Legal Specialist-NOC

1. Your New Organization

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an intergovernmental organization of 125 Member Countries working to accelerate the deployment of solar energy to achieve universal energy access, energy security, and a sustainable, low-carbon future. Cofounded by India and France under the Paris Agreement, ISA serves as a platform for cooperation among solar-rich nations to mobilize investments, build capacity, and promote innovation in solar energy deployment across the Global South. Its mission is to unlock solar investments by 2030, while reducing technology and inancing costs. Through initiatives across agriculture, health, transport, and power generation, ISA Member Countries are driving change by shaping policies, sharing best practices, setting standards, and mobilising investments.

The ISA's legal unit plays a crucial role in protecting the ISA from legal risks, maintaining institutional integrity, ensuring regulatory compliance, managing contracts and partnerships, and advising on legal matters related to operational policies and its programmatic support areas. ISA is also actively implementing key catalytic inancing mechanisms, including the Global Solar Facility (GSF) and the Africa Solar Facility (ASF), to attract private investment in solar energy as part of its programmatic support to its member countries. The ISA continues to design and structure various other innovative inancing mechanisms that will help provide catalytic inancing for the acceleration of private sector investments in solar energy globally.

As ISA expands its engagement in structured finance, blended finance, and infrastructurefocused investment instruments, it seeks to strengthen its Legal Team with expertise in finance and infrastructure investment structures, as well as Indian corporate law, including transactional and litigation matters. The role also involves managing institutional, administrative, and governance requirements across multilateral operations, advising on funds and finance law as well as investment engagements in a collaborative, cross-functional environment.

2. Your Role and Scope of work

A. Finance and Transactional Legal Support

Assess legal and regulatory risks associated with structured financing renewable energy platforms.

Provide strategic and pragmatic guidance and advice to improve the organisation's understanding of relevant finance-related legal and regulatory requirements in India.

Support the design of innovative structured financing instruments (e.g., guarantees, blended finance structures, payment security mechanisms) under GSF and ASF.

Draft, review, and negotiate legal documents including financing agreements, guarantees, risk-sharing mechanisms, and trust arrangements.

Provide legal guidance on the establishment, structuring, governance, and regulatory compliance of InvITs and comparable pooled investment structures..

Provide advice on financial regulatory frameworks governing infrastructure investment vehicles in India and globally.

Advise on Indian regulatory frameworks governing project finance, foreign direct investment (FDI), foreign contributions (FCRA), GIFT City operations, and financial sector regulations.

Conduct legal due diligence of potential grantees, donors, and financial vehicles.

B. Agreements and Contracting

Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of agreements, including service agreements, funding agreements, MoUs, grant agreements, and IT or procurement-related contracts.

Draft, review, and negotiate transaction documents, including- investment agreements, shareholders agreements, subscription agreements, trust deeds and fund documentation and other project finance legal documentations

Provide legal support throughout the procurement process in alignment with ISA policies and international standards.

Develop standard contract templates, model clauses, and guidelines to support consistency and legal risk mitigation.

C. Institutional Support

Contribute to the development of templates, guidelines, and legal frameworks to facilitate catalytic innovative financing.

Provide inputs into policy documents and knowledge products relating to project and innovative financing mechanisms.

Support capacity-building initiatives related to investment structuring.

Draft policy memos, briefing notes, legal opinions, and concept papers for internal use and processes.

Support due diligence for private-sector partners and financial intermediaries.

D. Dispute Resolution and Risk Management

Advise on legal risk exposure related to contracts, partnerships, and operational activities.

Support the organization in pre-litigation, litigation and/or dispute resolution efforts, including mediation and arbitration, where required.

Engage with external legal counsel, where necessary.

E. Other duties as assigned

3. What You Will Need to Succeed

Education

Advanced university degree (LL.M., J.D., or equivalent) in Law.

Licensed to practice in India and must be in good standing with the Indian Bar. Required Experience

Minimum 710 years of relevant post-qualification experience in private sector transactional law. Legal and regulatory advisory for financial entities. Relevant experience with GIFT City or equivalent international financial jurisdictions will be an advantage.

Demonstrated experience in Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) is mandatory.

Proven experience in:

o Infrastructure finance

o Project finance transactions

o Private equity or infrastructure funds

o Structured finance instruments

o Demonstrable legal experience working in:

o A leading law firm, financial institution, infrastructure fund, or multilateral development institution.

Desirable Experience

Experience in renewable energy or clean energy transactions.

Familiarity with multilateral or international organization legal frameworks.

Experience in emerging markets and cross-border transactions, investment protection, and credit guarantees is highly desirable.

4 .Core Competencies

i. Legal and Technical Expertise

Strong knowledge of Indian commercial law, financial sector regulation, and institutional financing structures.

Working knowledge of SEBI AIF regulations, RBI FEMA rules, FCRA application, IFSCA guidelines, and related statutes in India. Experience drafting, negotiating, and closing project finance and infrastructure investment trusts/funds.

Strong transactional drafting and negotiation skills.

Ability to assess complex financial structures and legal risks.

ii. Analytical and Interpersonal Skills

Ability to assess legal risks and propose pragmatic mitigation strategies.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to work respectfully in a diverse and multicultural environment. Result-oriented, and capable of managing multiple assignments.

High level of integrity, professionalism, and discretion.

Strong analytical and drafting skills.

Effective stakeholder coordination with external counsel, government bodies and development partners.

Flexibility and responsiveness, including the ability to manage rapid-turnaround of deliverables.