Lead Counsel

World Bank Group; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) seeks a Lead Counsel to manage complex legal work on guarantee transactions across regions and sectors. You will advise on policy, draft and negotiate agreements, and coordinate with internal clients, governments, and financial partners to deliver compliant, high-impact solutions.

The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in project and structured finance, a proven record of leadership in a small team, and a strong ability

Qualifications

• Minimum twelve years of legal experience in project/structured finance or related areas.
• Proven expertise in MIGA guarantee policies and procedures.
• Ability to manage multiple transactions with strong judgment and diplomacy.
• Fluency in English; French or Spanish desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide informed legal advice on eligibility, structuring, transactional and policy aspects of MIGA guarantee transactions.
• Lead timely delivery of legal work on projects, including drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and obtaining internal approvals.
• Support operational staff with documentation compliant with MIGA, WBG policies and environmental/social risk standards.
• Develop innovative solutions to policy and transactional issues and engage with internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead knowledge management and dissemination for MIGA guarantee operations.
• Represent MIGLC in policy discussions and provide guidance to colleagues and management.

Skills

Project finance

Structured finance

Legal drafting & negotiation

Client service orientation

Interpersonal communication

Multicultural collaboration

Travel willingness

Education

J.D./LL.B./LL.M. or equivalent

Bar admission in at least one jurisdiction

Job description

Lead Counsel

Description

At the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. MIGA’s guarantees help mitigate risks. In fiscal year 2026, the WBG Guarantee Platform delivered a total of $17.8 billion in guarantees. For more information, visit https://www.miga.org/

In the context of the WBG’s broad development agenda, MIGA is committed to promoting foreign direct investment in its member countries by issuing guarantees against non-commercial risks to investors and lenders. Such guarantees can take the form of (i) political risk insurance (PRI) covering the risks of expropriation, breach of contract, transfer and convertibility restrictions, and war and civil disturbance, (ii) cover against the risk of non-honoring of financial obligations of sovereigns, sub sovereigns and state-owned enterprises, and (iii) trade finance guarantees in relation to public sector counterparties. Since July 2024, all WBG guarantee products are being processed by MIGA in the WBG Guarantee Platform, which brings together guarantee products and experts from across Bank, IFC and MIGA. This integration enhances efficiency, innovation, and speed in delivering guarantee solutions. Please visit www.miga.org for additional information regarding the WBG Guarantee Platform housed at MIGA.

The Legal Affairs and Claims Group in MIGA (known as “MIGLC”) serves as the legal counsel for MIGA and the WBG Guarantee Platform, and provides legal advice to IBRD/IDA, IFC and MIGA in relation to all guarantee operations. Among its principal responsibilities, MIGLC advises MIGA’s Council of Governors and Board of Directors as well as staff and senior management of the relevant WBG institution on all legal aspect of the WBG Guarantee Platform, negotiates and drafts contracts of guarantee, manages claim proceedings, facilitates discussions between investors and governments related to disputes and potential claims, oversees outside counsel, supports MIGA’s internal departments in risk and policy analysis, finance and risk management and external outreach, and promotes innovation and knowledge sharing in support of MIGA’s mission and the WBG Guarantee Platform.

The position requires a seasoned professional with rigorous technical skills, sound judgment, demonstrated ability to lead and to work with a minimum of supervision and harmoniously within a small team. The level and quality of these skills will be a determining factor in the selection for the position.

The Lead Counsel’s duties and responsibilities will include:

Reporting to the Chief Counsel, the lead counsel will be part of a dynamic team providing legal solutions and specific expertise in support of MIGA guarantee operations across all geographic regions and technical sectors.

Under the guidance of the Chief Counsel, she/he will be responsible for leading the legal work in MIGLC on MIGA guarantees, including clearing MIGA guarantee documentation, liaising with internal clients and stakeholders in MIGA, the Bank and IFC, brainstorming on structuring transactions, drafting, negotiating, and implementing legal documentation and transactions (including the upstream public sector aspects of those transactions), advising on policy aspects, troubleshooting, and innovating with respect to the full range of MIGA guarantee instruments and products. She/he will also take the lead on knowledge management and dissemination for MIGA guarantees.

