Legal Counsel
South Pole is looking for a motivated and capable Legal Counsel with 3–5 years of post-qualification experience to join our Global Legal Team. This role offers exposure to a diverse portfolio of legal work across multiple jurisdictions, including the EMEA and North American regions. While the regional focus may vary based on the candidate’s location, the workload will include global responsibilities and cross-border legal support in line with South Pole’s international operations.
The role will report to the relevant Regional Legal Head:
If based in Colombia, the Legal Counsel will report to the Americas Regional Legal Head, located in Bogotá.
If based in India, the Legal Counsel will report to the APAC Regional Head, located in Australia.
The Legal Counsel will work closely with business teams across commercial, advisory, portfolio, and certificate operations, providing legal guidance on contracts, compliance, risk, regulatory matters, and disputes.
The Global Legal & Compliance Team
You will be part of a diverse and collaborative team of 16 legal and compliance professionals based in Colombia, Australia, Singapore, India, London, Berlin, Paris, and South Africa. The Legal & Compliance function is led by the General Counsel, based in London, who is part of the Executive Committee, reports to the CEO and works closely with the Board and investors.
The team advises on all aspects of both strategic and day-to-day legal matters, including:
M&A, JVs and Corporate Finance
Corporate and commercial law
Litigation and dispute resolution
Regulatory and compliance
Corporate secretarial
Employment law
Internal investigations and crisis management
Legal project management
Data Privacy
Public and government affairs
About South Pole
South Pole is a global climate solutions provider and carbon project developer. We support public and private sector organizations in achieving their climate and sustainability goals through two core business lines:
Certificates:
We originate and advise high-quality carbon reduction and removal projects around the world. These projects generate environmental assets such as carbon credits and renewable energy certificates, which support organizations in their decarbonization journeys.Climate Advisory Services:
Our advisory business provides end-to-end sustainability solutions, including climate risk analysis, net zero roadmaps, ESG advisory, supply chain engagement, and policy guidance. We work closely with clients to develop and implement science-based strategies that contribute to climate resilience and low-carbon transformation.
Key Responsibilities
1. Commercial Contracting & Negotiation
- Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of commercial contracts, including:
Emission Reduction Purchase Agreements (ERPAs)
Carbon removal credit sales agreements
Environmental attribute certificate contracts (e.g., I-RECs, GOs, RECs, REGOs)
Partnership agreements, consultancy and service contracts, SaaS agreements, and settlement agreements
Support contract negotiations across global stakeholders, clients, and partners.
Maintain and develop legal templates, playbooks, and process guides to ensure consistency and efficiency in global contracting.
Assist commercial teams with structuring transactions and supporting procurement and tendering processes.
Prepare a variety of legal documents, including disclaimers, debt collection notices, memorandums of understanding, non-disclosure agreements, powers of attorney, corporate resolutions, and internal legal guidance notes
2. Regulatory, Compliance & Risk Management
Provide legal guidance on cross-border regulatory issues, with a focus on ESG, sustainability, and environmental markets.
Track and interpret legal developments in priority jurisdictions to support internal decision-making.
Contribute to internal data privacy compliance programs, including incident response and ongoing alignment with relevant data protection laws (e.g. GDPR).
Support the marketing and communications teams by reviewing promotional materials for regulatory compliance.
Deliver legal training sessions to internal stakeholders on contract risks, data protection, and compliance best practices.
3. Legal Advisory & Global Collaboration
Act as a legal advisor across regions and business lines, helping teams navigate commercial, reputational, and operational legal matters.
Collaborate cross-functionally with departments such as Finance, Risk, HR, IT, Marketing and Communications to ensure process, governance, legal and regulatory alignment.
Support governance and legal process improvement projects initiated by the General Counsel, including knowledge management and automation.
Work with global teams to support consistent legal risk management and business enablement.
4. Dispute Resolution & Stakeholder Management
Support alternative dispute resolution (e.g., mediation, negotiation), including stakeholder communication and settlement discussions.
Assist with dispute resolution on ongoing matters.
Key Skills & Experience Required
Law degree and/or license to practice law common law jurisdiction: Australia, India, Singapore, New York, England or Hong Kong in addition to any domestic qualifications
Can do, “roll up your sleeves” attitude to take on areas outside your comfort zone and deep dive into unfamiliar topics (with senior support and guidance)
Sensitive and proactive handling of stakeholders in the business with responsiveness being a key criteria
4–5 years of post-qualification legal experience, ideally in a law firm or in-house role supporting cross-border commercial matters.
Strong skills in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a variety of commercial agreements.
Experience advising on compliance, risk, and regulatory issues—experience in the ESG or environmental markets is an advantage.
Ability to manage competing deadlines, work across time zones, and deliver practical, business-oriented legal advice.
Strong communication skills and a collaborative, solutions-driven mindset.
Native level proficiency in English is required.
- Department
- Corporate Services
- Locations
- Bangalore, Bogotá, D.C., Medellin
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Work-life balance
From flexible working hours to flexible workplace (home office), with above-average vacation allowances, we strive to make the work and family life puzzle an easy one for our employees.
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Flexible Vacation Benefits
Options to buy up to 5 extra days of time off.
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Life Insurance
Available to all employees across the world.
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Care for your Wellbeing
Access to mental, physical and financial wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Program (TELUS Health).
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Parental leave
Should any of our employees need to take time off the Iceberg as a result of a new addition to their household, we are happy to be able to offer competitive Paid Parental leave to support them during this time.
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Compassionate Leave
Sometimes life is unpredictable, and when unfortunate events occur, we want to give you peace of mind so you feel fully supported during this time.
What makes us unique
At South Pole, we are first and foremost a purpose-driven Company. People join us because they believe in our mission and want to be part of a community that fights together for our shared values and beliefs. But that is not the only reason why working at South Pole is such a rewarding experience.
- We know that our vision to help create a greener world is both bold and challenging. To achieve it, we settle for nothing less than the absolute best. We form a Community that is stronger than the sum of its parts.
- Entrepreneurial at heart. It’s not just our founders who are entrepreneurs. We actively promote an innovative mindset at all levels of the organisation, where each and every employee is encouraged to challenge the status quo and empowered to make decisions.
- Growing employees in a growing company. With a team of smart, passionate and engaged colleagues, as well as increasing demand from our clients, opportunities to learn, develop our skills and grow our careers are endless.
- All for one, and one for all! Above all other things, what truly drives our dedication and commitment to our purpose is our colleagues. We learn from each other and grow together. Because that is who Penguins are.
About South Pole
Our story began in Zurich, with 5 friends* in 2002. They had a belief and a vision to shape and change the future of the world through climate empowerment, education and projects with their non-profit organisation; MyClimate. These ‘social entrepreneurs’ went on to pioneer climate change with the introduction of South Pole in 2006*. More than 20 years on, with the support of some of the most passionate and talented entrepreneurs around them, who are empowered to all play their part and with their founding belief in aligning purpose with passion, people and profit, they have created South Pole, an organisation that has gone onto positively impact the lives of over 20 million people across the world through its projects, saving over 20,000 km2 of forests from deforestation.
*Patrick Bürgi, Thomas Camerata, Renat Heuberger, Ingo Puhl, and Christoph Sutter
*2006 Joined by Marco Hirsbrunner and Christoph Grobel
Legal Counsel
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