Junior Legal Counsel

Junior Legal Counsel – Hedge Fund / Asset Management

Job Description

We are seeking a junior lawyer with approximately 2–3 years' experience to join our legal team and work directly with the General Counsel.

This is a broad in-house role providing exposure to the legal, regulatory, human resources and commercial issues involved in operating an asset management business. The candidate will work closely with the General Counsel, Operations and Compliance and will be involved in matters across the business rather than being limited to purely legal matters.

The role would suit a commercially minded lawyer who is interested in financial markets and wants to develop into a well-rounded asset management lawyer.

Prior finance and/or hedge fund experience is helpful but is not essential. We are more interested in strong legal fundamentals, intellectual curiosity, commercial judgment and an ability to work independently and learn quickly.

Development and Opportunity

The position offers an unusually broad exposure for a lawyer at this level including the commercial/business side of the business.

You will gain experience across fund structuring, trading documentation, financial regulation, corporate and commercial matters, employment issues, investor negotiations and the day-to-day legal issues arising in a hedge fund business.

The objective is to develop into a lawyer capable of independently handling a substantial portion of the firm's day-to-day legal function, while continuing to work closely with the General Counsel on strategically important matters.

Key Responsibilities

Fund and Investment Management

• Assist with legal matters relating to the operation and ongoing maintenance of the firm's investment funds and investment management structures.
• Review and assist with amendments and updates to fund documentation and related agreements.
• Coordinate with external counsel, administrators, directors and other fund service providers on legal matters.

Trading and Counterparty Documentation

• Review, negotiate and maintain trading and counterparty documentation, including ISDA Master Agreements, GMRAs, prime brokerage agreements, futures and clearing documentation and other trading agreements.
• Assist with onboarding new brokers, counterparties and trading relationships.
• Review legal and regulatory representations requested by counterparties and assess their application to the relevant fund or trading entity.

Corporate and Commercial

• Draft, review and negotiate NDAs, vendor contracts and other commercial contracts.
• Assist with corporate governance matters, board materials, resolutions and maintenance of the firm's corporate entities.
• Support employment matters, including draft or amending employment agreements and other employee-related legal issues.

Regulatory and Compliance

• Assist with matters involving derivatives regulation, margin requirements, market conduct, investor classifications, cross-border investment restrictions and market-access regimes.
• Assist with maintaining and updating internal compliance policies as well as draft new policies and/or procedures
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments and help assess their practical impact on the business.

Legal Risk Management

• Legal risk register - Identify legal and contractual risks and escalate material issues to the General Counsel.
• Assist in developing and maintaining document management processes including standardisation of terms and developing use of AI to assist in making documentation review, comparison and production more efficient.
• Maintain records of material agreements, contractual obligations and legal advice.
• Work with external counsel where specialist or jurisdiction-specific advice is required
• Work with sub-advisors in located in the Asia region

Qualifications

• Approximately 2–3 years' PQE gained at a law firm and/or financial institution.
• Qualification in major common-law jurisdiction.
• Strong drafting, analytical and legal research skills.
• Strong attention to detail while retaining an understanding of the broader commercial objective.
• Some understanding of corporate, commercial, banking, financial regulatory, derivatives, funds or asset management laws and/or regulations.
• An interest in financial markets and a willingness to develop a detailed understanding of the firm's investment and trading activities.
• The ability to analyse unfamiliar legal and regulatory issues and reach practical conclusions.
• The confidence to work directly with counterparties and outside counsel.
• The ability to work independently and manage multiple matters and priorities in a fast-moving environment.
• Candidates with experience with investment funds, derivatives documentation, financial regulation or asset management are strongly preferred.