Legal Counsel - Investment Management

Job Profile Summary

We are seeking an English or Irish-qualified Funds or Financial Services Solicitor to join the Manulife Investment Management Europe in-house legal team.

The role offers exposure to a wide range of sophisticated legal matters in the asset management space covering a range of products and asset classes. The successful candidate will work closely with investment, compliance, marketing and distribution, operations, and other infrastructure teams across the business.

The role is well-suited for a corporate and/or financial services “generalist” who is willing to work across a wide range of matters. However, a generalist background is not a pre-requisite and we can consider candidates who have previously specialised in a particular area but are willing to expand their knowledge base and work across new areas.

JOB DESCRIPTION

People Leader Role: No
Responsibilities:
Transaction & Trading Documentation

• Draft, review and negotiate a broad range of transaction and trading documents including:
  • Trade-specific documentation in respect of primary issuance of private and public deals (often working alongside outside counsel)
  • Secondary market trading documentation such as transfer agreements, rep letters, etc
• Advise on legal and regulatory issues arising in the course of trading and investment activities

Fund Structuring & Launches

• Support existing funds and structuring and launch of new funds, investment products, third party mandates, including preparation and review of fund offering memoranda, constitutional documents, subscription documents, IMAs and side letters
• Review and negotiation of service provider agreements such as Administration, Depositary, and Custody Agreements.
• Coordinate with external counsel as needed

Distribution & Marketing

• Review and negotiation of Distribution Agreements, Investor side letters, DDQs etc.

General Corporate & Governance

• Draft and negotiate commercial and corporate agreements (e.g. service agreements, NDAs, board resolutions)
• Provide support on governance matters including board and committee support, policies and entity management
• Support on regulatory change projects and initiatives

Sustainability

• Ad hoc support on sustainability regulatory change projects
• Ad hoc support on firm/product sustainability disclosures

Key Requirements

• Qualified lawyer - England & Wales or Ireland with 2–3 years PQE at a law firm or in-house
• Understanding of financial products and structures, preferably in the credit space desirable
• Experience with fund launches and/or asset management regulatory frameworks (AIFMD, UCITS, MiFID)
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills; commercial and pragmatic approach
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment

Additional Requirements

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills
• A thoughtful style – able to operate with a high level of discretion and poise
• A strong sense of curiosity and the aptitude to quickly identify and respond to legal risk

What can we offer?

• A chance to join the entrepreneurial London office of one of the world’s leading, and most successful, asset managers.
• A fantastic, supportive, culture.
• A competitive salary and benefits package.
• A growth trajectory that extends upward and outward, encouraging pursuit of passions and learning new skills.
• A focus on growing career pathways.

• Flexible work policies and strong work-life balance

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact recruitment@manulife.com.

Hybrid