Consultant

The Consultant will lead the development and standardisation of key finance precedents and related legal documentation across DLA Piper Africa, supporting the delivery of a consistent, market-leading client experience across multiple jurisdictions. Working closely with lawyers and stakeholders across the Africa network, the role will help create a unified suite of high-quality finance documents that strengthen collaboration, enhance operational efficiency, and reinforce the DLA Piper brand. Through this work, the Consultant will contribute to the firm's strategic objective of providing seamless, cross-border legal solutions to international and regional clients operating across Africa.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of the Africa Finance Documentation Standardisation Project, ensuring the successful creation of a consistent suite of finance precedents and related documents for use across DLA Piper Africa member firms and jurisdictions.
• Produce and maintain high-quality, market-leading finance documentation that reflects best practice, supports risk management, and meets the expectations of international and regional financial institution clients.
• Drive consistency across the Africa network by establishing standardised approaches, document structures, and drafting principles that can be adopted across multiple jurisdictions.
• Collaborate with lawyers and stakeholders across DLA Piper Africa and the wider international Finance practice to ensure documentation is aligned with client needs, market standards, and the firm's strategic objectives.
• Provide subject matter expertise on finance documentation and legal know-how, ensuring outputs are practical, commercially relevant, and capable of supporting cross-border transactions throughout Africa.
• Strengthen knowledge sharing and collaboration across member firms through the development of accessible, reusable precedents that improve efficiency and promote consistent ways of working.
• Ensure the timely delivery of agreed project outcomes within the six-month engagement period, managing priorities and stakeholder expectations to achieve key project milestones.
• Support the enhancement of the DLA Piper Africa brand and client experience by delivering documentation that demonstrates quality, consistency, and the firm's ability to provide seamless legal services across multiple jurisdictions.
• Draft and focus on standardising finance documents (including Security Documents, legal opinions, resolutions, formalities certificates and other condition precedent documents) across 20 Africa jurisdictions.

About you

• Significant experience as a Banking & Finance lawyer, Professional Support Lawyer, Knowledge Lawyer, or equivalent finance specialist, with strong expertise in finance transactions and related legal documentation.
• Demonstrable experience developing, drafting, and implementing legal precedents, templates, and know-how resources within a leading law firm or equivalent professional services environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of finance documentation, including security documents, legal opinions, resolutions, formalities certificates, conditions precedent documentation, and associated transaction documents.
• Experience delivering complex knowledge management, document standardisation, or process improvement projects across multiple jurisdictions and stakeholder groups.
• Ability to influence and build credibility with senior lawyers and stakeholders across an international and matrixed organisation, fostering collaboration and consensus.
• Strong understanding of cross-border legal practice and the requirements of international financial institutions and other multinational clients operating across Africa.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outputs within demanding timescales while maintaining attention to detail and consistency.
• Excellent drafting, analytical, and quality assurance skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical, user-friendly precedents and guidance.
• Experience working across diverse jurisdictions and cultures, with an appreciation of the legal and commercial considerations relevant to the African market.
• Qualified lawyer with substantial post-qualification experience in Banking & Finance, ideally operating at Senior Associate, Legal Director, Professional Support Lawyer, or equivalent level.

About us

We're a global law firm helping our clients achieve their goals wherever they do business. Our pursuit of innovation has transformed our delivery of legal services. With offices in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, we deliver exceptional outcomes on cross-border projects, critical transactions and high-stakes disputes.

At DLA Piper, we understand that inclusion is not a one-size-fits-all concept. We embrace and celebrate the range of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences that each individual brings to our firm. By fostering a culture that welcomes and appreciates all aspects of our individuality, we ensure that everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

Our commitment to inclusion and positive social impact enables us to provide exceptional service to our clients and communities, while nurturing a unique and inclusive culture for all our people. We welcome the unique contribution that you will bring to our firm and actively encourage applications from all talented people – however your talent is packaged, whatever your background or circumstance and regardless of how you identify.

We are committed to being accessible and accommodating any reasonable adjustments needed throughout the recruitment process to ensure an inclusive experience for all. If you need any support or adjustments, please let us know.

Where local legislation permits, we will conduct relevant pre-engagement screening checks prior to your first day.