Address
Salary Temp/ Perm Self-Employed Consultant Reporting to Tim Yapp (Designated Member) Full/ Part Time As required
Job description and duties Function of MDY Legal Marriott Davies Yapp LLP (trading under the name “MDY Legal”) is a unique niche practice specialising in structuring, establishing, financing and managing successful, innovative, high value development aid and social impact initiatives both in the UK and in developing countries. As such, MDY Legal has advised many aid donors and Development Finance institutions including the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) a highly innovative infrastructure investor, the World Bank Group, Trademark East Africa, Financial Sector Deepening Africa, the UK’s Commonwealth Development Corporation, the GAVI Alliance a global health public-private partnership, the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund an agriculture impact investor, African Risk Capacity a parametric insurance provider, the Advance Market Commitment for pneumococcal vaccines; the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) which has leveraged donor pledges to raise more than US$6bn for immunisation, Gatsby’s trade development company ‘Msingi, the Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP) and the International Land and Forest Tenure Facility during the course of the past 20 years. MDY Legal is a supplier firm on FCDO’s International MultiDisciplinary Programme Framework (IMDP).
Main Purpose of Role To act as a Solicitor for MDY Legal, to advise on wide range of corporate/commercial and Development Finance matters in both transactional and consulting advisory roles and to support the aid programmes advised upon by MDY Legal and their corporate facilities. Main Responsibilities of Job Provide corporate/commercial legal advice across a wide range of sectors and countries often working in multidisciplinary teams and with local legal advisors on a wide variety of corporate documents, including share subscriptions, board resolutions, shareholder resolutions, and constitutional documents. • Provide advice to clients on financial transactions and on a wide range of financing instruments including grants, equity, debt and guarantees both in a developmental and a purely commercial context. • Provide advice to FCDO and other funders of development initiatives on the design, structuring, establishment and implementation of a wide range of for-profit and not-for profit development initiatives with a focus on governance best practice and mitigation of legal risks.
Provide advice in relation to the management and oversight of high profile cutting-edge multi-donor development financing initiatives. • Provide advice on governance issues, draft and review governance documents and investment and operating policies and procedures in respect of a range of development financing initiatives. • Manage and prepare draft documentation for the operation and funding of the clients including grant and other financing agreements, service agreements, non-disclosure agreements, powers of attorney, memorandum of advice/board papers, share subscription agreements and amendments thereto. • Advising funders and sponsors as to the key stewardship issues that matter in respect of structuring, funding and oversight of development initiatives and, in particular in ensuring that funding is used as intended and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, that the risk of misuse of funding is minimised, that decision making is based upon robust foundations and that the initiatives are not stifled by bureaucracy. • Working on and within the private sector led development “agenda”. • Support our clients in all their activities and ensure their reporting requirements are fulfilled. • Liaise with third party managers, auditors, corporate administrators, external legal counsel, tax experts as required. • Coordinate amendments and updates to legal documents, policies and procedures and other documents. • Assist MDY Legal to identify, track and pursue opportunities for the provision of the above types of legal advisory and consultancy work. Lead, draft and manage tenders in response to Invitations to Tender for consultancy programmes and projects. When awarded such work, manage the contracting of MDY Legal either as lead contractor or subcontractor. Manage the delivery of the legal advisory and consultancy services in accordance with all contractual requirements. • Support the partners of MDY Legal in the development of MDY Legal’s legal and governance advisory and consultancy practice. • Support clients with general enquiries as and when required. • Assist MDY Legal with the establishment of additional corporate entities as and when required, assist with the restructuring/reorganisation, procurement and other activities of clients’ corporate entities.
Equity partnership A roadmap to equity partnership within MDY Legal will be considered for a candidate who can demonstrate the required combination of client care, technical, commercial and leadership skills.
Skills and Experience • A minimum of 4 years’ post-qualification experience of corporate/commercial, and banking or project finance law • Significant private practice experience • Versatile, with ability to cross a range of disciplines (experience of financial / governance / contract / procurement issues highly desirable) and market sectors including infrastructure project finance • Good client and stakeholder relationship building skills and effective communication with clients, project teams and business managers • Commercially aware, strong team player, effective management skills, versatile • Ability to communicate and work well with people at all levels • Attention to detail and a well organised approach to work • Ability to work with numerical information, plus analytical and problem-solving skills • Diplomatic approach and the confidence to liaise with high profile clients • Integrity and discretion when handling confidential information • Background and understanding of, business practices and corporate governance and corporate law • Knowledge of banking/financing, in particular infrastructure and emerging markets • Knowledge of legal status (UK and overseas), partnership and JV structures and awareness of cross boarder legal issues • Knowledge of charity law desirable but not essential Educational Qualifications Solicitor (England & Wales) Some foreign travel may be required (post-Covid 19). Contact Details: Please forward expressions of interest together with your CV to Recruitmentgroup@mdy.co.uk
