Principal, Counsel, Digital Infrastructure

Ares Management Corporation; Bellevue (WA); On-site; USD 300,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & Rx

Dental & Vision

401(k) matching

HSA contributions

Life Insurance

Commuter benefits

Education sponsorship

Job summary

Ares Management LLC seeks a Principal to join the Digital Infrastructure Legal team to provide strategic legal guidance across revenue, product, and marketing domains. You will negotiate leases and revenue-generating agreements while ensuring regulatory compliance and managing contracts across the business.

This role demands strong leadership, sharp judgment, and the ability to move quickly in a fast-paced environment, with responsibilities spanning litigation oversight, policy development, and

Qualifications

• Education: JD required with a strong academic background.
• Experience Required: 10+ years of strong technical and analytical capabilities, a sharp intellect and sound judgment, with demonstrated experience navigating complex legal and business issues in a fast-paced environment.
• Data Center industry experience.
• Proven track record of successfully negotiating and drafting complex commercial agreements.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to move fast and take smart risk.

Responsibilities

• Providing expert legal advice and guidance to the revenue, product, and marketing teams on a wide range of matters, including contract negotiations, lease agreements, joint ventures, intellectual property rights, advertising and marketing regulations, and data privacy laws.
• Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating various commercial agreements, including sales contracts, licensing agreements, service level agreements, partnership agreements, and lease agreements.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop and implement legal strategies that support business objectives while minimizing legal risks.
• Conducting legal research and analysis on relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards to keep abreast of changes and developments that may impact the company's operations.
• Advising on product development and marketing initiatives.
• Managing and overseeing litigation matters related to sales, product, marketing and real estate activities, including disputes with customers, vendors, landlords, and regulatory authorities.
• Assisting in the development and implementation of corporate policies and procedures related to sales, product, and marketing activities to promote legal compliance and risk management.
• Developing and providing training and education to internal stakeholders on legal issues relevant to sales, product development, and marketing activities.
• Engaging and managing external legal counsel and consultants, driving efficient execution, cost management and consistency of legal approach across transactions.
• Supporting corporate governance initiatives and compliance programs to maintain the company's integrity and reputation in the marketplace.
• Advising on legal and structural considerations specific to asset managers nd alternative investment platforms, including issues relating to fund structures, management companies, carried interest arrangements, co-investments and strategic partnerships.
• Partnering with senior stakeholders on new initiatives, such as expansion into new geographies.
• Driving best practices, including developing scalable processes, playbooks and precedent documentation to support an active Digital Infrastructure pipeline.

Skills

Juris Doctor (JD)

Contract negotiations

Commercial agreements

Data Center experience

Sales, product, marketing

Analytical abilities

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Leadership

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Over the last 20 years, Ares’ success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values – Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy – and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.

Job Description

Ares is seeking a Principal to join the Digital Infrastructure Legal team. The Principal will serve as a senior member of the Legal team, providing strategic legal advice in connection with Ares’ Digital Infrastructure business, with a focus on our revenue, product, and marketing teams. This position will play a crucial role in negotiating leases and other revenue generating agreements, ensuring compliance with regulations, managing contractual agreements, and mitigating legal risks associated with our business operations.

Responsibilities

• Providing expert legal advice and guidance to the revenue, product, and marketing teams on a wide range of matters, including contract negotiations, lease agreements, joint ventures, intellectual property rights, advertising and marketing regulations, and data privacy laws.
• Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating various commercial agreements, including sales contracts, licensing agreements, service level agreements, partnership agreements, and lease agreements.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop and implement legal strategies that support business objectives while minimizing legal risks.
• Conducting legal research and analysis on relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards to keep abreast of changes and developments that may impact the company's operations.
• Advising on product development and marketing initiatives.
• Managing and overseeing litigation matters related to sales, product, marketing and real estate activities, including disputes with customers, vendors, landlords, and regulatory authorities.
• Assisting in the development and implementation of corporate policies and procedures related to sales, product, and marketing activities to promote legal compliance and risk management.
• Developing and providing training and education to internal stakeholders on legal issues relevant to sales, product development, and marketing activities.
• Engaging and managing external legal counsel and consultants, driving efficient execution, cost management and consistency of legal approach across transactions.
• Supporting corporate governance initiatives and compliance programs to maintain the company's integrity and reputation in the marketplace.
• Advising on legal and structural considerations specific to asset managers nd alternative investment platforms, including issues relating to fund structures, management companies, carried interest arrangements, co-investments and strategic partnerships.
• Partnering with senior stakeholders on new initiatives, such as expansion into new geographies.
• Driving best practices, including developing scalable processes, playbooks and precedent documentation to support an active Digital Infrastructure pipeline.

Qualifications

• Education: JD required with a strong academic background.
• Experience Required: The ideal candidate will possess 10+ years of strong technical and analytical capabilities, a sharp intellect and sound judgment, with demonstrated experience navigating complex legal and business issues in a fast-paced environment.
• They will bring a high degree of personal integrity, accountability and professionalism, and a client-focused mindset with a commitment to developing practical, creative solutions.
• Data Center industry experience.
• Strong understanding of sales, product, and marketing processes.
• Proven track record of successfully negotiating and drafting complex commercial agreements.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to move fast and take smart risk.
• Demonstrated success as a growth‑minded, authentic, service‑oriented leader capable of motivating and guiding teams in an entrepreneurial environment.
• Successful candidates are highly organized and detail‑oriented, with superior project management skills, the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and a strong track record of execution and follow‑through.
• The role requires an enthusiastic and engaged team player who communicates effectively, adapts well to changing circumstances and is resilient, flexible and open to feedback.
• A strong sense of ownership, a results‑driven approach and a commitment to achieving excellence are essential.

General Requirements

Executive presence with the ability to engage, challenge, and influence senior leaders; Strong commercial mindset paired with operational discipline; Exceptional written, verbal, and facilitation skills; Highly analytical and data-informed, with the ability to translate insights into action; Entrepreneurial and comfortable building from the ground up; High standards for quality, rigor, and impact; Comfortable working across time zones and cultures.

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.

$300,000 - $350,000 / annum

Benefits

Ares U.S. Core Benefits include:

• Comprehensive Medical/Rx
• Dental and Vision plans
• 401(k) program with company match
• Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA)
• Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution
• Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit

Ares offers a number of additional benefits including:

• access to a world‑class medical advisory team
• a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry
• a mindfulness and wellbeing app
• financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor
• new parent leave
• reproductive and adoption assistance
• emergency backup care
• matching gift program
• education sponsorship program
• much more

There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Ares Management LLC (together with its related operating and administrative subsidiaries, “Ares Management”) is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, creed, sex, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, status regarding public assistance, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, gender identity and expression, transgender status, genetic information, status as unemployed, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Ares Management will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. (1) As of June 30, 2026. AUM amounts include funds managed by Ivy Hill Asset Management, LP., a wholly owned portfolio company of Ares Capital Corporation and registered investment adviser.