Career Opportunities at Trade and Development Bank (TDB)

Job Summary

The Senior Counsel, Litigation Management, leads and manages TDB's litigation portfolio and oversees all aspects of contentious matters, including legal risk mitigation, pre-litigation strategy, dispute resolution, and coordination with external counsel. The role requires collaboration with internal stakeholders, including operational, financial, and compliance teams, to ensure institutional interests are protected and disputes are resolved efficiently and strategically. The role reports to the Deputy General Counsel.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to:

• Represent the institution in legal disputes before courts, arbitral tribunals, and administrative bodies.
• Develop litigation strategy and oversee execution of the approved strategy through external counsel and internal resources.
• Manage all stages of litigation, from risk assessment and pleadings through hearings, settlement, and enforcement.
• Advise management and business units on legal risks, exposures, and potential dispute resolution strategies.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and applicable legal and regulatory frameworks.
• Prepare reports and briefings for senior management and governance bodies on significant legal proceedings.
• Maintain a litigation docket and case database with up-to-date tracking and analysis.
• Monitor developments in international dispute resolution practices and incorporate learnings into institutional processes.
• Liase with member states, partner institutions, and multilateral bodies on cross-border enforcement and jurisdictional matters.
• Coach, mentor and supervise junior team members in the Legal Department to ensure they acquire the right skills to support timely delivery of quality legal services.

Qualifications and Competencies

• A Master's degree in Law (LLM) and Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB) or a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited institution.
• Qualification to practice law in any juridisction relevant to TDB's business or in any of the TDB's member countries.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience as a litigation and dispute resolution-focused lawyer. Prior international work experience in a commercial, financial, or legal advisory institution or public sector financial body (e.g., international law firm, multi-national corporate, bank, insurance company, investment advisory firm, DFI, Ministry of Finance, National Treasury, Sovereign Wealth Fund) is a plus.
• Proven track record and experience in dealing with international law, commercial litigation, sovereign immunity, and enforcement mechanisms.
• Strong legal drafting, problem solving, negotiation, organizational and planning skills with the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment, manage dynamic priorities, and work under pressure to deliver on strict deadlines.
• A results-oriented individual with excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Knowledge of another offical language of TDB Group's Member States (French or Portuguese) would be an added advantage.

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Job Summary

Reporting to the Group Executive and Deputy General Counsel, as a member of the Legal Services Department, the Senior Counsel provides legal advice support to TDB Group and respective departments and units in relation to external customers, service providers, business partners and consultants to protect TDB Group's interests and mitigate any legal risks.

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to:

• Collaborate with business units in undertaking the appraisal due diligence, as and when required to obtain approvals of prospective financing transactions.
• Negotiate, draft or review, and administer documentation related to debt financing transactions in a timely manner with the relevant parties, ensuring compliance with TDB's Charter and Policies.
• Draft or review commercial contracts to ensure that TDB's interests are protected and in line with the Charter and Policies.
• Manage the closing process for the loan and security documentation by coordinating and following up with internal stakeholders, the obligors, and external counsel to ensure satisfaction of conditions precedent to financial close.
• Manage the legal process on litigation/arbitration/receivership matters, including by managing and supervising the work of external counsel with a view to protect TDB's interests.
• Contribute to the process of submitting loan transactions to the various committees of TDB, by advising the relevant business teams, to ensure that the submissions and resulting committee decisions are in line with the appropriate policies and procedures of TDB.
• Coach, mentor and supervise junior team members in the Department to ensure they acquire the right skills to support timely delivery of quality legal services.

Qualifications and Competencies

• A Master's degree in Law (LLM) and Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB) or a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited institution.
• Qualification to practice law in any juridisction relevant to TDB's business or in any of the TDB's member countries.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience as a finance and banking transactional lawyer, including international work experience in a commercial, financial, or legal advisory institution or public sector financial body (e.g., international law firm, multi-national corporate, bank, insurance company, investment advisory firm, DFI, Ministry of Finance, National Treasury, Sovereign Wealth Fund).
• Proven track record and experience as a banking, finance, and corporate lawyer.
• Strong legal drafting, problem solving, negotiation, organizational and planning skills with the ability to work in a multi-cultural environment, manage dynamic priorities, and work under pressure to deliver on strict deadlines.
• A results-oriented individual with excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Fluency in both written and spoken French and English is mandatory.