Executive Legal Counsel - Legal BD

Role Overview

Executive Legal Counsel - Legal BD at ACWA Power, based at the company's operations across its portfolio of power generation and desalinated water plants.

Company Overview

ACWA Power is a developer, investor, and operator of power generation and desalinated water plants, with 90 assets in operation, construction, or advanced development across 13 countries.

Role Purpose

To manage the provision of legal advice and support for assigned complex projects and deals, draft legal documents and agreements, and identify and mitigate legal risks to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.

Key Responsibilities

People Management

• Manage self in line with ACWA Power's people management policies, procedures, processes, and practices to ensure adherence and maximize own and employee contribution to business performance.
• Report regularly to VP-Head of Legal (BD) on operational activities of relevant projects, challenges, issues faced, mitigations taken, and other matters as required.

Legal Advice and Support

• Manage assigned projects and deals independently from a legal perspective and provide advice and guidance on legal and policy matters to ensure legal aspects are considered during critical decisions.
• Provide legal advice to the Legal Assets Team on matters such as interpretation of contracts, disputes, and changes in contractual terms on an ad-hoc basis.
• Provide legal support on M&A activities for assigned brownfield projects and deals in coordination with external consultants.
• Support NOMAC's BD Team to ensure O&M agreements are drafted to reflect bankability and business sustainability considerations.

Legal Risk Management

• Manage identification of legal risks and issues with respect to assigned complex projects and provide inputs on mitigation strategies to proactively manage risks, minimize occurrence, and protect project interests.

Legal Documentation

• Review and supervise the development, updating, and maintenance of templates of legal agreements for assigned complex projects and make necessary changes to ensure accuracy and coverage of all required aspects.

Agreements and Contracts

• Manage review of all agreements and contracts relevant to assigned projects from a legal perspective and provide inputs and amendments to ensure compliance with legal requirements.
• Manage working group level negotiations and presentations with key stakeholders such as EPC contractors and government entities to safeguard project interests.
• Provide support to relevant project companies on dispute matters and amendments to contracts as per any service level agreement.

Selection of Legal Partners

• Assist with shortlisting external legal partners and provide recommendations on the selection of external counsel to ensure the right partner is selected.

Relationship Management

• Liaise with the legal community, including the company's relationship law firms and external lawyers, and represent the company externally to ensure these relationships serve the best interests of assigned projects.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders including the Business Development function regarding legal matters, issues, and legal opinions on assigned projects to ensure timely provision of information and documents.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to contribute to organizational and departmental change initiatives, programmes, and projects taking into account best practice and standards in the business environment.

Related Assignments

• Perform other related duties or assignments as directed.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor of Laws degree.
• 5–8 years' experience in projects law or legal function, with at least 3 years in a management role.
• Extensive depth of legal knowledge.

Skills & Competencies

• Expertise in project finance, regulatory and policy matters, complemented with substantial commercial exposure and broad knowledge of the company's business.
• Ability to adopt a holistic view of relevant legal knowledge and translate it into practical legal advice for the business.
• Ability to identify potential legal risks and mitigate them.
• Ability to provide trusted and strategic legal advice.
• Ability to effectively present the company's or project's position to third parties and negotiate autonomously with counterparties.
• Ability to deal with multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to draft and negotiate agreements for a project.
• Good organizational skills, analytical skills, and ability to work under pressure.
• High degree of rigor and attention to detail.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.

Additional Information

• Internal working relationships include the relevant project working teams, senior lawyers and/or VP-Head of Legal (BD), Legal Assets Team, BD, CFO and CTO teams, and EMOs/EMDs of relevant project companies.
• External working relationships include external legal entities, regulatory bodies, and consultants.
• Committed to creating a culture that is as diverse and vibrant as the markets the company serves.