Legal Counsel

Vanguard; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading asset management firm based in the City of Westminster is looking for a qualified lawyer with at least five years of experience in financial services to provide legal and regulatory advice on their Irish funds range. This role involves strategic product development, regulatory analysis, and collaboration with various internal and external stakeholders. The firm offers a hybrid working model, emphasizing flexibility and collaborative culture.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years' PQE in an international asset management or private practice firm.
• Experience with UCITS regulation and indexing funds.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex legal issues independently.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal and regulatory advice on Vanguard's Irish funds range.
• Advise on applicable law and regulatory developments.
• Support the wider Product/IMG Legal team as needed.

Skills

Legal advice on funds

Regulatory analysis

Stakeholder management

Negotiation skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Education

Qualified lawyer with minimum five years' PQE

Job description

Responsibilities

• Provide legal and regulatory advice predominantly on Vanguard's Irish funds range including research, structuring, launch and ongoing maintenance, and engagement with law firms as appropriate. This will include providing strategic advice to the business on product development and change, drafting and reviewing fund documentation, regulatory analysis and engagement, advising on fund governance and negotiation of material service provider agreements.
• Advise on applicable law and regulatory developments affecting Irish funds.
• Support the wider Product/IMG Legal team as needed.
• Liaise with OGC teams globally, together with colleagues in other areas of the Vanguard business, and represent OGC, Europe with internal stakeholders, as required.
• Develop and maintain knowledge and awareness of the investment industry, regulatory and/or policy changes with potential impact on Vanguard's European funds and operations, including representing Vanguard on various industry bodies.
• Participate in special projects and perform other duties as required, including providing support on Irish management company matters.

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with minimum five years' PQE spent working in-house for an international asset management organization and/or in a private practice law firm, handling a variety of financial services legal and regulatory matters.
• Credible technical skills and experience interpreting funds regulation (particularly UCITS but AIFs an advantage).
• Experience advising in respect of indexing funds, including ETFs, desirable.
• Experience advising portfolio management (equity and fixed income) an advantage but not essential.
• Experience with European money market funds an advantage but not essential.
• Experience in responding to consultation papers and implementing compliance with regulatory change projects an advantage.
• A demonstrated ability to work on complex legal issues and to function in a high volume / fast-paced environment with multiple and diverse responsibilities, managing a varied and changing caseload.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder relationship management, negotiation, analytical and drafting skills, strong attention to detail and the ability to work independently on demanding legal issues and to tight deadlines.