Legal Counsel - Private Debt

StepStone Group; New York (NY); On-site; USD 165,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

StepStone Group in New York seeks a mid-level attorney to support its Private Debt practice. You will draft and negotiate credit agreements, fund finance, CLOs, and related documentation, reporting to the Associate General Counsel, Private Debt in the New York office.

The role emphasizes hands-on transactional work across cross-border matters, SPV formation, ISDA hedging, post-closing matters, and collaboration with Compliance and outside counsel.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor with NY bar in good standing.
• 3–5 years of experience at a reputable law firm.
• Transactional experience with credit agreements, fund finance, structured products, CLOs or securitizations.
• A grounding in finance or general corporate/transactional practice.
• Familiarity with fund or vehicle documents is an asset.
• Exposure to non-US transactions or structures is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Review, draft and negotiate documentation for Private Debt transactions, including credit agreements, fund finance, CLOs, and related documents.
• Prepare first mark-ups and issues lists, raising points early.
• Assist with SPV formation and governance, including bankruptcy-remote structures.
• Assist with ISDA and hedging documentation connected to financings.
• Support post-closing portfolio matters, including restructurings and consent processes.
• Coordinate parallel legal, tax and operations workstreams and track open items.
• Identify regulatory and tax issues (Investment Advisers Act, ERISA, Investment Company Act) and elevate as needed.
• Work with Compliance on MNPI and restricted list matters; coordinate with outside counsel on non-US structures.
• Support senior attorneys on client mandates and fund formation matters; contribute to special projects.

Skills

Transactional experience

Credit agreements

Fund finance

Securitizations

Cross-border exposure

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) and admission to the New York State Bar

Job description

We are global private markets specialists delivering tailored investment solutions, advisory services, and impactful, data driven insights to the world’s investors. Leveraging the power of our platform and our peerless intelligence across sectors, strategies, and geographies, we help identify the advantages and the answers our clients need to succeed.

The position will support StepStone's Private Debt business in the United States, working closely with US, European and Asian counterparties and counsel on a regular basis. You will report directly into the Associate General Counsel, Private Debt in the New York office and be an integral member of the Private Debt legal team and the wider StepStone Legal & Compliance team.

The role is primarily transactional, covering credit agreements, fund finance, sourcing agreements, structured products, collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) and special purpose vehicle (SPV) and bankruptcy-remote structures, together with support on client mandates and fund formation as required. This is a hands-on role offering meaningful exposure to sophisticated transactions at the intersection of private credit, structured products and fund finance, across the full transaction lifecycle from structuring and negotiation through to closing and post-closing matters.

Essential Job Functions

• Review, draft and negotiate documentation for the full range of Private Debt transactions, including credit agreements and credit facilities; fund finance documentation, including subscription, NAV and other fund-level facilities; sourcing agreements; structured product and CLO documentation; intercreditor, security and collateral documentation; and participation, assignment and other loan purchase and transfer documentation
• Prepare first mark-ups and issues lists, working through the mechanics of each document and raising points requiring attention at an early stage
• Assist with the formation, structuring, governance and ongoing maintenance of SPVs, including bankruptcy-remote structures used in structured finance and CLO transactions
• Assist with ISDA and hedging documentation connected to financings
• Support post-closing portfolio matters, including restructurings and workouts and, from time to time, amendments and consents
• Coordinate parallel legal, tax and operations workstreams, maintaining a clear record of agreed points, open items and next steps
• Identify regulatory and tax issues as they arise, including Investment Advisers Act, ERISA and, where relevant, Investment Company Act considerations, as well as rated note and risk retention points in CLO and securitization transactions, and elevate them to the appropriate internal stakeholders
• Work with Compliance on material non-public information (MNPI), information barrier and restricted list matters arising from investment activity
• Coordinate with and manage outside counsel and other service providers, including on non-US structures and cross-border matters
• Support senior attorneys on client mandates, including separately managed accounts, funds-of-one, co-investment vehicles and related investment advisory agreements, and on fund formation matters, including evergreen and semi-liquid vehicles, as required
• Contribute to special projects as required, such as process improvement, knowledge management, template development and legal technology implementation

Education And/or Work Experience Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) and admission to, and good standing with, the New York State Bar
• Approximately 3-5 years of experience at a reputable law firm
• Transactional experience with credit agreements, fund finance, structured products, CLOs or securitizations, including preparing first mark-ups or issues lists
• A grounding in finance, general corporate or transactional practice; experience across several practice areas is viewed positively
• Familiarity with fund or vehicle documents, including limited partnership agreements, subscription documents and side letters, is an asset
• Exposure to secured, collateralized or asset-based financing arrangements, SPV or bankruptcy-remote structures, or sourcing agreements is an asset; genuine interest in these areas will also be considered
• Exposure to non-US transactions or structures is an asset; experience in any particular jurisdiction is not required
• M&A experience is welcome but not required

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Ability to reach a well-reasoned view quickly on unfamiliar questions, being clear about what is known, what is assumed and what needs to be checked
• Hands-on approach and ownership of matters through to completion; receptive to feedback and able to apply it consistently
• Comfortable working on unfamiliar structures, closing gaps in knowledge proactively and exercising good judgement on when to seek guidance
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion

Other Attributes

• Self-starter with the ability to work independently, under an appropriate level of supervision, and proactively manage a book of work
• Communicate professionally with all levels of staff, both internal and external
• Utilize effective time management skills to maintain a commitment to quality and attention to detail; ensure that all work is completed accurately and on time
• Foster a sense of teamwork, assisting others as required; work collaboratively with attorneys supporting other asset classes to share best practices and provide coverage
• Flourish in a challenging, fast-paced and professional environment with frequent shifts in priorities as business needs dictate
• Have a strong sense of integrity, behaving consistently with expressed values and ethical principles of StepStone
• Focus on specific goals and demonstrate a sense of personal growth, accountability and urgency for achieving results

Salary Range: $165,000 - $190,000

The salary range is an estimate of pay for this position. Actual pay may vary depending on job-related factors that can include location, education, skill, and experience. The salary range does not include any benefits or other forms of possible compensation that may be available to employees.

At StepStone, we believe that our people are our most important asset and crucial to our success. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that strives to create an environment that empowers our employees and allows them to be heard, regardless of title or tenure. Our organizational community features multiple Employment Resource Groups as well as mentorship programs to enhance the employee experience for all.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, StepStone does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.

Candidates must be at least 18 years old to apply.

Developing People at StepStone