Senior Legal Counsel

Location: Casablanca, Morocco

Description

Africa50 is an infrastructure investor and asset manager that contributes to Africa's growth by developing and investing in bankable projects, catalysing public sector capital, and mobilizing private sector funding.

Africa50 has raised over US$1 billion from 33 African countries, the African Development Bank, two African Central Banks and Africa's largest pension fund. Africa50 has an independent investment process and seeks to generate commercial risk adjusted returns for its investments across key infrastructure sectors: Energy (including power generation and related parts of the value chain), Midstream gas, Transportation, ICT, Health infrastructure, Education and Fintech.

Purpose of the Role

The Legal Counsel serves as a senior member of the Africa50 Legal team, providing expert legal support across Africa50 Group's operations, including transactions, investment vehicle formation and operations, regulatory compliance, governance, and investor‑facing activities. The role requires a commercially minded, solution-oriented lawyer capable of operating at pace across multiple jurisdictions, investment structures, and stakeholder environments.

Principal Responsibilities

The Legal Counsel will have the following responsibilities:

Transaction Execution & Portfolio Management
Lead and manage legal execution of equity, quasi‑equity, co‑investment, and platform transactions, including secondary transactions and exits.
Structure, draft, negotiate and review a wide range of transaction documents (SPAs, SHAs, JDAs, term sheets, financing documents, exit agreements).
Conduct and supervise legal due diligence, coordinate external counsel, and manage closing processes.
Provide strategic, pragmatic legal advice to investment teams on transaction risks, structures, and commercial considerations.
Support post‑investment portfolio monitoring, risk mitigation and value creation initiatives.
Investment Vehicle Formation, Investment Vehicle Operations & Investor Support
Lead or support the structuring, formation, launch and operation of new investment funds and vehicles.
Draft, review and negotiate fund documentation (PPMs, LPAs, subscription agreements, side letters etc) and other investor agreements relevant for investment vehicles pooling third-party funds.
Ensure ongoing compliance with investment vehicle governing documents, regulatory requirements, and investor obligations.
Oversee external counsel or corporate secretarial service providers (fund administrators) and ensure effective reporting, governance and operational performance.
Support fundraising, including investor onboarding, regulatory filings, marketing materials review, and responses to investor due diligence questionnaires.
Advise on regulatory developments, cross‑border marketing rules, and investment advisory obligations.
Regulatory, Compliance & Risk Management
Identify and manage cross‑border regulatory, legal, and operational risks affecting transactions and funds.
Advise on licensing, disclosure, reporting, sanctions, AML/KYC frameworks, data privacy, and investment advisory rules across relevant jurisdictions.
Work closely with other internal units to establish/update/implement/monitor internal controls, policies and procedures.
Governance, Corporate Secretariat & Institutional Support
Oversee governance of Africa50's corporate entities, subsidiaries, SPVs, fund vehicles and platforms.
Prepare and coordinate materials for governance meetings (eg, boards, investment committees, LPACs and shareholder meetings).
Draft and supervise minutes, resolutions, director appointments, corporate approvals, regulatory filings and contractual obligations
Ensure effective information‑sharing and governance alignment across Africa50 Group entities.
External Counsel & Stakeholder Management
Select, instruct and supervise external counsel, ensuring quality, cost‑effectiveness and knowledge transfer.
Build strong relationships with co‑investors, regulators, fund administrators and institutional partners.
Represent Africa50 in negotiations with counterparties and in investor interactions.
Strategic Advisory, Leadership & Knowledge Management
Serve as strategic advisor to the General Counsel on legal, regulatory and fund strategy issues.
Mentor junior colleagues and contribute to building internal legal capabilities.
Capture and disseminate lessons learned, cross‑regional insights and best practices across the organization including developing and standardizing template, processes
Contribute to policy development, internal process strengthening, and legal‑risk management frameworks.

Candidate Profile

Essential Qualifications & Experience

Qualified to practice law in one or more jurisdictions
At least 13 years of post-qualification in top-tier international law firm, private equity funds, asset managers, DFIs or financial institutions
Significant experience leading complex cross-border equity investments (preferably infrastructure)
Strong experience in fund formation, lifecycle management and/or alternative investment structures.
Deep understanding of private equity, infrastructure and/or asset management frameworks.
Demonstrated ability to operate independently, manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outputs under pressure.
Excellent drafting, analytical and negotiation skills.
Ability to identify, assess and summarize legal, regulatory, commercial and operational risks
Ability to handle complex corporate and commercial transactions independently.
Willingness to assume multiple roles and tasks to meet changing business needs and an ability to foresee, troubleshoot and effectively resolve conflicting issues and challenges.
Strong interpersonal skills, ability to deal sensitively in a multicultural environment and build effective working relationships with clients and colleagues.
Detail oriented, with an ability to distinguish among issues of varying priority
Willingness to travel extensively.

Competencies and Personal Attributes

Business Acumen & Strategic Judgement

Able to work as a partner with internal stakeholders to get actions done efficiently, quickly, and in a legally appropriate manner;
Pragmatic, commercially oriented, solutions‑focused legal thinker who can balance risk and business needs.
Ability to translate complex legal issues into concise strategic recommendations.
Strong understanding of fundraising dynamics, investor expectations, and market standards.

Execution & Results Delivery

Operates with urgency, ownership and precision.
Anticipates risks, manages complexity, and ensures impeccable documentation and deal execution.
Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and effective at managing multiple simultaneous streams of work.
Must be result-autonomous, result-oriented, self-motivated and possess the ability to be "hands on";
Ability to work under pressure, navigating competing priorities, tight timelines and maintain a high degree of performance across functions in a multicultural organization;

Leadership, Communication & Influence

Skilled communicator able to influence and collaborate across multicultural and senior stakeholder environments.
High emotional intelligence, discretion and sensitivity when handling confidential or strategic matters.
Ability to mentor junior staff and contribute to the development of the Legal team.

Language Requirements

Superior written and spoken English.
Strong French proficiency is highly preferred, given Africa50's pan‑African investor base and operating footprint.

Location

The position will be based in Casablanca, Morocco.

Application

If you are interested in this position, Click here to apply.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

At Africa50, we believe inclusive teams drive stronger and more sustainable impact. We are committed to equal opportunity and fair recruitment practices, and we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We strive to create a respectful, diverse, and inclusive workplace where everyone can contribute and grow.

مستوى الأقدمية
مستوى متوسط الأقدمية
نوع التوظيف
دوام كامل
المهام الوظيفية
قانوني
المجالات
التجارة الدولية والتنمية

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