Legal Counsel (Solar)

The Role
A regional developer of solar power projects is seeking an experienced candidate with a strong legal foundation for the role of Legal Counsel. The Legal Counsel will be responsible for leading and supporting a broad range of legal, transactional, compliance, and corporate matters.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Acting as primary in-house attorney;
2. Structuring and negotiating commercial agreements in the field of solar and energy efficiency as well as other general agreements and finance contracts;
3. Selecting and managing outside legal counsel;
4. Establishing and managing corporate governance and compliance policies.

The Legal Counsel will work closely with the Contracts & Procurement Manager and will report to the General Manager. The successful candidate will be a self-starter rooted in deep industry experience (solar, energy) and a team player, collaborating easily with other departments as well as members of the shareholding companies.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Structure and negotiate solar and energy efficiency commercial agreements (PPA, SLA, EPC, Shared-Savings Agreements, PDA, etc.) and other general commercial agreements (Service Agreements, MoU, NDAs, etc.);
2. Provide general legal counsel to Company CEO on legal issues and risks, regarding complex commercial transactions, company policies, and human resources or employment;
3. Support Company GM on all legal aspects of Corporate Finance structures and initiatives;
4. Responsible for providing legal support to members of the commercial team;
5. Lead legal structuring and negotiation of country-specific debt facilities;
6. Liaise with the legal department in sister and parent companies;
7. Oversee the selection and management of all outside legal counsel in a cost-effective manner;
8. Manage multiple priorities effectively in a fast-paced environment;
9. Support the development of corporate and compliance policies, procedures, and programs, providing legal counsel for the same.

Requirements:

• Internationally recognized legal qualifications and at least 7 years’ general experience, with at least 5 years focused on commercial & contract law in the solar/energy sector;
• Extensive experience and strong track record structuring, drafting, and negotiating complex commercial contracts in the energy sector, specifically with PPA, EPC, O&M, and energy efficiency agreements;
• Experience working on matters of corporate governance and compliance;
• Experience working internationally and executing cross-border transactions;
• Outstanding legal and business judgment, with the ability to assess and anticipate risks as well as identify and resolve legal issues efficiently and effectively;
• Ability to prioritize conflicting demands in a fast-paced environment and balance multiple activities under tight deadlines;
• High degree of professional ethics and integrity with special attention to maintaining confidentiality of sensitive matters;
• Experience selecting and managing outside legal counsel;
• Strong work ethic with the ability to work independently and as a team member;
• Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.