign-backed operations in line with AIIB's operational policies.
• Support the development of AIIB's sovereign operations framework, including the design of new financing instruments, policies, and standards.
• Collaborate with other LEG units and development partners and counterparts to promote harmonized approaches and best practices in sovereign lending.
• Conduct research and prepare legal opinions, memoranda, and policy notes on issues related to sovereign financing and MDB operations.
• Promote innovative approaches in legal processes and documentation to improve efficiency and effectiveness in supporting sovereign operations.

Requirements

• Minimum 8 years of relevant post-qualification practice experience. Experience in a top-tier international law firm and/or with an international financial organization is a strong plus.
• An LLM degree, J.D., or equivalent and qualified to practice law in at least one jurisdiction.
• Relevant professional experience with sovereign loans, guarantees, and/or PPP projects and loan/financing/guarantee agreements is a strong plus.
• An excellent understanding of the legal aspects of investment operations of multilateral development banks and experience in sovereign-backed financings and guarantees would be an advantage.
• Excellent command of English, including drafting and negotiating legal documents in English.
• Ability and resourcefulness to work independently with minimal oversight.
• Ability to mentor and coach less experienced colleagues.
• Ability to design and deliver training to colleagues in LEG, AIIB staff, and external clients.
• Ability to communicate with and convince internal and external stakeholders at a high level with appropriate legal solutions.
• Experience working collaboratively in a cross-cultural environment.