A true expert in the development of markets and addressing the needs of emerging economies, Christopher Garner is a lawyer that has carved out a specialist role in which he provides legal support to the Dutch development bank FMO. Moving to the in-house sector after obtaining several years in private practice at international law firms Slaughter and May, Skadden Arps, and White & Case, Garner joined FMO in 2012 bringing with him a large amount of knowledge and experience across a range of areas including project finance, M&A, private equity and structured finance.

He sums up his current role at the development bank as follows: ‘During my time at FMO I have focused on ensuring the legal department delivers real value to each investment the bank makes, that the legal team has developed in expertise and focus, and that we deliver legal support in an efficient manner. I have also sought to transfer the knowledge gained in my activities in this sector to other impact and development professionals, and equally to learn from the experiences of others, by working closely with the IFI/DFI legal community, and with the impact investment world more generally through my role on the legal executive of Global Impact Investor Network (GIIN)’.

Career highlights are plentiful for Garner, who describes his achievements in ‘understanding and becoming an expert in the development and impact spaces in Africa, and to develop as a specialist in investment funds and private equity in these markets’ as being the immediate highlight. He also explains his increased organisational remit and being entrusted as to ‘manage and develop a legal team within FMO, and institute change within the organisation to ensure that the legal department is part of the value chain and as a trusted partner within FMO’.

In addition to this high degree of expertise, Garner is commended for his ability to implement change within the organisation, having overseen a number of initiatives within the FMO business including specialisation, structured teams, commoditisation, and the creation of a law firm panel.

Important transactions, which Garner states have allowed him to ‘challenge my skills and forced different ways of thinking’ include the purchase and development of a Micro-Finance company that is active in the urban and semi-urban areas of Myanmar, an investment into the Accion Financial Inclusion Fund as well as the Gazelle Fund and a joint venture between FMO and an energy development team that has been active in Sub-Saharan Africa for many years. In addition to his strictly legal role, he is involved in groups including “The Global Impact Investor Network (GIIN)” as an executive, as well as the DFI Lawyers Council.

He explains: ‘These experiences have taken me on a journey where understanding and applying the law is only one part of the equation, as understanding the markets and clients we operate in is also central to adding value to these markets, as is understanding the organisation and its people and culture, to be able to effect change for better delivery of legal advice and support’.