Senior Project Finance Lawyer Operations

The EIB Project Financing Centre of Expertise was created in 2022 within the EIB Legal Directorate to take care of all project finance operations of the EIB on a global basis. It is made of a small number of lawyers from different jurisdictions, highly specialized and with a strong interest in concentrating on project finance operations, owning, and developing further a distinct and sophisticated expertise in such field. The EIB PF Centre is obtaining a high recognition and visibility within and outside the EIB as a team concentrating advanced, state-of-the-art knowledge and experience, on a multi-jurisdictional level, on the legal aspects of project financing. The firm intention of the team and its Head of Division is to continue increasing its recognition, taking advantage of the exceptional pipeline of projects of the European Investment Bank.

This is a unique, rare opportunity for a mid-senior or senior experienced project finance lawyer to join a highly specialized team of legal experts, managing complex technical matters related to all EIB’s Project Finance operations in the EU and non-EU countries. The selected candidate will be the most senior operational Italian lawyer of the team. S/he will take care of PF operations in Italy but will have the opportunity to be involved in PF operations in other countries and other areas of the world, within and outside the European Union. S/he will be dealing with some of the most important projects in Italy, in the European Union and in the world, dealing with the most important operators of the sectors and the world top-class law firms in the field of project finance. S/he will discuss, daily, issues related to project financing with the Head of the Division and the other colleagues of the Division qualified in other jurisdictions. The team is small and characterized by a strong sense of mutual support, respect and collegiality among its members.

The purpose of the role is to provide legal advice and take care of legal documentation on project finance operations to support the Bank’s lending activities and achievements of EIB objectives as outlined in the yearly Corporate Operational Plan, with particular reference (but not limited to) project finance operations in Italy.

Operating Network

As a (Senior) Project Finance Lawyer, you will report to your Head of Division and cooperate on a daily basis with the other lawyers, paralegals and assistants of the team. Your work will involve activities of various complexity of a recurring (e.g. share knowledge and introduce new colleagues to the work/procedures; advise on Italian law matters related to the operations and draft the relevant documentation, liaising with, instructing and supervising external lawyers) as well as non-standard nature (e.g. research in connection with new issues arising from specific projects; advise on complex legal issues). It is reminded here that very few things in project finance are fully standardised, and this is one of the peculiarities of this position. You will regularly interact with colleagues from the Legal Directorate, including senior hierarchy, as well as other Directorates (including EU Operations, EIB Global (i.e., the Non-EU operations), the technical Project Directorate, Portfolio Management and Monitoring). You will also liaise with the external counterparties (external legal counsels and other advisors, sponsors, borrowers, guarantors, etc.).

Accountabilities