FSD Africa is seeking an Associate, Legal to provide high-level legal advisory support and ensure that the organization's activities and investment decisions are aligned with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies. This role involves delivering legal research and advisory inputs across FSDAi and FSD Africa, including managing governance-related documentation and investment portfolio legal support. The Associate will play a critical role in drafting and reviewing agreements, identifying legal and regulatory risks, and coordinating legal inputs throughout the transaction lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities
Legal Advisory Support
- Provide legal analysis and advice to ensure investment decisions are aligned with applicable laws and internal policies.
- Analyze legal and regulatory frameworks relevant to activities and interpret their implications for operations.
- Identify legal issues arising from investment activities and develop practical, risk-informed solutions.
- Monitor legal and regulatory developments across relevant jurisdictions and assess their impact on the organization.
Strategy & Governance Support
- Deliver legal research and advisory inputs including ad-hoc legal matters.
- Provide legal input into governance structures and strategic initiatives to ensure compliance and sound legal structuring.
- Prepare and review governance-related legal documentation.
- Analyze legal aspects of shareholder structures and governance frameworks.
Investment Portfolio Legal Support
- Deliver legal input across the investment lifecycle (due diligence, transaction structuring, and documentation).
- Conduct legal due diligence on prospective investees, identifying risks and assessing compliance.
- Draft and review legal inputs into investment agreements and funding arrangements.
Contracts & Transaction Documentation
- Coordinate legal inputs across the transaction process (approvals, execution, and documentation).
- Draft and review investment agreements, commercial contracts, and grant-related documentation.
- Review counterparty comments and propose revisions that reflect the organization's legal and commercial positions.
- Maintain high standards of accuracy and attention to detail in all legal instruments.
Legal Risk and Compliance Oversight
- Maintain legal documentation systems, frameworks, and standard templates to improve consistency.
- Identify, monitor, and manage legal and regulatory risks arising from activities.
- Track legal risks across transactions and escalate material issues as appropriate.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement
- Work closely with investment, risk, finance, and portfolio teams to integrate legal considerations into processes.
- Coordinate engagement with external legal counsel, including preparing instructions and reviewing outputs.
- Capture and share legal insights and lessons learned for continuous improvement.
Qualifications and Experience
- Master’s degree (LLM) with 3 years of experience OR a Bachelor’s degree (LLB) with 4 years of experience.
- Relevant post-graduate qualification in Law with a valid practicing certificate.
- Excellent skills in written and spoken English.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply online via the FSD Africa application portal at fsdafrica.seamlesshiring.com.
