About the role&nbsp;The Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative (CCLI) is seeking a qualified US lawyer with deep expertise in US financial services and pensions law to lead our US-focused investor workstream. This is a pivotal role aimed at advancing legal clarity around investor fiduciary duties in the context of climate and nature risks within the US financial system.&nbsp;You will work closely with our UK-based team to deliver a strategic programme of legal analysis and stakeholder engagement. This includes scoping and commissioning authoritative legal opinions, developing practical resources for investors, and cultivating relationships with key stakeholders in the US.&nbsp;This is a rare opportunity to shape thinking and practice at the intersection of finance, law, and the systemic risks posed by climate change and nature loss - within a globally respected organisation.&nbsp;About CCLI&nbsp;The Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative (CCLI) is a UK charity that examines the legal duties of corporate and investor decision-makers to consider and manage climate- and nature-related risks and opportunities - and the circumstances in which there may be liability for failing to do so.&nbsp;Founded by the University of Oxford, ClientEarth, and Accounting for Sustainability (established by the then Prince of Wales), CCLI operates at the intersection of law, finance, and science.&nbsp;Our multidisciplinary approach enables us to translate complex legal frameworks into practical, accessible tools that empower directors, trustees and their advisers to integrate climate- and nature-related considerations into governance and decision-making. We do not litigate, but rather show that existing legal frameworks already require action in the face of escalating systemic risks.&nbsp;CCLI conducts legal research, engages with the private, public, third and academic sectors and hosts capacity-building events around the world. Our work supports corporates and investors in understanding legal duties, strengthening governance, and aligning strategies with the transition to a sustainable and resilient global economy.&nbsp;Key responsibilities&nbsp;<ul><li>Design and lead CCLI’s US legal strategy, focused on fiduciary and investor duties relating to climate and nature risks.</li><li>Identify and scope high-impact topics for legal opinion.</li><li>Commission independent legal opinions from leading US commercial law firms, ensuring clarity and impartiality.</li><li>Develop practical tools and guidance materials for investors to support application of legal insights in real-world governance and decision-making contexts.</li><li>Build and maintain strategic relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including legal practitioners, institutional investors, regulators, academics, and civil society organisations.</li><li>Organise and participate in conferences, workshops, webinars, and roundtables to share findings and facilitate peer learning and professional development.</li><li>Represent CCLI in external forums, events, and high-level discussions.</li><li>Track project milestones, evaluate impact, and prepare reports for funders.</li><li>Provide coaching and guidance to junior team members and foster a collaborative, learning-oriented team culture.</li><li>Support CCLI’s fundraising strategy and identify opportunities for future funding partnerships as needed.</li></ul>&nbsp;About you&nbsp;You are a senior legal professional with a strong command of financial services and pensions law in the US, and with deep expertise in the US financial services and pensions market. You are a self-starter - proactive, adaptable, and comfortable taking the lead on a high-impact workstream within a small, agile organisation. You think strategically, work independently, and collaborate effectively across disciplines and time zones. You are as confident in engaging with senior stakeholders as you are in coaching and supporting junior colleagues.&nbsp;You bring a demonstrated interest in applying your legal expertise to the challenges posed by climate change and nature loss, and are motivated by the opportunity to help align financial systems with long-term sustainability and resilience. You are excited by the idea of using existing legal frameworks to clarify duties and empower meaningful behavioural change.&nbsp;You understand what it means to work in a mission-driven organisation. You are comfortable pitching in across tasks, from external stakeholder engagement to internal reporting and operational support, and you are committed to maintaining high standards across everything you do.&nbsp;Qualifications and experience&nbsp;Essential:&nbsp;<ul><li>Qualified US lawyer (or former US practising lawyer) with significant experience in the US legal and regulatory system.</li><li>Strong background in financial services regulation, fiduciary duties, pensions law, or related fields.</li><li>Demonstrated experience working with or advising institutional investors, asset managers, pension funds, or financial regulators.</li><li>Demonstrated interest in the role of law in addressing climate and nature-related financial risks and opportunities.</li><li>Excellent analytical and legal research skills.</li><li>Outstanding communication, written and verbal skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts for varied audiences.</li><li>Eligible to work and reside in the UK (remote or hybrid), with occasional international travel.</li></ul>&nbsp;Desirable:&nbsp;<ul><li>Experience across both corporate and charity/non-profit sectors.</li><li>Familiarity with legal and financial developments related to climate and nature risks.</li><li>Experience commissioning legal opinions or managing external legal counsel.</li><li>Exposure to interdisciplinary or cross-jurisdictional projects.</li><li>Established networks within the US legal, regulatory, or institutional investor communities.</li></ul>&nbsp;Working at CCLI&nbsp;CCLI offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of legal thinking and market transformation. As part of a small but influential team, you’ll engage with global experts and contribute to shaping the legal foundations for better climate and nature governance across the financial system.&nbsp;As a small and ambitious charity, we expect team members to take initiative and contribute across the organisation. This includes helping to deliver high-quality legal analysis, managing funder and partner relationships, and supporting our shared operational infrastructure. In return, you will gain exposure to leading international work, have space to innovate, and see the tangible impact of your contribution.&nbsp;We offer flexible working arrangements, including remote or hybrid options and access to a London-based co-working space.How to applyPlease submit your CV and a cover letter (maximum two pages) outlining your interest in the role and your suitability to:&nbsp;Natalie Shippen (Executive Director) at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:natalie.shippen@commonwealthclimatelaw.org">natalie.shippen@commonwealthclimatelaw.org</a>. Subject line: Senior lawyer - US investor focus.

The Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative (CCLI) is a UK charity that examines the legal duties of corporate and investor decision-makers to consider and manage climate- and nature-related risks and opportunities - and the circumstances in which there may be liability for failing to do so.Founded by the University of Oxford, ClientEarth, and Accounting for Sustainability (established by the then Prince of Wales), CCLI operates at the intersection of law, finance, and science.Our multidisciplinary approach enables us to translate complex legal frameworks into practical, accessible tools that empower directors, trustees and their advisers to integrate climate- and nature-related considerations into governance and decision-making. We do not litigate, but rather show that existing legal frameworks already require action in the face of escalating systemic risks.CCLI conducts legal research, engages with the private, public, third and academic sectors and hosts capacity-building events around the world. Our work supports corporates and investors in understanding legal duties, strengthening governance, and aligning strategies with the transition to a sustainable and resilient global economy.

Senior lawyer – US investor focus

About the role&nbsp;The Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative (CCLI) is seeking a qualified US lawyer with deep expertise in US financial services and pensions law to lead our US-focused investor workstream. This is a pivotal role aimed at advancing legal clarity around investor fiduciary duties in the context of climate and nature risks within the US financial system.&nbsp;You will work closely with our UK-based team to deliver a strategic programme of legal analysis and stakeholder engagement. This includes scoping and commissioning authoritative legal opinions, developing practical resources for investors, and cultivating relationships with key stakeholders in the US.&nbsp;This is a rare opportunity to shape thinking and practice at the intersection of finance, law, and the systemic risks posed by climate change and nature loss - within a globally respected organisation.&nbsp;About CCLI&nbsp;The Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative (CCLI) is a UK charity that examines the legal duties of corporate and investor decision-makers to consider and manage climate- and nature-related risks and opportunities - and the circumstances in which there may be liability for failing to do so.&nbsp;Founded by the University of Oxford, ClientEarth, and Accounting for Sustainability (established by the then Prince of Wales), CCLI operates at the intersection of law, finance, and science.&nbsp;Our multidisciplinary approach enables us to translate complex legal frameworks into practical, accessible tools that empower directors, trustees and their advisers to integrate climate- and nature-related considerations into governance and decision-making. We do not litigate, but rather show that existing legal frameworks already require action in the face of escalating systemic risks.&nbsp;CCLI conducts legal research, engages with the private, public, third and academic sectors and hosts capacity-building events around the world. Our work supports corporates and investors in understanding legal duties, strengthening governance, and aligning strategies with the transition to a sustainable and resilient global economy.&nbsp;Key responsibilities&nbsp;<ul><li>Design and lead CCLI’s US legal strategy, focused on fiduciary and investor duties relating to climate and nature risks.</li><li>Identify and scope high-impact topics for legal opinion.</li><li>Commission independent legal opinions from leading US commercial law firms, ensuring clarity and impartiality.</li><li>Develop practical tools and guidance materials for investors to support application of legal insights in real-world governance and decision-making contexts.</li><li>Build and maintain strategic relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including legal practitioners, institutional investors, regulators, academics, and civil society organisations.</li><li>Organise and participate in conferences, workshops, webinars, and roundtables to share findings and facilitate peer learning and professional development.</li><li>Represent CCLI in external forums, events, and high-level discussions.