Legal Counsel

To manage the provision of legal advice and support with respect to the assigned business unit, department and/or project company or O&M company, drafting of legal documents and agreements, and the identification and mitigating legal risks, in order to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations and timely resolution of issues.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Legal Advice and Support

• Manage work assignments for the relevant business unit, department and/or project company or O&M company independently, from a legal perspective and provide legal support on matters such as interpretation of contracts (including among others project agreements, financing documents and shareholder agreements), disputes, and change in contractual terms, etc., on an ad-hoc basis. As instructed, provide advice and guidance on legal and policy matters, to ensure relevant legal aspects are considered during critical decisions.
• Provide legal support and advice on board resolutions, power of attorneys and other ancillary corporate documents as required with respect to the assigned business unit, department and/or project company or O&M company.
• Interacting with external counsel, as may be instructed by the Deputy General Counsel - Legal Assets (KSA Region) on the provision of the above legal advice and support
• Provide legal advice to other lawyers and paralegals in Legal Assets, as required including on matters such as interpretation of contracts, disputes, and change in contractual terms, etc., on an ad-hoc basis.

Legal Risk Management

• Manage the identification of legal risks and issues with respect to relevant business unit, department and/or project company or O&M company, and provide inputs on how to mitigate them, in order to proactively manage risks, minimize its occurrence, and protect the projects’ interests.

Legal Documentation

• Review and supervise the development, updating and maintenance of the templates of legal agreements for an assigned complex project and make necessary changes, in order to ensure the templates are accurate and cover all required aspects for projects.

Agreements and Contracts

• Manage the review of all agreements and contracts relevant to the work assignment from a legal perspective, and provide inputs/ amendments, to ensure compliance with the legal requirements.
• Manage working group level negotiations and presentations with key stakeholders such as EPC contractor, offtaker, subcontractors, government, etc. as required, in order to ensure the interests of the project is safeguarded.
• Provide support to the relevant project company or O&M company, as required, on dispute matters or amendments to contracts, etc. as per any service level agreement.

Selection and monitoring of Legal Partners

• Prepare RFPs for appointing of external legal counsel (including preparing comparison charts) for the assigned business unit, department and/or project company or O&M company, in order to ensure all requirements and specifications are captured
• Assist with shortlisting external legal partners; and provide recommendation on the selection of external counsel for the assigned project, to ensure the right partner is selected.
• Monitors the performance of external legal partners, and provide inputs in order to ensure they perform as per the desired level and required standards

Relationship Management

• Liaise with the legal community, including the company’s relationship law firms, external lawyers, etc. and represent the company externally, as required, to ensure these relationships, serve the best interest of the group.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders including BU Construction, BU Operations, GEO KSA, the Country Offices in KSA region, as required, with respect to legal matters/issues, legal opinions on the assigned project, in order to ensure the information, documents, etc. are provided in a timely manner.

People Management

• Manage self and, as may be required, paralegals in line with Acwa’s people management policies, procedures, processes, and practices to ensure adherence and to maximise own and employee contribution to business performance.
• Regularly report to Deputy General Counsel - Legal Assets (KSA Region) on the operational activities of relevant projects, challenges and issues faced, mitigations taken, etc. as required, to keep them informed and updated on assigned matters.

Policies, Processes, Systems & Procedures

• Implement approved departmental policies, processes, and procedures, and ensure employee adherence so that work is carried out to the required standard.

Continuous Improvement

• Manage and motivate the team to ensure they contribute to, and participate in, the identification and implementation of change initiatives, programmes, and projects in line with the organization's standards.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, & SKILLS:

• Bachelor of Laws degree
• 3 – 5 years’ experience in projects law or legal function
• Good knowledge in EPC, procurement contracts, shareholders’/joint venture agreements and other commercial agreements in the energy industry, complemented with commercial exposure and industry knowledge
• Working knowledge of project finance, regulatory and policy matters.
• Ability to identify potential legal risks and possible mitigations
• Ability to provide trusted legal advice
• Ability to effectively present the Company's or the project's position to multiple stakeholders and third parties, and to negotiate with minimum supervision with counterparties
• Ability to draft and negotiate common agreements and contracts 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
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment, in the context of a multidisciplinary team