Counsel

FMO - Dutch entrepreneurial development bank; Den Haag; Hybrid; EUR 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Hybrid work 50/50

Remote working abroad up to 60 days

Job summary

FMO is seeking a commercially minded Counsel to join the Private Equity and Structured Finance Legal team in the Netherlands. You will structure and advise on debt, equity and hybrid investments, working with multidisciplinary deal teams and driving value beyond risk management.

You will act as a sparring partner for colleagues and clients, shaping innovative investment structures across emerging markets, with a strong emphasis on impact, compliance, and practical legal solutions.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated legal expertise in impact or development, ideally with demonstrated knowledge of fund structures, debt funds, guarantees, and deal structuring.
• Flexibility and ambition to explore new structures and think critically about the role of lawyer as advisor, risk manager and expedition leader.
• A willingness to learn and expand your scope beyond classical debt/equity roles.
• A master’s law degree in Dutch or English law (or a comparable foreign law degree).
• Minimum of at 5 years’ experience with a law firm, (development) finance institution or equity investor/fund.
• Knowledge of English law and/or the laws of the State of New York is an advantage.
• Fluent in English language, both verbally and in writing.
• A versatile and committed team player with an international attitude, down to earth, pragmatic, pro-active and result-oriented with strong project management and social skills.
• A willingness to take on of occasional late nights at your desk, while valuing you work life balance.

Responsibilities

• Providing independent advice and full structuring and documentation responsibility on transactions and complex monitoring of the same.
• Ensuring transactions are done in compliance with the FMO way of working and with relevant FMO policies.
• Proactive problem solving and effective cooperation with commercial and legal colleagues.
• Coaching and training of legal officers, paralegals and junior counsels.
• Proactive in developing, improving and where necessary challenging new or existing policies, templates and processes.

Skills

5+ years experience

English law knowledge

New York law knowledge (advantage)

Deal structuring

International team player

Education

Master’s law degree (Dutch or English law)

Job description

Are you excited by advising on investments where debt meets equity? Join FMO's Private Equity & Structured Finance Legal team as Counsel and work on innovative debt, equity and hybrid investment structures. Partner with multidisciplinary deal teams, provide strategic legal advice, and help shape investments that create meaningful impact in emerging markets. We are looking for a commercially minded, AI-savvy Counsel who is passionate about FMO's mission and ready to make a difference.

Your Role

You would be working in the Private Equity and Structured Finance team of the Legal Department (Legal - PESF), with a focus on the meeting point of debt and equity investing. As a Counsel, you will be working at the intersection of equity funds and debt. You will be called on to support a broad variety of transactions as needed, including debt funds, equity funds and innovative hybrid structures. You will work together with a variety of professional disciplines in deal teams and advise on the structuring and monitoring of deals. You are future-ready AI savvy with the maturity to know the limitations of technology. You understand the appreciate that the value of a lawyer must go beyond risk management and you are a true sparring partner for colleagues and management, as well as clients and external lawyers. Above all, the impact has to matter – only applicants who care deeply about FMO’s mission will be seriously considered.

Key Accountabilities

• Providing independent advice and full structuring and documentation responsibility on transactions and complex monitoring of the same.
• Ensuring transactions are done in compliance with the FMO way of working and with relevant FMO policies.
• Proactive problem solving and effective cooperation with commercial and legal colleagues.
• Coaching and training of legal officers, paralegals and junior counsels.
• Proactive in developing, improving and where necessary challenging new or existing policies, templates and processes.

Our Offer

• Gross yearly salary ranging from EUR 85-105K (based on 40 hours/ week, including 8% holiday allowance and 13th month) depending on your seniority, years of relevant experience, and background . This role is graded in scale 10.
• Working hours: 40 hours per week
• Pension scheme, partly paid by FMO.
• 31 holidays
• Hybrid way of working (50/50).
• Working remotely abroad for maximum 60 days in a rolling period of 12 months.

For more information, please visit our website Secondary Benefits - FMO

Also We Offer

• An opportunity to push the boundaries of law, operating in nearly 100 different jurisdictions and working on cutting edge products.
• Challenging, complex work within a highly motivated, international team.
• Legal work with real impact: making a difference for those who need it most. You help to create jobs, foster inclusive finance, reduce CO2 emissions and the consequences of climate change.
• Growth opportunities - exploring new products, areas, skill sets and leadership opportunities.
• The opportunity to travel and meet clients on due diligence missions and negotiations.

Your Team

FMO is a leading innovator in the development finance space. The Legal Team engages closely with our clients to ensure they understand both the benefits and the risks of the deal at hand. We also pride ourselves on our pragmatic and collaborative spirit, continuously improving our service to maximize impact and build strong relationships with our clients.

We are an incredibly diverse (12 nationalities represented) team of experienced lawyers, spanning a variety of disciplines. Within a broader Legal Department, the PESF team manages some of the most innovative and challenging projects - from small grants to venture capital to syndicated project finance. We are committed risk managers, but also know that the best lawyers are problem solvers, bridge builders and guides in the wilderness.

Making the difference

FMO is a leading innovator in the development finance space. The Legal Team engages closely with our clients to ensure they understand both the benefits and the risks of the deal at hand. We also pride ourselves on our pragmatic and collaborative spirit, continuously improving our service to maximize impact and build strong relationships with our clients.

Your Background

• Demonstrated legal expertise in impact or development, ideally with demonstrated knowledge of fund structures, debt funds, guarantees, and deal structuring. Applicants who do not articulate a clear value proposition for this role will not be considered.
• Flexibility and ambition to explore new structures and think critically about the role of lawyer as advisor, risk manager and expedition leader.
• A willingness to learn and expand your scope beyond classical debt/equity roles.
• A master’s law degree in Dutch or English law (or a comparable foreign law degree).
• Minimum of at 5 years’ experience with a law firm, (development) finance institution or equity investor/fund.
• Knowledge of English law and/or the laws of the State of New York is an advantage.
• Fluent in English language, both verbally and in writing.
• A versatile and committed team player with an international attitude, down to earth, pragmatic, pro-active and result-oriented with strong project management and social skills.
• A willingness to take on of occasional late nights at your desk, while valuing you work life balance.

Please note that if you are a current FMO external/contractor, use your personal email address to apply.

About FMO

FMO delivers economic, social, and environmental development to entrepreneurial initiatives on a global scale, believing in our contribution to a better world, starting from our values as an organization and respect within our teams.

To learn more about who we are, our Vision, Purpose, Mission, Company Culture, and Leadership, please visit our page via the Profile - FMO button below. At FMO, we are guided by our four core values: Diversity, Integrity, Making the Difference and Quality. These values are the foundation of our strong company culture, fostering an environment where we work together to make a positive impact on the world.

#PioneerDevelopScale.