Legal Counsel

Harbor Capital Advisors; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Harbor Capital Advisors seeks a mid-level Legal Counsel to provide strategic legal guidance on investment management, mutual funds, ETFs and regulatory matters. The role supports the Legal & Compliance Team and assists with SEC filings, board materials, and contract reviews.

The position is hybrid, based in Chicago, Boston or New York, with in-office days Tue–Thu. Requires knowledge of the Investment Company Act and Advisers Act, strong communication skills, and negotiation ability.

Qualifications

• Licensed attorney with a law degree and strong academic credentials.
• Mid-level attorney with 4+ years of experience with the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
• Experience drafting and negotiating contracts.
• Commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards.
• Experience with ETFs and/or operating in a manager-of-managers structure is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist with board materials and minutes for Harbor Funds, Harbor Funds II, and Harbor ETF Trust.
• Draft and review SEC regulatory filings, including Form N-1A registrations and supplements.
• Draft principal investment strategies and risk disclosures for investment products.
• Review, negotiate and draft a wide range of contracts including investment mgmt agreements and vendor contracts.
• Conduct legal research on diverse issues including new regulations.
• Participate in cross-company projects as necessary.

Skills

Investment management law

Drafting contracts

Regulatory compliance

ETF experience

Communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

ArcPro

Contract management system

Job description

Summary

We are seeking a self-motivated, results-oriented mid-level Legal Counsel to assist in providing legal advice to internal clients of the firm and to provide support to the broader Legal & Compliance Team. As a member of the Legal & Compliance Team, the Legal Counsel will advise the firm’s business professionals on a broad range of investment management, mutual fund, ETF and CIT legal and regulatory compliance work. The Legal Counsel will assist with the preparation of SEC filings including the annual update of fund registration statements and prospectus supplement filings. The Legal Counsel will also assist with the preparation of board meeting materials for the Harbor funds’ Board of Trustees and Harbor Trust Company Board of Directors meetings. The Legal Counsel also would be expected to provide support in other areas, including reviewing and negotiating a wide range of contracts, providing legal review of regulatory filings, attending board and/or committee meetings and drafting minutes and conducting legal research on diverse issues ranging from the applicability of new regulations to shareholder matters.

This position will be based in Chicago, Boston or New York. We follow a hybrid schedule working in-office three days a week (Tuesday - Thursday).

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with the preparation of materials for board meetings including board memos and minutes
• Draft and review Harbor Funds', Harbor Funds II's, and Harbor ETF Trust's SEC regulatory filings, such as initial filings and annual updates to the registration statement on Form N-1A, registration statement supplements, business combinations on Form N-14, and information statements
• Draft principal investment strategies and risk disclosures for investment products
• Review, negotiate and draft of a wide range of contracts, including investment management agreements, intermediary and trading agreements for the various products, and general vendor contracts
• Conduct legal research on a diverse range of issues including new regulations
• Participate in cross-company projects as necessary

Key Behavioral Expectations

• Drives for Results
• Creates Culture of Collaboration
• Communication & Engagement
• Agility & Adaptability

Minimum Qualifications

• Licensed attorney with law degree from a national law school and strong academic credentials
• Mid-level attorney with at least four years of experience with the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Investment Advisers Act of 1940 with a major law firm or in-house with a fund company
• Experience drafting and negotiating contracts
• Committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards
• Experience with ETFs and/or operating in a manager-of-managers structure is a plus

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

The ideal candidate will be an intelligent, energetic, goal-oriented, conceptual thinker with the ability to quickly assess a situation and exercise sound business judgment and will possess the following attributes:

• Prior experience as an attorney in the investment management industry and knowledge of the regulations that govern its activities, including the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and the Securities Act of 1933
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills; must be able to interact with business professionals and address issues in a thoughtful and timely manner
• Independent, self-starter with a positive, can-do attitude and the ability to follow through and complete tasks in a team environment
• Ability to work individually and with other team members under pressure and prioritize competing tasks that require the highest level of attention to detail and accuracy
• Proficiency with learning and administering technological applications; prior experience with DFIN's ArcPro system and/or a contract management system is a plus
• Ability to shift focus dependent upon the need of the department to support teamwork

Salary Range: $155,000 - $195,000 plus bonus eligibility

This position is a hybrid opportunity based in our Chicago, Boston or New York office. #LI-Hybrid