Legal Counsel - Europe, Middle East, and Central Asia

Build a career with impact. Working at the World Bank Group (WBG) provides a unique opportunity to help countries solve their greatest development challenges. As one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, the WBG is a unique partnership of five global institutions dedicated to ending poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, the WBG works with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions, and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

The Legal Department of IFC (CLED), under the Vice President and General Counsel, is responsible for providing legal and policy advice to the IFC Board, its Management and client departments on operational, advisory, and corporate matters. Specifically, CLED supports client departments in (i) the delivery of IFC’s annual program of financing private sector projects in emerging markets, advisory services, as well as early stage engagements and pre-investment project development work to identify opportunities for private sector investments and creating markets (“Upstream”); (ii) project portfolio management (including jeopardy projects and projects in litigation); (iii) the delivery and design of structured finance products, sub-national lending, equity and quasi-equity and public- private partnerships, and investments in funds, as well as platform products; (iv) advising on corporate policy and operational matters; and (v) knowledge management and training.

To support IFC’s activities in Europe (“EUR”) as well as in the Middle East, Türkiye, Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan region (“MCT”), the IFC Legal Department is recruiting legal counsel, to be based in Istanbul, Türkiye. The position will report to the Assistant General Counsel for Europe, Middle East, Türkiye, Central Asia, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The Istanbul Office is a regional hub for IFC in the MCT region serving the broader region of MCT/EUR  in the legal domain.  While the position will be based in Istanbul, the following Terms of Reference will relate to work in the two regions described above, allowing rich cross border experience. We are looking to enrich our Istanbul hub with a diverse talented legal team, interacting very closely with our other regional legal and business teams in Vienna, Warsaw, Amman, Beirut, Dubai and Karachi, as well as teams in other regions and at Headquarters/Washington D.C. 

Duties and Accountabilities:
• Provide advice and support to investment clients in debt and equity, project and corporate financings involving multiple financiers in a broad range of sectors,  with a focus on financial institutions, capital markets and structured finance.
• Assume primary lawyer responsibility for new and portfolio investments and advisory services in EUR & MCT.
• Work closely with client departments as needed, as they embark on identifying and assessing Upstream opportunities and advise on the design and implementation of scalable solutions and platforms that can be replicated across markets.
• Advise on the selection of outside counsel in EUR & MCT, manage outside counsel and legal costs effectively.
• Interact and communicate with colleagues in Washington and other regions to facilitate the provision of excellent legal services in EUR & MCT, including providing advice and support to colleagues in Washington and other regions working on projects in EUR & MCT.
• Provide leadership in designing and delivering trainings, and commit to knowledge sharing in general.
• Take leadership on and advise internal clients on institutional and corporate matters.
• Provide general advice and support with respect to all aspects of IFC’s business in EUR & MCT.
• Build strong knowledge about business in the EUR & MCT regions and effectively share knowledge and best practices.
• Use language skills to facilitate communication with external clients from the region.