Project Finance Lawyer at Pele Green Energy

The purpose of the role is to provide legal advisory and support services to Pele Green Energy to ensure the effective management of legal and contractual risks for all portfolio investments and their underlying projects within the respective national laws and regulations across our territory.

Job Responsibilities

• Structure, draft and negotiate project financing transactions including debt and tax equity, and a variety of related secured and unsecured transactions.
• Manage, negotiate and execute a range of agreements relating to the company’s project development pipeline including, procurement & construction contracts, joint venture agreements and sale-leaseback arrangements.
• Competent and responsible drafting and negotiating of project and transaction documentation, in particular, share purchase agreements, shareholders’ agreements, constitutional documentation, finance agreements, project development agreements (including power purchase agreements and off-take agreements), concession agreements in connection with PPP, BOT and other models, and EPC and O&M contracts.
• Supporting and participating in the negotiations of the terms and conditions of the financing agreements and project documents with financiers and other parties.
• Leading and conducting legal due diligence analysis.
• Coordinate with outside counsel to effectively and efficiently manage the company’s project pipeline and corporate responsibilities.
• Manage internal and external stakeholders to ensure projects are executed timely and excellently, while effectively protecting and communicating the Company’s risk.
• Advise internal stakeholders, including finance and business operations team members on legal and compliance issues and risks associated with structured finance transactions and enable effective understanding of and compliance with outstanding debt obligations on an ongoing basis.
• Provide strategic corporate counsel and efficient resolution of all legal issues, and represent the Company in any legal disputes, if required.
• Advise on debt and equity issues in capital markets transaction.
• Conducting research for respective financial, tax and legal aspects of project finance
• Prepare and manage financial evaluation, financial analysis, risk assessment and financing of new projects and new opportunities during opportunity during all phases of project development i.e. from inception to financial close.
• Leading financing process with banks, advisers and other key stakeholders.
• Take a lead role in preparing financial sections of the statement of qualifications and proposals, reviewing commercial agreements; and analysing potential development, and partnership structures.
• Responsible for reporting under the financing agreements and hand-over to Asset Management until the end of the construction phase.
• Ensure the Company is operating within the contractual investment mandates from our respective investors
• Monitor and advise on relevant legislation impacting the Company and ensure the business is kept abreast of new legislative and regulatory developments.
• Document legal, commercial and risk policies and processes, where required, to ensure the effective operation of the Company.
• Assist with various tasks and projects as is necessary for the company’s overall success.

Desired Skills & Qualifications

• Qualified Lawyer with 8+ years’ experience with top law-firm and in-house experience preferred
• Extensive project finance experience with a background in the renewable energy and infrastructure industry; related experience preferred
• Experience with BEE funding finance documents and share funding documents
• Outstanding business acumen, decisive critical thinking skills and subtle professional confidence
• Proven ability to effectively manage multiple projects with shifting priorities, work independently and operate in a fast-paced, dynamic and matrixed environment
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Able to demonstrate good judgment and evaluate risk while considering the larger picture
• Solution-oriented and effective communicator with the ability to work independently and thrive in a fast-paced, fast-growing, and collaborative environment
• Excellent drafting skills
• Interest in handling large project development and project finance transactions
• Substantial experience in handling due diligence investigations
• Substantial financial law experience
• Strong financial acumen
• Client facing experience and the ability to understand and respond effectively to client needs
• A commercial approach and an ability to negotiate effectively
• A collaborative attitude to working within large teams and with colleagues at all levels.
• Understanding of commercial and securities law issues as they relate to finance transactions
• Ability to interpret legislation and regulatory frameworks within various jurisdictions, as well as identify and effectively manage legal risks and recommend appropriate remedial courses of action