My client is a small bespoke asset manager who are looking to hire a Sole Counsel due to growth and expansion of the business.
The Role
- General Counsel - based in London (Full time, permanent)
- The nature of the role is such that significant visibility in the office is essential, so the successful applicant will spend most of their time working from the office, located near Earls Court (5 days per week).
- The potential BAU work covered is varied, ranging from drafting and negotiating commercial contracts and terms of business, to commercial data sales agreements, landlord and tenant, company law and financial services regulation.
- Advice to key executive management (CEO and directors) on strategic projects regulatory licensing and authorisation process in foreign markets/ jurisdictions, commercial real estate lease negotiations, fund launch expertise and knowledge on ad hoc basis).
- Regulatory Horizon scanning in relevant geographical zones of business that may impact on the firm's activities
- A key area of focus will be drafting and negotiating bespoke employment contracts as well as dealing with and advising on employment law as and when required.
- Managing Contentious matters (litigation and employment related disputes) and defending the firm's interest wherever necessary.
- Supervision over the HR function (grievances, disciplinaries, visas) where necessary and advice on management of corporate governance frameworks/ matters.
- General Counsel will work closely with the Senior Compliance Officer (SMF16 and MLRO), who will have a dotted line to the General Counsel but who will mainly run Compliance function independently)
- Advice to the accounting, IT, HR, financial services and operations professionals in an environment which has an open-door culture.
- The successful applicant will be a self- starter and effective communicator, who is able to get on with the role without the need for monitoring or supervision and able to influence/ steer executive management, junior support staff and brokers where necessary. The role comes with a high level of responsibility where the General Counsel is expected to assess legal risk and make decisions on behalf of the firm at times, steering management to his/her viewpoint.
- Legal Counsel will also be part of the Firm's management team and there will be an expectation for Legal Counsel to assist in the administration of managerial functions as and when required, such as HR.
The Applicant
- Preferably a UK qualified Solicitor with 6- 10 years PQE (though applicants outside of this bracket who feel they have relevant experience are also encouraged to apply).
- The role would suit someone adaptable, versatile, nimble and able to deal with the legal matters with which they may not be readily familiar often to tight deadlines with little need for supervision. Knowing how to find the answer is more important than already knowing.
- The applicant should come from a financial services sector background and be reasonably familiar with employment law, corporate law, basic banking and finance principles, regulatory matters
- As a generalist, however, it is not assumed or expected that the candidate should be an expert in each of these fields.
- Applicant must have previously worked in a regulated financial services environment or had financial services clients whilst in private practice.
- Previous experience working in house is a must with senior legal management experience demonstrating responsibilities as a sole counsel/ leading member of small legal function for a diverse regulated financial services business.
- The applicant will need to be practical in their approach and react to urgent instructions quickly.