In-House Legal Advisor

Finance Earth is the UK’s leading environmental impact investment advisor and FCA-regulated fund manager, working in partnership with a range of organisations to protect and restore the environment utilising market-based mechanisms. We design and implement bespoke financing solutions and develop high-impact investments that mobilise investment for nature, climate and communities. We are an employee-owned social enterprise and have advised on over 100 projects, operate in more than 35 countries, and have mobilised over £100 million for environmental impact.

We are a recognised leader in the UK’s emerging ‘nature markets’, supporting the Government’s aims to scale private investment into nature recovery in England to at least £500 million a year by 2027, and over £1 billion by 2030. We are also an experienced impact fund manager, having designed, raised and managed several impact funds to date, including Community Owned Renewable Energy (“CORE”), a £50 million fund raised in 2017 that invested in community solar farms, successfully exited in 2023 generating commercial-level returns alongside a projected £20 million in local community benefits.

We are currently fundraising for the UK Nature Impact Fund, an innovative blended finance vehicle targeting commercial-level returns from high-impact investments into nature-based solutions (NbS) across England. We have a growing international presence, including: delivering the UK Government-backed Carbon Accelerator Programme for the Environment (CAPE) in partnership with FSD Africa; launching the Blue Catalyst Fund with Fair Carbon Foundation; managing our Fisheries Improvement Fund; and implementing multi-year advisory and capacity-building programmes across regions such as the South-West Indian Ocean and the UK Overseas Territories.

Other examples of our work can be found on our website.

The Role

We are looking to recruit a part-time Legal Advisor to provide comprehensive commercial contracting and transactional support across our advisory and fund management activities. This newly created role offers the opportunity to work closely with internal teams and external counsel, strengthening our legal foundations as the organisation grows.

In this role, you will help shape and streamline our contracting processes, deliver practical legal guidance that enables confident decision-making, and ensure legal compliance across complex regulatory and sector-specific frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Contracting & Transaction Support

• Draft / review / negotiate and/or provide input on a broad range of external and internal contract documentation, including but not limited to confidentiality agreements, client engagement letters, subcontractor/ supplier agreements, personnel agreements (employees, consultants, advisors, directors, etc); fund management agreements (LP, AIFM, JV/partnership, services/suppliers, etc) and transaction agreements (related to the advisory and/or fund management activities).
• Provide legal support across enterprise and public-sector tenders, ensuring risk is managed appropriately and submissions remain commercially competitive.
• Deliver clear, practical and business-enabling advice that supports fast, confident decision-making.
• Improve contracting processes, playbooks and templates to increase efficiency, consistency and scalability.

Legal Governance, Policy & Framework Development

• Develop and maintain contract templates, standard terms, risk checklists and internal legal policies tailored to environmental and impact-finance activities.
• Contribute to internal legal governance within the organisation’s social enterprise structure.
• Create training materials and guidance to build awareness of legal/commercial risk across the business.

Other Ad Hoc Support

• Liaise with external counsel, administrators, and regulators to ensure funds and vehicles operate within compliant legal frameworks.
• Assist with due diligence, risk analysis and contract administration for investable projects and funds in sectors such as renewable energy, nature-based solutions, habitat restoration, sustainable supply chains and the blue economy.
• Provide legal input into bid/tender processes, advisory mandates and project documents, including analysis of risk allocation and regulatory implications.
• Review innovative financing models (e.g. blended finance structures, revenue-share models, outcome-based payment mechanisms) and advise internal teams on legal, regulatory and commercial considerations.

Specific qualifications, skills and experience

We are looking for candidates with a strong legal foundation and the capability to support a diverse in-house function.

Essential requirements include:

• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales or another common law jurisdiction (e.g. Australia or New Zealand)
• 3-4 years’ post-qualification experience handling a full generalist in-house legal role
• Proven experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts
• Strong legal research, analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to identify, assess and mitigate legal, regulatory and commercial risk
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to non-legal stakeholders
• Strong project and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing deadlines

Desirable requirements include:

• Solid understanding of corporate, regulatory and compliance frameworks, including FCA/SEC rules, AML/KYC requirements and governance
• Eperience supporting corporate finance transactions, such as M&A, fund launches, or financing arrangements
• Experience managing and instructing external counsel
• Advanced IT literacy, including proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to work with digital legal tools
• Experience in corporate governance, funds, financial services or private equity
• Experience in the environmental sector is desirable but not essential

Personal attributes

We are seeking someone who will thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced in-house environment. Key personal attributes include:

• High levels of integrity, professionalism and sound judgment
• Calm, composed and reliable under pressure, particularly during time-critical transactions
• Pragmatic and solutions-focused, offering commercially relevant advice
• Curious, proactive and business-focused, with a willingness to understand strategic and operational priorities
• Collaborative and collegial, able to build strong working relationships across teams
• Adaptable and comfortable with ambiguity, responding well to changing demands
• Resilient, able to manage challenges and maintain momentum under tight deadlines
• Diplomatic and tactful, especially when handling sensitive or complex stakeholder issues

We do not expect candidates to meet every requirement. Most importantly, we welcome applications from individuals who can creatively demonstrate how their skills and experience could be adapted to this profile, and where they see an opportunity to grow into the role. It is essential that you can demonstrate experience of and an interest in the wider environmental and conservation finance sector in your application.

The Rewards

Our people are our business; we work hard to ensure that they have fulfilling careers and a good work-life balance. We encourage training to make sure our people are equipped to do their jobs to the best of their abilities and offer flexible working and generous holidays so that staff can both meet client expectations and personal goals.

As a market leader, the talent and passion of our people are critical to our success. Together, we share a common set of values rooted in integrity, excellence and strong team ethic. Finance Earth can provide a superior experience for building and maintaining a professional career in finance – a place for people to learn, to achieve and grow whilst delivering work that is highly impactful and beneficial for our planet. A philosophy that balances personal lifestyles, perspectives and needs is an important part of our culture.

• Base salary of £65,000 (£42,738 – 65.75% FTE) per annum, depending on experience
• Up to 20% of salary, discretionary annual bonus and discretionary Christmas bonus of up to £1,000
• Opportunity to become a shareholder after 12 months with a potential dividend allowance
• 25 days holiday plus English bank holiday. Plus 2-3 days free at Christmas and up to 5 additional days length of service award (pro-rata)
• Potential for hybrid and flexible working
• Generous training budgets with learning and continuous development as a critical element of the way we work
• Private medical insurance, Group life insurance and 3% Pension contribution
• Monthly team socials

How to Apply

If you think that you are the right person for this important role in our business, please submit your application by Sunday 12th April, by clicking this link: https://app.beapplied.com/apply/h9ipzb0qby

As part of the application process, you will be asked to answer some questions and to upload a comprehensive CV. If you have any questions about the role or how to apply, please click the “Email us” link below.

Only applications submitted via the link above will be reviewed for this role.

Finance Earth is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where individuals are supported to reach their full potential and are recruited, developed and progressed based on skills and talent.