Eku Energy Limited is looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated Senior Counsel APAC to support our rapidly growing global energy storage business.
This newly created role will be based in Australia (Sydney or Melbourne) or Japan (Tokyo), at the successful candidate’s election, reporting to our Head of Legal (APAC) based in Melbourne . It will involve working with colleagues across the business to pursue new strategic relationship opportunities, onboard our development pipeline through to construction and operation of our battery energy storage projects and execute on our funding strategy. The Senior Counsel APAC will also be responsible for day-to-day business operational contracts and management of legal risk and governance for our APAC entities.
We are looking for a positive, collaborative lawyer with 7-10 years’ PQE who brings a commercial, risk-based, collaborative mindset to the role. The successful candidate will be passionate about contributing to an emerging industry within the clean energy transition and excited by the challenge of providing high-quality legal support in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
Responsibilities of the role
· Partnering with Eku Energy APAC origination & development team to provide legal advice and legal risk management support when pursuing new strategic relationships and development opportunities in the APAC region (currently including Australia and Japan). Collaborating with external counsel and Eku Energy internal stakeholders to develop contractual frameworks.
· Providing internal legal support to Eku Energy APAC projects through development and into construction and operation.
· Partnering with Eku Energy APAC’s investment management team on the development and execution of the funding strategy.
· Exploring and advising on legal frameworks and legal risk in proposed new markets for Eku Energy APAC, often in a developing area of law and regulation.
· Ownership of a wide range of commercial contracts to proactively support Eku Energy’s growing business operations across the APAC region.
· Promoting robust compliance by the business with governance protocols and evolving Eku Energy group risk management policies and procedures.
· Collaborating with Eku Energy legal team members globally to develop new processes and best practices to strengthen legal risk management, compliance and operational efficiency for the business.
· Engaging and managing relationships with external counsel to optimise legal support for Eku Energy APAC in all relevant jurisdictions.
· Identifying, explaining and helping to mitigate legal risks and assisting project teams with obtaining necessary internal and board level approvals.
· Providing legal support to Eku Energy APAC, including regional and country-specific service contracts, intragroup services/funding agreements and a wide range of commercial contracts.
· Experienced lawyer with a background in energy/infrastructure projects.
· Around 7-10 years’ PQE with experience in the energy/infrastructure sector, ideally but not necessarily including some experience of project finance.
· Experience at a leading common-law jurisdiction law firm and/or reputable in-house legal team is desirable.
· Highly self-motivated. Track record of delivering on commitments. Proactive mindset. Thinks clearly to simplify complexity.
· Enthusiasm and confidence interacting with colleagues, counterparties and other stakeholders, instructing external counsel and working on transactions in different jurisdictions, often on high-pressured timeframes.
· Fluency in English and excellent communication and drafting skills, with good attention to detail.
· Strong problem solving and project management skills, with an ability to demonstrate resilience and manage competing demands.
· Solution-focused and collaborative approach with an ability to stay calm under pressure and build relationships.