Fund Formation and Sponsor Solutions Paralegal (Entity Management) 12-month FTC

Macfarlanes LLP; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Macfarlanes LLP is recruiting a Fund Formation and Sponsor Solutions Paralegal on a 12-month fixed-term contract. The role focuses on supporting the deal team with the formation and ongoing governance of SPV structures across multiple jurisdictions.

The successful candidate will have prior paralegal work, ideally in entity management, corporate governance or company secretarial work, and will engage closely with senior stakeholders and cross-border client teams.

Qualifications

• Paralegal background with entity management or corporate governance experience.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently or in a team and manage deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Assist the deal team with the incorporation and set-up of SPV structures across jurisdictions.
• Monitor SPV structures in coordination with service providers and deal teams.
• Oversee sale or wind-up of SPV structures and manage relationships with service providers.
• Lead governance-related workstreams and related tasks as required.
• Perform ad hoc administrative tasks including maintenance of internal SPV records.

Skills

Paralegal experience

Entity management

Corporate governance

Job description

Fund Formation and Sponsor Solutions Paralegal (Entity Management) 12-month FTC

We are recruiting a Paralegal to join our Fund Formation and Sponsor Solutions group on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

About Macfarlanes

Macfarlanes is a pre-eminent law firm that serves a global client base in Private Capital, Private Wealth, M&A and Disputes. Personal connection, an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to excellence are at the heart of our firm. These values drive our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients.

We are big enough to undertake the most complex and demanding mandates yet small enough to know each other well and to be agile, adapting to the needs of our clients. We seek to strengthen the firm by recruiting talented people from all backgrounds who want to build long-lasting and impactful careers with us. Our culture is challenging and supportive, creating an environment where individuals can thrive.

What this means for you

Joining Macfarlanes means being part of a collaborative, Partner-led team where you’ll develop and learn from experienced lawyers and business professionals. Our size means you’ll be given genuine responsibility early on and often be involved at the heart of client matters, gaining insight into how our high-quality legal advice is developed and delivered to help clients overcome their most pressing issues.

You’ll work closely with senior colleagues who are approachable and who want you to succeed. You’ll be encouraged to get involved in client and business development activities, and you’ll be recognised for your contribution.

The majority of our work has a cross-border focus, so you’ll often collaborate with global clients and specialist advisers in overseas jurisdictions. You’ll build connections with international law firms, broaden your experience, and be part of a multidisciplinary team that comes together to achieve the best results.

We also place real importance on your development. Our training and mentoring programmes are second to none, and designed to help you strengthen your legal and commercial skills.

Above all, you’ll be part of a firm where we all work together as part of a cohesive and supportive team, where you’ll be recognised and appreciated, and encouraged to succeed.

Practice overview

Our Fund Formation and Sponsor Solutions group consists of eight Partners, two Senior Counsel, four Senior Associates, 16 Associates, six Trainee Solicitors, 14 Paralegals and one Senior Knowledge Lawyer.

Our Fund Formation and Sponsor Solutions group combines market leading funds and M&A expertise to advise sponsors, managers, investors and service providers across the full spectrum of global funds. We support at every phase of the lifecycle, providing counsel to UK and international managers on establishing funds in multi jurisdictions advising institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds and family offices on primary fund investments, co-investments and secondaries. Combined with our extensive sponsor-side experience, we have sharp market insight and positions us at the forefront of evolving industry practice. In addition, we advise on transactions across private capital and investment management, including seed capital arrangements, GP stake transactions, continuation vehicle structures and preferred equity solutions.

The role

This role will involve providing support to a key client of the firm and the successful individual will work full time with the client, who is one of Europe’s leading alternative asset management firms.

The individual will be required to carry out work that is accurate, well-structured and decision-ready. Key duties will include:

• assisting the deal team with the incorporation and set-up of various deal SPV structures in a variety of jurisdictions;
• overseeing the ongoing monitoring of these SPV structures working alongside the deal team and service providers;
• overseeing the sale or wind-up of these SPV structures;
• assisting the deal team with management of service providers relationships;
• leading corporate governance-related workstreams and tasks as and when required; and
• assisting with ad hoc administrative tasks as and when required including maintenance of internal records for SPV structures.

This job description encompasses the main duties of the role and is by no means exhaustive. It is anticipated that duties may vary from time to time according to the needs of the practice area.

The individual will receive the departmental training provided to all new joiners, as well as that provided to trainees.

The candidate

The successful candidate will:

• have worked as a paralegal before, ideally in entity management, corporate governance or company secretarial work;
• be confident and comfortable dealing with senior stakeholders and deal teams;
• like getting to grips with structure charts and understanding how complex group and deal structures fit together;
• be highly organised and pays close attention to detail, with the ability to manage many filing deadlines across a large number of entities;
• take a pro-active stance, able to work independently following appropriate instruction or in a team and take responsibility for the work product delivered; and
• be adaptable and quick to learn, comfortable picking up new structures, jurisdictions and local requirements as deals demand, and able to work out the right process where there is no precedent to follow.

We have a paralegal development programme which is designed to equip our paralegals with the broad range of skills and knowledge they need to be effective in their roles. The programme also includes sessions covering essential legal and business skills required at the start of a career in law, recognising the fact that many solicitors begin their careers as paralegals.

Paralegals looking to qualify as associates are encouraged to apply for our Training Programme.

Some paralegals may prefer not to (or are unable to) undertake the Training Programme route for a variety of reasons, choosing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) route instead. The firm will offer study leave and exam leave for paralegals sitting the SQE, and will sign off QWE (that meets the SRA’s requirements) gained at Macfarlanes. Internal paralegals that have qualified in this way may be considered for NQ vacancies not filled by those qualifying through the firm’s Training Programme and where the firm is or may be looking to recruit externally providing they have completed at least one year of their QWE at Macfarlanes and passed both SQE 1 and SQE 2 on the first attempt.

Application screening

Any offer of employment with us is subject to our pre-employment checks which are conducted by a third-party screening provider. These may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, any criminal records and employment references. These checks will be initiated with your consent and your offer will be subject to the successful completion of these checks.

Our commitment to inclusion

Inclusion is one of our key priorities and it is a goal we are actively working towards. We believe that an inclusive, forward-thinking culture is intrinsically important and enables us to provide innovative solutions to our clients.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, bringing different perspectives and experiences, making Macfarlanes an exciting and stimulating place to work. We seek to recruit the best candidates, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, social or economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation or any other characteristic.

As part of this commitment, we will ask you certain diversity data questions. We would really appreciate you and/or your recruiter completing these questions when submitting an application to Macfarlanes as this data enables us to measure our progress and identify any actions needed to continue to support an inclusive culture. This data is anonymised to maintain the privacy of applicants. If you have any questions relating to how this data is used, please contact a member of the recruitment team.

Should you require any adjustments during the application and/or interview process, please do not hesitate to inform your recruiter or a member of the recruitment team. Please note, the job description is available in other accessible formats (for example, large print).

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the essential criteria for the role. If you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme, please email the recruitment team at [e-mail] .

From pro bono work to mentoring and sustainability, we focus on what matters. We use our skills and resources to make a positive difference, for our clients, our people and our communities.