Associate Counsel

Role Overview

EBRD’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is at the core of EBRD’s mandate to build sustainable and open market economies in the jurisdictions where it operates, ranging from Central and Eastern Europe and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean to Central Asia. Deploying more than €13 billion of financing in 2022, EBRD is a leader in climate finance, including investments in renewables, green bonds and energy efficiency programs. It also supports small and medium-sized enterprises, infrastructure projects, local manufacturers and many others, with a focus on promoting the sustainable development of the private sector.

OGC handles all legal aspects of EBRD’s lending and investment transactions, provides legal advice for institutional and administrative matters and supports EBRD’s policy development in its region through its legal transition program.

The Office of the General Counsel is seeking a number of outstanding lawyers to join the department's Associate Programme. Associates will have the opportunity to contribute country, language and academic knowledge to support the institution and facilitate its operations. The roles will be based in London.

Successful candidates will be offered a 3-year fixed term contract, beginning on or around 1 September 2025.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

The teams to which Associates will be assigned are as follows:

• Banking operations: handles legal aspects of the Bank's lending and investment operations.
• Corporate: handles legal aspects of the Bank's corporate administration, including contracting and procurement, human resources, donor funding and institutional matters.
• Corporate Recovery: handles legal aspects of the management of the Bank's impaired assets.
• Legal Transition: supports the Bank's policy development in its countries of operations through it's Legal Transition Program. The Program focuses on assessment work and technical assistance with a view to developing laws and policies and establishing legal institutions that are essential for a vibrant market-oriented economy.

Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Candidates are expected to have:

• A law degree from a leading university.
• Not less than three years prior work experience as a lawyer in private practice or in-house legal team ensuring familiarity with the areas of practice referenced above, including conducting legal research, drafting and negotiating legal documentation.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Excellent project management skills, ability to monitor and follow up on many activities concurrently under time constraints and ability to understand and manage priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and client focus.

Candidates from the following jurisdictions are eligible to apply: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Egypt, FYR Macedonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and West Bank & Gaza.

The interview process will take place in January-March 2025.

What is it like to work at the EBRD?

Our agile and innovative approach is what makes life at the EBRD a unique experience! You will be part of a pioneering and diverse international organisation, and use your talents to make a real difference to people's lives and help shape the future of the regions we invest in. 

The EBRD environment provides you with:

• Varied, stimulating and engaging work that gives you an opportunity to interact with a wide range of experts in the financial, political, public and private sectors across the regions we invest in;
• A working culture that embraces inclusion and celebrates diversity;
• An environment that places sustainability, equality and digital  transformation at the heart of what we do.

Diversity is one of the Bank’s core values which are at the heart of everything it does.  A diverse workforce with the right knowledge and skills enables connection with our clients, brings pioneering ideas, energy and innovation. The EBRD staff is characterised by its rich diversity of nationalities, cultures and opinions and we aim to sustain and build on this strength. As such, the EBRD seeks to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities and works in an inclusive environment. The EBRD encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of the EBRD member countries to apply regardless of their racial, ethnic, religious and cultural background, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities.  As an inclusive employer, we promote flexible working and expecting our employee to attend the office 50% of their working time.

Please note, that due to the high volume of applications received, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide detailed feedback to candidates who have not been shortlisted (for further consideration).