Description

IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2023, IFC committed a record US$43.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

In the past few years, IFC has embarked on an ambitious new growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity, especially in low-income countries and fragile and conflict-affected situations. This strategy calls for generating our own opportunities by proactively working “Upstream” to create, deepen, and expand markets and to imagine, design and implement investment projects.
To support IFC’s activities in the Middle East, Türkiye, Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan region (“MCT”) as well as in Europe (“EUR”), the IFC Legal Department is recruiting a Consultant lawyer to be based in Vienna. The position will report to the Assistant General Counsel for Europe, Middle East, Türkiye, Central Asia, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and will focus primarily on work in Ukraine, which is a focus for IFC under its Economic Resilience program.

The Vienna Office is a regional hub for IFC in Europe. While the position will be based in Vienna, the following Terms of Reference will relate to work in the two regions described above, allowing rich cross border experience. We are looking to enrich our regional hubs with a talented legal team, and the counsel position will be key component of that team, interacting very closely with our other regional legal and business teams in Istanbul, Amman and Dubai, as well as teams in other regions and in Headquarters/Washington D.C. 

Duties and Accountabilities: 

•  Provide advice and support to investment clients in equity, debt, project and corporate financings involving multiple financiers in a broad range of sectors, including manufacturing, agribusiness and services, financial institutions, funds, and blended finance, and with a focus on infrastructure (transport, power and renewable energy and natural resources projects)
•  Provide particular advice related to working on Ukrainian projects coordinating with external counsel;
•  Provide advice and support to clients from IFC’s Special Operations Department related to projects in jeopardy in need of restructuring, workout and other recovery options with a focus on Ukraine and Emerging Europe;
•  Assume primary lawyer responsibility for new and portfolio investments and advisory services, including infrastructure PPP projects in EUR & MCT;
•  Work closely with client departments as needed, as they embark on identifying and assessing Upstream opportunities and advise on the design and implementation of scalable solutions and platforms that can be replicated across markets;
•  Advise on the selection of outside counsel in EUR & MCT, manage outside counsel and legal costs;
•  Interact and communicate with colleagues in Washington and other regions to facilitate the provision of excellent legal services in EUR & MCT, including providing advice and support to colleagues in Washington and other regions working on projects in EUR & MCT;
•  Provide leadership in designing and delivering trainings; 
•  Take leadership on and advise internal clients on institutional and corporate matters;
•  Provide general advice and support with respect to all aspects of IFC’s business in EUR & MCT;
•  Build strong knowledge about business in the EUR and MCT regions and effectively share knowledge and best practices; and
•  Use language skills to facilitate communication with external clients from the region. 

Selection Criteria

•  Qualified to practice law (admitted to the bar) in one or more jurisdictions of the Europe region; an LL.M. or Master’s degree in Law from a well-known educational institution is a plus;
•  8-10 years of relevant experience in cross border transactions, including experience at a leading law firm in the EUR  region and/or at an international financial institution and/or development institution, preferably in developing countries;
•  Experience in working complex corporate and commercial transactions handled independently (including, secured lending, corporate and project finance, blended finance, and debt and equity financings);
•  Knowledge of the laws and regulations of Ukraine through solid experience in the country;
•  Knowledge of  insolvency laws, regulations and restructuring options in at least one of the countries of the EUR or MCT regions;
•  Experience in advising clients on structuring, innovation and policy matters;
•  Can demonstrate ability to take a leadership role in non-project assignments and initiatives on legal subject matters;
•  Demonstrated ability to assume multiple roles and tasks to meet changing business needs with an ability to foresee, troubleshoot and effectively resolve conflicting issues and challenges;
•  Demonstrated ability to assess risk in a practical and responsible manner and make fair, well-reasoned, independent and transparent decisions;
•  Familiarity with IFC’s business and policies;
•  Understanding of IFC’s strategic priorities and changing business model against the backdrop of IFC 3.0;
•  Record of professional excellence.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

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