</li><li>Track project milestones, evaluate impact, and prepare reports for funders.</li><li>Provide coaching and guidance to junior team members and foster a collaborative, learning-oriented team culture.</li><li>Support CCLI’s fundraising strategy and identify opportunities for future funding partnerships as needed.</li></ul>&nbsp;About you&nbsp;You are a senior legal professional with a strong command of financial services and pensions law in the US, and with deep expertise in the US financial services and pensions market. You are a self-starter - proactive, adaptable, and comfortable taking the lead on a high-impact workstream within a small, agile organisation. You think strategically, work independently, and collaborate effectively across disciplines and time zones. You are as confident in engaging with senior stakeholders as you are in coaching and supporting junior colleagues.&nbsp;You bring a demonstrated interest in applying your legal expertise to the challenges posed by climate change and nature loss, and are motivated by the opportunity to help align financial systems with long-term sustainability and resilience. You are excited by the idea of using existing legal frameworks to clarify duties and empower meaningful behavioural change.&nbsp;You understand what it means to work in a mission-driven organisation. You are comfortable pitching in across tasks, from external stakeholder engagement to internal reporting and operational support, and you are committed to maintaining high standards across everything you do.&nbsp;Qualifications and experience&nbsp;Essential:&nbsp;<ul><li>Qualified US lawyer (or former US practising lawyer) with significant experience in the US legal and regulatory system.</li><li>Strong background in financial services regulation, fiduciary duties, pensions law, or related fields.</li><li>Demonstrated experience working with or advising institutional investors, asset managers, pension funds, or financial regulators.</li><li>Demonstrated interest in the role of law in addressing climate and nature-related financial risks and opportunities.</li><li>Excellent analytical and legal research skills.</li><li>Outstanding communication, written and verbal skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts for varied audiences.</li><li>Eligible to work and reside in the UK (remote or hybrid), with occasional international travel.</li></ul>&nbsp;Desirable:&nbsp;<ul><li>Experience across both corporate and charity/non-profit sectors.</li><li>Familiarity with legal and financial developments related to climate and nature risks.</li><li>Experience commissioning legal opinions or managing external legal counsel.</li><li>Exposure to interdisciplinary or cross-jurisdictional projects.</li><li>Established networks within the US legal, regulatory, or institutional investor communities.</li></ul>&nbsp;Working at CCLI&nbsp;CCLI offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of legal thinking and market transformation. As part of a small but influential team, you’ll engage with global experts and contribute to shaping the legal foundations for better climate and nature governance across the financial system.&nbsp;As a small and ambitious charity, we expect team members to take initiative and contribute across the organisation. This includes helping to deliver high-quality legal analysis, managing funder and partner relationships, and supporting our shared operational infrastructure. In return, you will gain exposure to leading international work, have space to innovate, and see the tangible impact of your contribution.&nbsp;We offer flexible working arrangements, including remote or hybrid options and access to a London-based co-working space.How to applyPlease submit your CV and a cover letter (maximum two pages) outlining your interest in the role and your suitability to:&nbsp;Natalie Shippen (Executive Director) at <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:natalie.shippen@commonwealthclimatelaw.org">natalie.shippen@commonwealthclimatelaw.org</a>. Subject line: Senior lawyer - US investor focus.

Senior lawyer – US investor focus

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Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative

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