General Counsel

The General Counsel is a key strategic leadership role and member of the Bank’s Executive Committee, who will provide independent, commercially focused legal leadership to the Board, Chief Executive, Executive Committee and colleagues. Their advice will enable the Bank’s investment strategy and provide senior legal oversight of complex investments and transactions, alongside sound advice and judgement across regulatory, finance-oriented, governance and reputational matters.

The General Counsel will shape and oversee an effective Legal and Governance function. which will support investment activity, transaction execution, portfolio management, commercial contracting, regulatory requirements, Board and Committee governance and future third-party capital ambitions.

The General Counsel will be a trusted advisor who provides constructive challenge, and ensures legal advice, governance frameworks, policies and ways of working are practical, proportionate and aligned to the Bank’s purpose, missions, strategic objectives and stewardship of public capital.

Key Responsibilities

Investments, Transactions, Commercial Advice and Third-Party Capital

• Provide senior legal leadership across the full investment lifecycle, including origination, structuring, negotiation, execution, portfolio management, restructuring and exits across complex debt, equity, fund, project, infrastructure and other private-market structures.
• Act as a commercially savvy adviser to the Investment function, providing clear legal judgement and appropriate challenge on material investment, transaction, regulatory, financial, contractual and commercial risks.
• Oversee proportionate legal support for investment, commercial and third-party capital activity, including potential fund, co-investment, investor, mandate, financing and other capital-raising structures, through appropriate use of internal expertise, external counsel, precedents, knowledge management and quality-assurance arrangements.
• Advise on significant commercial contracts, partnerships, supplier arrangements, investment-related commercial arrangements and material procurement or contractual risk

Executive and Strategic Leadership

• Provide a first-class company secretarial service and governance framework appropriate to, and consistent with, that required by a FCA regulated company. Work closely with the Chairman and CEO in running the Board and guiding and advising the Chairman, CEO, and the Board on their responsibilities under the rules and regulations to which the Bank is subject, both public and private sector, including corporate governance related matters.
• Contribute fully as an Executive Committee member to the Bank’s strategic leadership, performance and high-performance culture, providing constructive challenge beyond the legal remit.
• Act as trusted adviser to the Chief Executive, Executive Committee, Chair and Board on significant investment, legal, governance, regulatory and reputational matters.
• Support strategic and commercial decision-making by balancing the Bank’s public purpose, investment objectives, commercial opportunities, legal obligations, regulatory expectations and risk appetite.

Corporate, Group, Regulatory and Public Sector Governance

• Lead the Legal and Governance function and ensure the effective operation of the Bank’s corporate governance framework, with Assistant Company Secretary support.
• Act as principal legal and governance adviser to the Chair, Board, Board Committee Chairs, Chief Executive and Executive Committee, supporting effective decision-making, information flows, record-keeping and periodic governance effectiveness reviews.
• Provide legal and governance advice on the Bank’s Group structure, including its regulated subsidiary, working with…