Sole Counsel

Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC); Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

IIGCC is seeking an experienced Sole Counsel to lead legal, governance and compliance for the organisation. Reporting to the CEO, you will manage legal affairs, advise the Executive Team and Board, and review publications for legal robustness within a climate-focused investor body.

The role combines traditional legal work with governance and regulatory advice, with autonomy to shape the legal function. Based in Central London with hybrid working, four days per week.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor or barrister with England & Wales (or equivalent)
• Around 5–7+ years' PQE in corporate, commercial or compliance law, including in-house
• Strong judgement and ability to provide practical, risk-based advice
• Experience in contract drafting, review and negotiation is essential
• Interest in climate, sustainability and environmental issues and in investors' role in transition

Responsibilities

• Owns corporate and commercial legal matters, governance, compliance, data protection and regulatory developments
• Advises on contracts, NDAs and MoUs; supports Board governance; ensures entity compliance
• Provides practical advice on emerging legal, regulatory and reputational risks
• Works with policy teams to review major publications and communications for legal robustness
• Develops internal policies, trains colleagues and coordinates with external counsel
• Supports strategic advisory capacity and shapes the legal function of the organisation

Skills

Contract drafting

Contract review

Negotiation

Legal advisory

Communication skills

Education

Solicitor qualification

Barrister qualification

Job description

IIGCC is an investor-led membership organisation with c.400 members across 20+ countries. We bring the investment community together to navigate the risks and opportunities of the transition and support progress towards a net zero and climate resilient future.

We work with our members to create guidance, tools, frameworks and resources that can help them, in their individual contexts, to manage climate-related financial risk within their individual portfolios. Our work also supports investors to make the most of opportunities presented by the transition towards a decarbonised global economy and the realities of a changing climate. We cover a range of important topics, including net zero, adaptation and resilience, emerging markets and developing economies, and nature.

Through our leading work, we help investors to navigate implementation of climate considerations in their individual portfolios, advocate for a more supportive policy environment, and provide them with the tools to undertake effective stewardship and engagement with companies, and the wider market.

More information at www.iigcc.org.

The role

We are seeking an experienced legal professional to serve as IIGCC's Sole Counsel, providing trusted legal, governance and compliance advice across the organisation. The role combines responsibility for managing the organisation's legal affairs with supporting effective governance and ensuring that IIGCC's publications, guidance and communications are legally robust, clear and appropriate for their intended audiences.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, you will take ownership of the organisation's legal affairs, governance and compliance, acting as a trusted legal adviser to the Executive Team, Board and wider organisation. This is a genuinely broad role, combining traditional legal work with governance, regulatory advice and the review of high-profile publications and communications.

This role would suit a lawyer seeking a broader, purpose-led career opportunity beyond a traditional in-house position. Working at the intersection of investment and climate change, you will use your legal expertise and judgement to support our work that enables investors to manage climate-related financial risks and seize opportunities arising from the transition to a decarbonised global economy, with a particular focus on areas such as net zero, adaptation and resilience, emerging markets, and nature.

Key responsibilities

This is a highly varied Sole Counsel position, giving you ownership across corporate and commercial legal matters, governance, compliance, data protection and regulatory developments. You'll advise on contracts, NDAs and MoUs, support Board governance, oversee legal entity compliance and provide practical advice on emerging legal, regulatory and reputational risks.

You will work closely with the organisation's technical and policy teams, providing legal and editorial review across major publications, frameworks, guidance and external communications. You'll help ensure complex, influential content is legally robust and appropriate for sophisticated investor audiences, while preserving the technical integrity and purpose of the work.

You'll also support the development of internal policies, provide training to colleagues, manage relationships with external counsel and contribute to wider organisational initiatives. Supported by the outgoing General Counsel in a strategic advisory capacity, you'll have a high degree of autonomy and the opportunity to shape the legal function of an organisation that is playing an active role in the global response to climate change.

The role is permanent, four days per week, based in Central London with hybrid working.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will be a qualified solicitor or barrister in England & Wales (or an equivalent recognised jurisdiction) with, for guidance purposes, around 5 -7+ years' PQE across corporate, commercial or compliance law, including in-house experience.

You'll be comfortable operating independently as a trusted legal adviser within a small or medium-sized organisation, with strong judgement and the ability to provide practical, risk-based advice where there may not always be a clear precedent. Strong contract drafting, review and negotiation experience is essential, alongside practical knowledge.

It's essential to have a genuine interest in climate, sustainability and environmental issues, and an interest in the role investors can play in supporting the transition to a net zero and climate-resilient economy. Experience across institutional investment, financial services, NGOs, foundations, the charity/not-for-profit sector or other multi-stakeholder organisations would be advantageous.

Above all, you'll be adaptable, curious and proactive, with the independence to manage a broad legal remit, and the gravitas, credibility, judgement and communication skills to build strong relationships and act as a trusted adviser across the organisation.

The full job description can be found on our website here - Senior Legal Counsel (Sole Counsel).

Why work at IIGCC?

People join IIGCC because they care deeply about making a difference by bringing the investment community together to navigate the risks and opportunities of the transition and support progress towards a net zero and climate resilient future. In return, IIGCC offers its employees a competitive salary with a wide range of benefits and supportive ways of working. You can find the full list of our benefits on our website.

Please note:

-Visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Applicants must therefore have an existing right to work in the UK.

-IIGCC is committed to providing equal opportunities and does not unlawfully discriminate against candidates during the recruitment process based on any protected characteristics, including but not limited to race, age, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, marital status, or any other status protected by law. All recruitment decisions are made solely based on the skills, experience, and abilities of the candidates, ensuring a fair hiring process.