General Counsel
- Recruiter
- Sandgate Search
- Location
- London (West), London (Greater) (GB)
- Salary
- £ six figure salary, bonus and equity
- Posted
- 27 Nov 2015
- Closes
- 08 Dec 2015
- Ref
- SS2811
- Vacancy Type
- Solicitors, In-House
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full Time
- Practice Areas
- Banking/Finance, Company/Commercial, Energy, PPP/PFI/Commercial projects
- Experience Level
- Management/Head of Department, Senior Executive, Senior Level
A privately held African focused solar power start-up currently seeks an entrepreneurial General Counsel to oversee the company’s legal affairs.
The company are in the early stages of putting together a core London based leadership team that will develop 6 independent solar power projects in West Africa that will generate 1200 megawatts of energy with other major projects in the pipeline.
The General Counsel reports to and works closely with the CEO, and is an integral member of the Executive Leadership Team. Their management team includes executives with long-term experience in project finance, solar energy, construction and project development. As the General Counsel to the company your remit will coordinate and formulate the company’s position on all legal and compliance issues and will provide leadership and creativity in devising innovative legal solutions in working toward company’s business goals.
Your remit will include trying to significantly reduce external legal spend through structuring, supervising, negotiating and drafting on a range of legal contracts.
Responsibilities:
- Maintain relationships with outside legal advisors, and coordinate provision of internal and external legal advice.
- Assist with raising finance through institutional investors through private equity investment
- Link legal needs with all other departments, and anticipate their requirements.
- Advise CEO on all legal matters.
- Oversee and ensure appropriate legal and contractual support for project development, including joint venture agreements, power purchase agreements, purchase and sale agreements, real estate and construction agreements.
- General corporate experience in order to provide legal support in areas such as Human Resources, Corporate Communications, Information Technology and Finance.
- Ensure the proper balance of internal and external legal resources and their effective allocation.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Minimum of 10 years of legal experience; law firm and in-house experience preferred.
- Strong project development experience, with preference for renewable energy project development. Experience in the energy or project development industry strongly preferred.
- Extensive experience of working in Africa is an absolute must.
- Ability to navigate complex governmental and local regulatory issues related to developing large energy projects.
- Drafting, negotiating, and reviewing PPA and EPC contracts, operating and maintenance agreements, equipment purchase and sale agreements, service agreements, license agreements, subcontracts, and vendor agreements. Proven ability to assess and advise on risk mitigation strategies, insurance issues, warranty exposure, and external liabilities.
- Experience structuring, financing, and implementing complex energy, infrastructure, or industrial projects, including tax, debt, and cash equity financing.
- Excellent negotiating, time management, project management, dispute resolution and interpersonal skills.
- Proven record of good judgment, creative problem solving, commercial awareness, and high-quality contribution to business strategy.
- Comfortable managing multiple, conflicting and changing priorities in a fast-paced, time-critical environment.
- Willingness to take responsibility and work independently, as well as coordinate team efforts.
- Team player with the ability to focus, direct, and manage the efforts of external legal resources to provide critical legal support.
- Passion for renewable energy.
- Strong analytical skills and excellent written and oral communication skills.
On offer will be a six figure salary, a lucrative bonus arrangement and equity. Ideally candidates will be able to start at fairly short notice. Candidates with long notice periods will unfortunately not be considered.
To apply for this position, please click the Apply Now button. For further information please contact 'Sandgate Search', on 0203 355 9220 quoting reference SS2811.
* The PQE stated is a guide only and does not preclude applications from those with more or less PQE
We thank you for your interest in this role. Unfortunately we are unable to respond directly to all applications. If you are not contacted within 1 week please assume you have been unsuccessful at this stage/ for this particular role. We will however retain your details and will contact you directly about other more suitable opportunities.