Legal Counsel

At the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, we work with political leaders around the world to drive change. We help governments turn bold ideas into reality so they can deliver for their people. We do it by advising on strategy, policy and delivery, unlocking the power of technology across all three. And by sharing what we learn on the ground, so everyone can benefit. We do it to build more open, inclusive and prosperous countries for people everywhere.

We are a global team of over 800 changemakers, operating in more than 40 countries, across five continents. We are political strategists, policy experts, delivery practitioners, technology specialists and more. We speak more than 45 languages. We are working on over 100 projects, tackling some of the world’s biggest challenges. We’re all here at TBI to make a difference.

In a world of ever more complex challenges, we believe diversity of background and perspective is a strength. We pride ourselves on a culture that values and nurtures difference. We are dedicated to unlocking potential, not only for the countries we work in but also for each of our team members. No matter where you’re from or who you are, if you’re passionate about the transformative power of progressive politics, we invite you to build a better future with us.

The Tony Blair Institute’s Legal Operations team and helps pave the way for the Institute to deliver its mission.

The team is comprised of eight lawyers and support roles in three regions, with its global centre based in London. The Legal Operations team works collaboratively with teams across the Institute to provide professional, expedient and commercially orientated advice and support across a complex and multi jurisdictional operating environment.

The Legal team supports the Institute to deliver its mission. We ensure that our organisational capabilities equip us to meet current and future challenges.

The Institute is seeking to recruit a Legal Counsel to provide day-to-day legal support and advice to colleagues in the Middle East and Eastern Europe (MEEE). The successful candidate will be a skilled lawyer who is equipped to work independently as well as with legal team members in both the MEEE and globally, across a wide variety of legal areas. The candidate will be able to provide practical, risk-based, and well-informed legal advice, collaboratively working with leaders in the region and global colleagues across HR, finance and security teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide timely, responsive, and practical legal support to the Middle East and Eastern Europe teams
• Advise on and support in the legal aspects of the formation, structuring and operationalization of the Institute’s foreign branches and subsidiaries
• Support ongoing corporate compliance, risk management and regulatory responsibilities in the Middle East and Eastern Europe region
• Provide advice and support on r work permit, immigration, and visa matters
• Draft, review, and where necessary, negotiate various contracts with donors, counterparties, and key partners
• Support the Institute’s due diligence process, reviewing (or where necessary, conducting) counterparty due diligence, escalating any concerns discovered as part of the Institute’s risk management processes
• Build good internal and external relationships to support effective delivery
• Manage relevant external counsel and professional advisors
• Identify areas of cross department/project collaboration as well as areas of process where internal processes can be improved
• Provide legal guidance in government procurement tender processes, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations
• Assist the wider Legal l Operations team with ad hoc tasks and projects that may be required from time-to-time.

Person Specification

• Qualified to practise law
• +2 years’ experience at a reputable law firm and/or in-house legal team
• Fluency in English and Arabic. Additional language skills, including French, is an advantage
• Excellent drafting skills with the ability to work on a variety of legal documents
• Experience with, and sound understanding of, commercial and corporate law
• Some experience with international law and international organisations beneficial
• Ability to recognise legal and regulatory risks and implement risk management strategies
• Strong understanding of current legislation, regulations, and legal frameworks

We encourage early applications as we reserve the right, if required, to close this role earlier.

Closing Date: