Sunday, March 8, 2015

Legal Counsel - International Finance Corporation


The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, promotes sustainable private sector development in developing countries. The Legal Department of IFC (CLED), under the Vice President and General Counsel, is responsible for providing legal and policy advice to the IFC Board, its Management and client departments on operational, advisory and corporate matters. Specifically, CLED supports client departments in (i) the delivery of IFC’s annual program of financing private sector projects in emerging markets; (ii) project portfolio management (including jeopardy projects and projects in litigation); (iii) the delivery and design of structured finance products, sub-national lending, equity and quasi-equity transactions; (iv) advising on corporate policy and operational matters; and (v) knowledge management and training. To support IFC’s growing activities, CLED is recruiting a qualified Legal Counsel, to be based in Washington, DC.
Duties and Accountabilities:
• Providing advice and support to investment clients with a focus in the areas of debt restructurings and workouts, bankruptcy and insolvency, litigation, and project and corporate finance generally;

• Assuming primary lawyer responsibility for new and portfolio projects, with an emphasis in investments that are in jeopardy;

• Advising business colleagues on the selection of outside counsel, managing outside counsel and legal cost as appropriate;

• Obtaining and expanding knowledge, experience and best practices arising from doing business in the areas mentioned above and effectively sharing this knowledge.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Qualified to practice law in one or more jurisdictions;

• At least 5 years (8-10 years or more preferred) practicing law in debt restructurings, workouts, bankruptcy and insolvency, preferably in developing countries and/or cross border transactions with a well-recognized law firm and/or an international financial institution or bilateral development institution, with demonstrated work experience in Latin America and the Caribbean;

• Ability to handle independently complex corporate and commercial transactions (including in particular secured lending, corporate and project finance, debt restructurings, and equity investments/divestments);

• Willingness to assume multiple roles and tasks to meet changing business needs with an ability to foresee, troubleshoot and effectively resolve conflicting issues and challenges;

• Ability to assess risk in a practical and responsible manner and make fair, well-reasoned, independent and transparent decisions;

• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to deal with sensitivity in a multicultural environment and to build effective working relations with clients and colleagues across the Corporation;

• Excellent communication skills in English; native Spanish speakers preferred;

• Ability to work in a fast-pace environment with quick turnaround expectations;

• Willingness to travel;

• Professional integrity and sound judgment in handling confidential information.

Only short listed candidates will be contacted. Only online applications will be accepted.
For Corporate Information and to apply to the position, please visit www.ifc.org/careers, vacancy number 150316. Deadline is March 19, 2015. Only selected candidates will be contacted.