Counsel/Senior Counsel (Sovereign Operations)

The Counsel/Senior Counsel provides legal advice and support for the origination, processing, and administration of loan and technical assistance projects in ADB sovereign operations. The role includes supporting law and policy reform programs and participating in knowledge-sharing activities within the Office of the General Counsel.

Responsibilities

• Lead in providing legal advice/support for ADB's sovereign operations in Asia-Pacific, including loan review, financing structures, legal agreements, due diligence, negotiations, procurement review, and project administration.
• Support TA projects for development, transactional support, and knowledge-building following Strategy 2030 Midterm Review.
• Contribute to ADB policy development on sovereign operations, covering financing, safeguards, financial management, and procurement.
• Support OGC's Law and Policy Reform Program under Strategy 2030 in areas like climate change, gender equity, digital economy, commercial law, judicial capacity, and anti-money laundering.
• Promote policy and law development through TA projects, stakeholder consultations, and capacity-building efforts at bilateral and regional levels.
• Monitor global regulatory changes affecting ADB's climate-related activities.
• Participate in training, conferences, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Prepare knowledge papers and articles on legal issues and OGC priority areas.
• Lead reporting staff with clear guidance, performance monitoring, feedback, and development opportunities.

Requirements

• A University degree in Law (or equivalent) with lawyer admission in an ADB member country, preferably at post-graduate level or its equivalent.
• For Counsel: At least 6 years of relevant legal experience in transactional work, project formulation, international financing agreements, or sovereign project financing in multilateral institutions.
• For Senior Counsel: At least 10 years of relevant legal experience, including at least 5 years of legal experience working in international organizations in sovereign project financing or related areas of work within such organizations.
• Proficiency in English language to present and defend legal arguments, both written and verbal.
• Experience working in multicultural teams, inspire trust, and foster a culture of cooperation and openness, with international experience across multiple countries.

Skills

• International Financing Contracts
• Sovereign Project Financing
• Legal Advice
• Loan Project Administration
• Technical Assistance Project Administration
• Legal Policy Reform
• Legal Argument Analysis
• Multi-cultural Team Collaboration
• Knowledge Sharing
• Legal Drafting
• Legal Research
• Legal Compliance
• International Law
• Transactional Legal Work
• Project Formulation

Languages

English