Specific duties and accountabilities include:

• Providing well-informed and targeted legal advice and recommendations to management and staff on all legal, eligibility, structuring, transactional and policy aspects of actual or proposed MIGA guarantee transactions.
• Leading the successful and timely delivery of legal work on MIGA guarantee projects, including drafting, reviewing, clearing, negotiating, and finalizing related internal approvals and legal agreements and providing guidance to MIGLC lawyers.
• Leading the legal support to operational staff engaged in MIGA guarantee projects and programs, including reviewing approval and project documentation for adherence to MIGA’s Convention and MIGA and WBG policies and procedures (including those relating to environmental and social risks and impacts), researching relevant precedents, and developing appropriate solutions for the management and mitigation of risks.
• Identifying and conceiving solutions to legal and operational policy issues in MIGA guarantee projects and programs, engaging in policy and other dialogues and negotiations with internal WBG clients and stakeholders, private sector clients, government officials, and international financial institutions.
• Participating in approval meetings, providing guidance to MIGLC staff, acting as “trouble shooter” for operational and policy issues, and joining operational missions, as needed.
• Serving as a thought leader on innovation for MIGA guarantee products, including joint WBG guarantee products.
• Advising on MIGA-administered trust funds and IDA PSW in the context of individual guarantee projects and with respect to the institutional arrangements and documentation.
• Providing legal support to MIGA’s portfolio team on active MIGA guarantees and working closely with Chief Counsel for Claims Management on pre-claim/claim matters relating to MIGA guarantees.
• Drafting and reviewing policy and procedure documents in relation to MIGA guarantee operations.
• Preparing legal briefs as well as instructions and guidance notes to MIGA staff, as required.
• Preparing, reviewing and updating templates for MIGA guarantee operations and other legal documentation.
• Promoting the WBG' s interests and protecting against reputational risks.
• Sharing best practices with MIGLC colleagues, operational staff in MIGA and WBG, and with member countries; organize and participate in learning events on MIGA guarantees for MIGA and WBG staff.
• Demonstrating technical excellence and best practices by working on a limited number of her/his own MIGA guarantee transactions.
• Working on other matters, as requested by a Chief Counsel or the General Counsel.

Selection Criteria

• A minimum of twelve years of legal experience (in the areas identified below) in addition to a J.D., LL.B., LL.M., or equivalent, and admission to the Bar (or equivalent) in at least one jurisdiction.
• Demonstrated expertise in project finance, corporate finance, and structured finance with an established track record of successful structuring, drafting, negotiating, and delivery of transactions in support of long-term infrastructure investment in emerging markets is essential. Preferred areas of experience include energy, transport (rail/ports/airports), water, and wastewater sectors.
• Strong track record in MIGA guarantee operations; expert knowledge of MIGA guarantee policies and procedures as well as institutional history of MIGA guarantees.
• Established track record in developing innovative and creative solutions to problems that may arise.
• Experience with preparing and updating model documentation for MIGA guarantees.
• Strong client service orientation and proven ability to multi-task and handle multiple concurrent transactions on a tight timeline and in a constantly changing business environment.
• Proven ability of building strategic relationships and communicating effectively with internal clients and key stakeholders in MIGA guarantee operations with a view to building bridges and to effectively resolving transactional, policy and institutional issues that may arise.
• Outstanding professional judgement, including ability to identify issues to elevate to a Chief Counsel or the General Counsel.
• Proven ability to collaborate well in a multicultural environment and build effective working relationships with clients and colleagues.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, sound judgment and high ethical standards.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively and with tact and diplomacy within the WBG and with external stakeholders, including government officials.
• Fluency and excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Fluency in French or Spanish desirable.
• Understanding of the WBG mission and development agenda.
• Willingness to travel.

Note: This internal requisition is open to WBG and IMF staff only (including short-term and extended term consultants/ temporaries). External candidates are requested not to apply. In case an external candidate applies, their application will not be considered.

As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:

• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
• Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
• Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

WBG Culture Attributes

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World BankandIFCincluding our values and inspiring stories.