About the Company
Saison Investment Management Private Limited (SIMPL) is the cross-border lending arm of Saison International, a global financial company with a mission to bring people, partners and technology together, creating resilient and innovative financial solutions for positive impact.
SIMPL operates with a commitment to foster inclusive growth in emerging and frontier markets by providing debt financing to specialized financial services providers, early-stage and tech-enabled companies that operate at the intersection of inclusion and innovation in emerging and frontier markets such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Bangladesh.
Across its business arms of lending and corporate venture capital, Saison International is committed to being a transformative partner in creating opportunities and enabling the dreams of people.
Based in Singapore, over 1,500 employees work across Saisons global operations spanning six countries - Singapore, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico and Brazil.
Saison International is the international headquarters (IHQ) of Credit Saison Company Limited, founded in 1951 and one of Japans largest lending conglomerates with over 70 years of history and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Company has evolved from a credit-card issuer to a diversified financial services provider across payments, leasing, finance, real estate and entertainment. To learn more about how Saison International is driving impact across our global operations, explore our full report - IMPACT FROM THE GROUND UP.
About the Role
We are seeking a highly motivated Legal Counsel to support SIMPL, working alongside our IHQ Legal & Compliance (L&C) team. The successful candidate will be working on a wide variety of matters, including transactional, regulatory and compliance, administrative and commercial.
What You Will Do
Transactional & Investment Support
- Participate from day one in the ideation and design of optimal legal structures and covenant drafting for deals.
- Supporting the commercial team in mitigating future legal risks and ensuring protection against events of default.
- Provide legal advice and transaction execution and management for private credit and structured finance deals.
- Draft, review, and negotiate financing agreements, security documents, intercreditor agreements, fund documentation and other customary financing and ancillary documents.
- Advise on deal structuring, legal due diligence, loan syndication and legal risk assessment for private credit and fund investments.
- Coordinate with external counsels on various aspects of local and cross-border financings involving complex structures and regulations.
- Support the Head of SIMPL in streamlining and negotiating partnerships agreements with co-investors.
Regulatory & Compliance
- Monitor and advise SIMPL on legal and regulatory developments affecting its business investments in applicable jurisdictions, by partnering with IHQ and local L&C teams or external counsels.
- Support SIMPLs preparation and adoption of internal policies, frameworks and guidelines to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
L&C Risk Management & Governance
- Assist SIMPL stakeholders to identify, assess and mitigate legal and regulatory risks arising from its business, in accordance with the Global Legal & Compliance Policy and all other Saison Global frameworks and guidelines.
- Provide legal analysis and contribute to the drafting of legal risk assessments in reports prepared for the Credit Committee.
- Participate in discussions and negotiations related to debt restructurings and work out scenarios.
- Support and work closely with IHQ L&C team on SIMPL contentious matters.
General Corporate & Commercial Support
- Draft, review and negotiate commercial contracts, NDAs and vendor contracts.
- Provide strategic, ad hoc, ongoing or project-based advice and legal and compliance support to SIMPL stakeholders.
- Coordinate with various stakeholders in Singapore and overseas on SIMPL corporate matters according to applicable operating procedures and internal policies.
- Manage internal E-bibles and other SIMPL folders.
- Carry out such other duties and responsibilities as may be required by SIMPL or Group General Counsel from time to time.
What You Will Bring
- Bachelor&aposs (or higher) degree in law, and having been called to the bar in Singapore or a Commonwealth jurisdiction.
- Excellent academic credentials and requisite legal training at one or more reputable law firms.
- Minimum 5 years of post-qualification experiences in private legal practice, in-house experiences would be preferable but not essential.
- High standard of work quality and deliverables, including strong organisational skills, excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
- Excellent time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities whilst maintaining high standard of deliverables, and meeting competing deadlines under pressure.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively and succinctly with senior leaders, stakeholders and peers, and various external parties.
- An independent self-starter, proactive, able to take initiatives without instructions, and be accountable for the work assigned.
- Fluidity of mindset, able to adapt and embrace challenges and constructive feedback, and willing to learn difficult new concepts.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and DocuSign or other similar execution platforms.
- Happy, sunny, easy-going personality, and enjoy working in a small but expanding team.
We are looking for a proactive individual who enjoys working in a multicultural environment, is eager to learn, and feels comfortable sharing their ideas and contributing to team discussions.
If you meet these qualifications and are interested in this position, please submit your resume and a cover letter explaining your qualifications and experience. We look forward to hearing from you!
