Junior Legal Counsel

Legal Counsel - Banking and Finance (Associate)

Johannesburg/ Nairobi- Full Time

Reporting to the General Counsel

About the company

Lendable connects emerging and frontier market companies with international and local investors so that they can in turn provide financial and sustainability services to those who need it the most: underbanked consumers and SMEs and MMEs in high-impact sectors. We have built the technical and financial infrastructure to increase access to credit in emerging and frontier markets, including a proprietary database of over 208m loans across 28 countries. To date, we have helped more than 6.2m people get access to fair finance and deployed over $682m of capital to companies across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. As we continue to grow, we are excited to announce the launch of a new fund that will provide sustainability-linked debt to fast-growing SMEs and MMEs across key sectors in emerging markets—focusing on the most impactful categories and highest-emitting industries.

We are based across Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America, with major hubs in London and Nairobi. Our diverse team consists of investment professionals, data scientists, technologists, and people who care about supporting each other and our clients. We are passionate about creating a more equitable and sustainable world through data and finance. Come help us continue to grow

About the Role

We are seeking a highly capable internal Legal Counsel (2-4 years PQE) to join the legal team at Lendable based in Johannesburg/Nairobi, to work across the business on finance and commercial matters. This role offers the opportunity to work across a range of commercial, financial and fund matters that support the firm's activities and mission-driven objectives. It will suit a proactive and curious lawyer looking for a varied and exciting in-house role.

Key Responsibilities

Loan & Transactional Work:

• Support the legal team in the negotiation, review and execution of secured loan and other financing transactions across multiple jurisdictions. Involvement will be from term sheet stage through to satisfaction of conditions precedent and eventual financial close.
• Support the legal team with day to day queries / tasks from the Business as a whole (Investment Officers, Risk Team, Operations Team etc.) including drafting and settling internal amendments, extensions and waivers in respect of existing transactions, legal research, answering queries about existing transactions, liaising with clients and/or external legal counsel etc.

Fund Management Support:

• Assist on day-to-day matters related to the ongoing operation of our Luxembourg based impact-focused investment funds.
• Assist with answering questions on governance, investor matters, reporting requirements, investor approvals and existing fund documentation.
• Prior fund or asset-management experience is an advantage but not mandatory.

General Commercial Legal Support:

• Provide practical, solutions-oriented advice to internal Business Teams.
• Acting as the custodian of legal knowledge within Lendable's database, serving as the go-to expert for institutional legal know-how.

About You

• 2-4 years post-qualification experience, ideally with a strong grounding in private practice at a reputable law firm.
• Previous in-house experience is helpful but not essential; a commercial mindset, willingness to learn new skills, and adaptability are key.
• Law qualified LLB (Bachelor of Laws) (admitted Attorney) required; experience advising on English law-governed transactions is advantageous.
• Strong drafting, analytical and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A proactive, collaborative and solutions-driven approach.
• Interest in impact investing, development finance or mission-led businesses.

What We Offer

• A dynamic, purpose-driven environment with exposure to meaningful work across international markets.
• The opportunity to develop broad in-house experience within a growing and influential impact fund and take on responsibility.
• A supportive team culture that encourages curiosity, ownership and professional growth.
• Stimulating, smart and fun colleagues - a group of people who care about social justice, diversity, and inclusion above all
• Flexible working set up
• Market competitive salary
• Health insurance
• Paid new parent leave policy
• The chance to engage in truly impactful and meaningful work

Persons of all gender, race, sex, orientation, age, and identity are encouraged to apply. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.