In-House Counsel

Rutherford; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Rutherford, a leading global private markets investment firm, is looking to appoint a deals counsel (VP) within its Legal Structuring team in New York. The role focuses on structuring, negotiating and executing complex private equity primary and co-investment transactions, partnering with investment professionals to manage the deal lifecycle.

You will advise on cross-border structuring, SPAs/LPAs and financing terms, lead junior lawyers, and help raise standards in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years post-qualification experience in private markets.
• Background in top law firm and/or in-house private markets.
• Admitted to the NY Bar.
• Experience with private equity, private M&A and/or private funds.
• Experience negotiating sophisticated private markets documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead structuring, negotiation and execution of complex private equity primary and co-investment transactions.
• Act as a key commercial and legal partner to investment teams throughout the deal lifecycle.
• Negotiate core transaction documents (SPAs, LPAs, shareholders/JV agreements, framework agreements, transfer docs, term sheets, side letters).
• Develop pragmatic structures balancing commercial objectives with investor, tax, regulatory and operational considerations.
• Advise on cross-border structuring and SPV/investment vehicle issues.
• Support deal financing terms and coordinate with lenders and treasury.
• Lead fund interest sales and liquidity transactions.
• Drive transactions through closing with cross-functional teams.
• Serve as senior escalation point on complex structuring across platform.
• Manage and develop junior team members.

Skills

Transactional expertise

Deal structuring

Cross-border structuring

Commercial judgment

Team leadership

Education

Law degree (JD)

Job description

Our Client, a leading global private markets investment firm, is looking to appoint a deals counsel (VP) within its Legal Structuring team.

This is a highly commercial, transaction-led role working at the heart of the investment process. The successful candidate will partner closely with investment professionals to structure, negotiate and execute complex private markets transactions, taking ownership from initial structuring through to closing.

The role offers broad exposure across the platform, with a particular focus on primary investments and co-investments, alongside opportunities to work on secondaries, infrastructure and private credit transactions. It will suit a strong transactional lawyer who combines technical expertise with commercial judgement and enjoys operating in a fast-paced investment environment.

Role:

• Lead the structuring, negotiation and execution of complex private equity primary and co-investment transactions.
• Act as a key commercial and legal partner to investment teams throughout the deal lifecycle.
• Negotiate core transaction documentation, including SPAs, LPAs, shareholder and joint venture agreements, framework agreements, transfer documents, term sheets and side letters.
• Develop pragmatic structures that balance commercial objectives with investor, tax, regulatory and operational considerations.
• Advise on cross-border structuring, acquisition vehicles and SPVs, investor restrictions and other complex execution issues.
• Support deal-level financing and work directly with lenders, treasury and investment professionals on financing terms and documentation.
• Lead fund interest sales, transfers and other liquidity transactions.
• Drive transactions through execution and closing, coordinating effectively across legal, tax, finance, treasury and operations.
• Serve as a senior escalation point on complex structuring and execution matters across the wider private markets platform.
• Manage and develop junior team members while helping to raise standards and improve the efficiency of deal execution.

Requirements:

• Qualified lawyer/attorney with at least 5 years’ relevant post-qualification experience.
• Background in a leading law firm and/or high-quality in-house private markets environment.
• Admitted to the NY Bar
• Strong transactional experience across private equity, private M&A and/or private funds.
• Exposure to primary fund investments, co-investments and/or secondary transactions strongly preferred.
• Significant experience negotiating sophisticated private markets transaction documentation.
• Strong understanding of private markets deal structuring, with the commercial judgement to identify issues, propose solutions and drive transactions forward.
• Experience of fund formation, investment vehicles, private fund regulation and/or deal financing would be advantageous.