The EIB, the European Union’s bank, is seeking to recruit for its Legal Directorate (JU), Legal Department, EU Operations (OPS-EU), Western Europe Division (WE) at its headquarters in Luxembourg, a (Senior) Dutch/Belgian-qualified Banking and Finance Lawyer*.

This is a full-time position at grade 5/6 for which the EIB offers a permanent contract.

*internal benchmark: (Senior) Officer Legal Services

Panel interviews are anticipated for October 2023.

Purpose

The Western Europe Division (WE) deals with the legal documentation and legal issues for projects in the following countries: France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland and United Kingdom. As (Senior) Dutch/Belgian-qualified Banking and Finance Lawyer you will be part of a collaborative legal team providing legal support to the operational directorates. You will work with professionals across EIB, following projects from early in the due diligence process, to approval by EIB’s governing bodies, and then on to the phase of negotiation and signature of legal documentation.

EIB is one of the world’s main financiers of climate action and environmental sustainability. This post offers a unique opportunity to contribute towards EIB’s objectives by working on various exciting projects financed by EIB. EIB offers a truly international and multi-cultural environment in Luxembourg where some of the key European institutions are located.

Operating Network

As a (Senior) Dutch/Belgian-qualified Banking and Finance Lawyer will act under the general authority of the Head of Division, in cooperation with the other colleagues of the Division and in accordance with the priorities established by the Head of Division.

The post may involve a certain amount of travel for negotiations and signatures of legal documentation and contracts.

Accountabilities

As a (Senior) Dutch/Belgian-qualified Banking and Finance Lawyer you will carry out work related to all of the Division’s responsibilities and work independently on lending and financing operations. The lawyer will draw up, as necessary, reports on completed transactions and prepare her/his own proposals when consulted on fundamental or unusual issues. S/he will:

• Draft and negotiate legal documentation for lending and financing operations for:
  • projects in the aforementioned countries, with focus on Dutch / Belgian operations, notably bilateral loans with banking counterparts, public entities and major corporates
  • PPP/ project finance operations, with the assistance from external legal counsels
  • structured finance operations, including ABS and covered bond type operations
  • other forms of financing, including risk – sharing structures, on funded and unfunded basis, equity and quasi-equity products (mezzanine and subordinated instruments, warrants)

This includes: advising on structuring, drafting of documents, legal advisory support, conclusion of contracts, completion of all related legal formalities, and legal monitoring (including loan restructuring and other post-signature events)

• Manage contacts and negotiations
• Prepare terms of reference for external counsel and other consultants, liaise and supervise their work, whenever necessary
• Complete the administrative formalities vis-à-vis clients
• Provide legal solutions, documentation and advice on complex legal and policy issues and legally protect the Bank
• Contribute to development of legal policies for own domain
• Coach and support less experienced colleagues on operations and on the Bank’s procedures
• Proactively keep up to date with legal developments in legislation, regulations and jurisprudence pertaining to the relevant region and share relevant knowledge
• Conduct research and conduct legal studies on issues of law arising in connection with EIB’s operations and in the context of developing new financial instruments
• Develop and maintain relationships within EIB and represent EIB externally in particular with Dutch and Belgium law firm.

Qualifications

• University degree in law (minimum an equivalent to a Bachelor) preferably at Master level and qualified in Dutch / Belgian law
• Qualification or professional experience in both Common Law and Civil Law will be an advantage
• Significant experience in the drafting and negotiation of finance documentation in English. Experience in drafting and negotiation of finance documentation Dutch, and in case of Belgian-qualified lawyers also in French, would be a very strong asset
• Solid experience of bank lending and finance, project finance or PPP transactions and/or experience in public administrative law would be an advantage
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience relevant for the job, in the field of bank lending and/or project finance, acquired with a law firm of international repute or the in-house legal department of a financial institution
• Very good knowledge of standard computer tools
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken Dutch is a strong plus
• Excellent knowledge of English and/or French (*), with a good knowledge of the other.

Competencies

Find out more about EIB core competencies here

(*) Unless stated explicitly as a required qualification, a good command of French is not a pre-requisite for hire. As both English and French are however official working languages of the EIB, proficiency in both languages is a pre-requisite for your future career development. Any language clause in your contract must be fulfilled in order for you to be eligible for a promotion (either via the annual appraisal cycle or via an internal selection process). Proficiency is understood to mean the attainment of level 5 of the Inter Institutional language courses, corresponding to B1.2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). The Bank offers appropriate training support.

We are an equal opportunities employer, who believes that diversity is good for our people and our business. We encourage all suitably qualified and eligible candidates to apply regardless of their gender identity/expression, age, racial, ethnic and cultural background, religion and beliefs, sexual orientation/identity, disability or neurodiversity.

Applicants with specific needs are encouraged to request reasonable accommodations at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact the EIB Recruitment team [email protected] who will ensure that your request is handled.

By applying for this position, you acknowledge the importance of maintaining the security and integrity of the Information of the EIB Group. In case of selection for the position you agree to comply with all measures (policies, controls, document classification and management) implemented by the EIB Group to prevent unauthorised disclosure of any information or any damage to the EIB Group reputation.

Deadline for applications: 11^th September 2023

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