Inhouse Legal Counsel

Climate Fund Managers (CFM) is looking for a dynamic individual to join the Asia Investment team, as Inhouse Legal Counsel, based in Singapore.  The role will report to the Regional Head of Asia and will require periodic travel to CFM regional offices as well as to projects within the CFM portfolio.

CFM was established in 2015 as a joint venture between the Dutch development bank FMO based in the Netherlands and Sanlam InfraWorks – part of the Sanlam Group of South Africa. Headquartered in The Netherlands, our offices span across the emerging markets we serve, located in Singapore, South Africa, and Colombia.

As one of the leading blended finance investment managers, our business is focused on responding to the climate crisis. We use blended finance structuring to attract public and private capital to invest in high-impact sectors in emerging markets aimed at addressing the thematic areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation, including renewable energy, water and oceans, sustainable land use, and sustainable cities.

The primary focus of the position is to work closely with the Asia Investment Team and to provide transaction legal support on all legal and regulatory matters related to the execution and financing of CFM’s projects across Asia.  Such legal support is provided throughout the project lifecycle and the projects are predominately financed on an all-equity basis although have a project finance structure post construction. The secondary focus will be to build and manage relationships with external legal transaction advisors/counsel working on CFM’s Asia portfolio projects.  The third focus will be to act as an active participant within the CFM platform, including close cooperation with the CFM Legal team, ESG team and Governance teams including assisting with the management of Corporate Secretary arrangements and with the Corporate Secretary teams within CFM and CFM managed vehicles

Responsibilities

• Act as in-house legal counsel on all Asia transactions
• Manage the review, negotiation, and implementation of legal documentation, highlighting key risks to the Asia Investment team, and other stakeholders in a timely manner, and providing appropriate mitigation strategies.  Work closely with the commercial deal leads in negotiating and executing the initial commercial arrangements and agreeing term sheets.
• Managing and procuring external counsel on transactions
• Establishing best legal practice and standardising legal documentation through CFM templates, as appropriate
• Legal sign off and advice on documentation in respect of transactions and the transaction compliance checklist
• Advise on new market entry and understanding of the local regulatory and contractual structures on the basis of local legal advice and setting up appropriate structures for entry
• Assisting in managing and ensuring appropriate compliance with fund requirements and restrictions as they relate to Asian based deals, including investment management agreements, fee letters and advisory agreements.
• Provide support to the ESG team with respect to legal issues and compliance with local governmental laws and regulations and ensuring alignment with ESG policies
• Provides support to the Governance team with respect to legal issues and compliance with fund documentation and policies provision and procurement of relevant legal and governance training to Asia Investment team members
• Keeping abreast of new legislation and amendments to existing legislation within the operating portfolio
• Support with the management of Corporate Secretarial arrangements, CFM and CFM’s portfolio company’s Corporate Secretarial teams, including liaising with external company secretaries as required.
• Ad hoc projects

Qualifications & Experience

• At minimum, Bachelor of Law Degree (LLB)
• Admitted attorney
• English law qualified
• Articles completed at an international law firm
• 5 to 10 years’ relevant legal counsel experience
• In depth experience in Project Finance within Asia, with exposure to the renewable energy and/or water sectors required
• Legal expertise within company legislation and regulations affecting the climate finance industry
• Proven ability to develop partnerships with a range of internal and external stakeholders
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Fluent in English
• Must be able to work in a time sensitive and international transaction environment
• Ability to work well under pressure and ongoing re-prioritising of multiple tasks with proven planning and organisation skills
• High personal drive, resilient and possessing an uncompromising ethical standard
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• An ability to work within a team as well as independently
• Good knowledge of MS Office suite

Interested?

To apply, please send us your updated resume together with a motivation letter.