Senior Legal Counsel – Switzerland – Private Equity

Job Title: Senior Legal Counsel – Switzerland – Private Equity

Location: Zurich

Business area: Legal Team

About Group

The firm is a leading provider of active asset management, advisory and wealth management. Few investment managers can match the combination of capabilities and global reach that firm offers. This breadth of services across public and private markets allows for distinctive solutions for the diverse needs of clients, who look to the firm to provide superior long-term investment outcomes.

The private markets business of the firm with, well over $112bn of AUM is one of the leaders in the industry. We work as a global network of specialised, entrepreneurial teams. We combine a global perspective with local market expertise to serve institutional and private wealth clients. Our offering spans the private markets universe and provides access to unique capabilities across private debt and credit alternatives, real estate equity, private equity, and infrastructure equity.

The firm has deep expertise in creating bespoke solutions for institutional clients and is committed to providing scalable capabilities across the spectrum of risk, return and sustainability and impact objectives.

Supported by the resources, experience, and institutional framework of one of the world’s leading asset managers, the firm is dedicated to helping investors achieve their goals and is at the forefront of product innovation to meet the evolving needs of investors.

We see our role as being a driver of positive change drawing on deep skills to select, acquire, and improve the assets we own.

The team

Based in Zurich, you will be part of the legal team supporting the Private Equity business. The team, which is located in Zurich, London, Jersey, Luxembourg and Shanghai, is part of the larger Legal team supporting the strategic growth of the business, and identifying, managing and reporting legal risks.

Working as part of the Legal Team, you will manage all legal aspects of the private equity fund and mandate structuring process and adjacent corporate and contractual matters.

What you’ll do

1. Lead and manage the legal workstreams of new funds and mandate launches for the Private Equity business, mainly for German speaking clients;
2. Partner with the Private Equity Product Structuring and Development team to contribute to product innovation and work alongside internal Client Group, Tax and Fund Operations teams to identify appropriate fund and mandate structures and outline product terms;
3. Lead structuring discussions and legal negotiations with investors;
4. Work as a legal advisor to the private equity investment team on deal and transaction management
5. Other ancillary tasks such drafting or reviewing term sheets, engagement letters, etc.;
6. Participate in internal project working groups and coordinate with further functional teams within the Private Equity and the wider group, such as Compliance, Risk Management, Client Group, Fund Operations, Finance and Treasury;
7. Foster strong relationships with external legal counsel and manage external legal advisors and other service providers efficiently; and
8. Act as legal key stakeholder and manage relationships with the Private Equity business globally.

The knowledge, experience and qualifications

1. Master’s degree in law from university and bar admission in Switzerland or Germany;
2. Strong, relevant proven experience, gained in private equity / private assets funds formation team in a leading law firm or in-house within the private equity industry;
3. Deep technical expertise with a range of private equity funds and mandates (including Luxembourg and German structures);
4. Solid legal and regulatory knowledge in relation to EU and Swiss regulatory frameworks applicable to private fund managers and products.

What you’ll be like

1. A flexible, adaptable and collaborative team player with a positive and “can do” attitude;
2. Creative and prepared to think outside the box; willing to take the initiative and to present solutions rather than problems;
3. Thrives under pressure while maintaining a high level of personal and professional integrity;
4. Clear desire and ambition for success, comfortable making decisions and prepared to make the personal commitment to ensure success;
5. Commercially minded individual with excellent analytical, interpersonal and project management skills to manage multiple projects at any one time
6. Able to bridge cultural boundaries and generate confidence and loyalty with colleagues and clients;
7. Highly collaborative team player;
8. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in German and English required. Proficiency in any other European language is a plus.