Senior Legal Counsel - Private Markets Corporate

Legal & General is a leading UK financial services group and major global investor. We’ve been safeguarding people’s financial futures since 1836, aiming to build a better society for the long term by investing our customers’ money in things that make life better for everyone and create value for our shareholders.

Our Group Functions provide the services that all areas of the business need. This requires a talented and diverse team behind the scenes, who enable everyone at L&G to do what they do best. 

Joining us means helping to improve the lives of our customers and contributing to the success of the business every day.

We’re recruiting for a Senior Legal Counsel to join us. We’re offering a competitive base salary and car allowance. The role will be part of a team supporting the Assistant General Counsel – Capital Investments in providing a first-class legal service to the Asset Management division in respect of Private Markets corporate/M&A transactions. The role holder will work closely with our Private Markets investment teams to structure, execute and oversee investments across a range of sectors in a way that allows the business to achieve its aims, and which ensures consistent approach is taken across the Group while minimising legal and reputational risk.

What you'll be doing:

• Provide robust legal advice to the business in relation to corporate/M&A transactions and negotiate, execute and manage transactions in close connection with external counsel taking responsibility for principal transaction documents including share purchase agreements, investment agreements, joint venture and shareholders’ agreements and limited partnership agreements
• Provide day-to-day legal support to the business in relation to general corporate advisory matters for existing investments
• Assist deal teams with corporate governance matters in connection with transactions, including review of investment papers and obtaining internal approvals
• Assist deal teams with due diligence investigations in connection with transactions in close connection with external counsel and other advisers
• Deliver advice to a high standard within timeframes required by the business and in a manner that meets commercial needs
• Identify and drive process change within the legal team and the wider business
• Advise, coach and assist deal teams in managing legal matters and provide/facilitate training to internal stakeholders to support self-service/self-resolution where possible, in close connection with external counsel where relevant
• Develop and review standard corporate documents and policies/procedures across the Group to ensure fitness for purpose

Who we're looking for:

• Qualified solicitor (or a solicitor or attorney qualified in another jurisdiction) with a minimum of 4 years’ post-qualification experience within a leading law firm or and/or in-house
• Detailed knowledge of the relevant statutory, regulatory and common laws including those applicable to the field of corporate law in a major financial services group
• Experience in advising on a broad range of general corporate matters
• Experience negotiating, executing and managing a broad range of corporate transactions, including mergers & acquisitions, disposals, minority investments and consortium and joint venture arrangements
• Familiarity with funds transactions, private equity and/or energy/infrastructure transactions highly desirable
• Experience advising clients in financial services and/or other regulated sectors highly desirable
• A commercial mindset with good judgement and the willingness to use it
• Ability to identify potential problems, escalating where necessary, and find solutions
• Ability to summarise complex issues in simple, easy to understand term
• Transaction/project management and prioritisation skills

Whatever your role, we reward performance and behaviour with a package that looks after all the things that are important to you. Here are some of the benefits we offer: 

• The opportunity to participate in our annual, performance-related bonus plan and valuable share schemes  
• Generous pension contribution  
• Life assurance   
• Private medical insurance (permanent employees only) 
• At least 25 days holiday, plus public holidays, 26 days after 2 years’ service. There’s also the option to buy and sell holiday 
• Competitive family leave 
• Participate in our electric car scheme, which offers employees the option to hire a brand-new electric car through tax efficient salary sacrifice 
• There are the many discounts we offer – both for our own products and at a range of high street stores and online   
• In 2023, some of our workspaces were redesigned. Our offices are great spaces to connect and collaborate and have your wellbeing at the heart

Legal & General is a leading financial services group and major global investor, named Britain’s Most Admired Company in 2023, for the second year running. Rated top in our sector and top for inspirational leadership, we have a strong heritage and an exciting future.

We aim to build a better society for the long term by investing our customers’ money in things that make life better for everyone.

If you join us, you’ll be part of a welcoming culture, with opportunities to collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds, views and experiences. Guided by leaders with integrity who care about your future and wellbeing. Empowered through initiatives which support people to develop their careers and excel.

We strive to be open, mindful and inclusive, so are always willing to discussing flexible working arrangements and reasonable accommodations for candidates with specific needs.

If you’re open to find out more, we'd love to hear from you.