OPEN VACANCY: Legal Counsel, Accelerate Prosperity

Title: Legal Counsel

Reports to: Global Executive Director Accelerate Prosperity

Duty Station: Pakistan, Kyrgyz Republic or Tajikistan

Contract Type: Initially retainership for 6 months, extendable to fulltime contract based on performance and increasing scope of work.

Deadline: May 1^st, 2025

Accelerate Prosperity

Accelerate Prosperity is a joint initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), which offers blended financial solutions and pre/ post financing technical assistance to help entrepreneurs start new businesses and grow early-stage businesses. It envisions an inclusive and prosperous society that is powered by entrepreneurs. Its mission is to inspire rising entrepreneurs in emerging regions to grow new markets, create sustainable employment and strengthen communities.

Job Description

The Legal Counsel (individuals, not legal firms) will be a part of the regional team at Accelerate Prosperity (AP) and will provide comprehensive legal support to its activities across Central and South Asia, ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, managing legal risks mainly around financing and investment activities, and advising on a wide range of legal matters related to AP’s operations. The primary objective of the position is to safeguard the legal interests of AP and its founders and ensure that all activities are conducted within the legal framework. This includes providing legal advice to the management and governance, drafting and reviewing legal documents, act as the company secretary in AP companies and representing the firm in various legal proceedings.

Key Responsibilities

• Legal Advisory: provide legal advice to governance and management on investment activities, regulatory compliance and corporate governance.
• Legal Assessments: Lead legal assessments on AP’s existing and the intended structures and manage coordination with external legal firms in this regard.
• Legal Documentation: Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, MoUs, letter of engagement and interests, grant agreements, financing/ investment agreements and term sheets with businesses and/or financing partners, and other legal documents.
• Regulary Complaince: Ensure adherence and compliance of AP companies to applicable laws and regulations, including company and taxation laws, corporate governance, and financial regulations/
• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate legal risks associated with the firm's operations and transactions. Develop and implement legal risk management strategies to mitigate potential legal issues.
• Litigation Management: Advice external legal advisors/ firms in each country on representation in legal proceedings.
• Training: Conduct training sessions for staff on legal and regulatory matters.

Qualifications

• Education: At least have LLB degree from an accredited law school.
• Experience: Minimum of 4-5 years of experience in a top-tier law firm, or in-house legal department, preferably within the corporate sector in financial services or investment industry.
• Licensing: Member of the State Bar and relevant certification.
• Skills: Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills; proficiency in drafting and negotiating complex legal documents. Strong knowledge of company/ corporate law at least in one of the countries: Pakistan, Tajikistan or Kyrgyz Republic with significant knowledge of the laws in.
• Preference: Having the knowledge of the Astana International Financial Center and its legal structure for various funds will be preferred.

Performance Metrics

• Compliance: Successful management of legal risks.
• Efficiency: Timely and accurate drafting and review of legal documents. Effective governance managemnt on legal matters and as the company secretary.
• Support: Effective collaboration with country teams and other departments.
• Training: Successful implementation of training programs and staff development.

AP offers a competitive remuneration package and conducive working environment. We are an equal opportunity employer - women are encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should submit their cover letter (one page), CV (two page) with a subject line “Legal Counsel” by 1 May, 2025 to the email address: hr@accelerateprosperity.org

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited for interviews.

Accelerate Prosperity (AP) is committed to safeguarding, which means it promotes respectful relations with and between all staff, associates, beneficiaries and wider communities with whom it works, and takes all reasonable measures to prevent harm, including all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse, harassment (PSEAH), bullying, discrimination, harassment and abuse of power that may arise from contact with its staff, programmes or operations. AP also adheres to child safeguarding principles, as set out by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s), employment history and any potential history of misconduct. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a full background check.

By sharing their cover letter and resume with AP in response to this job application, applicants consent for AP to keep this information on file for recruitment and human resources management purposes.