Head of Legal & Internal Operations

About the role

The Head of Legal & Internal Operations reports directly to the board of directors and oversees, assesses and mitigates all legal and regulatory activity within the organization. The role gives strategic legal advice to senior management and covers legal oversight, transaction and structuring, governance and commercial legal management. It suits a dynamic leader with extensive legal expertise and strong business acumen.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and lead the legal strategy across jurisdictions and business lines, set legal policies and governance standards, and build a commercially focused legal function
• Manage external counsel relationships and legal spend
• Support fund structures, AIFM/management company activities, fiduciary and corporate services, and capital markets and broker-dealer activities
• Draft, review and negotiate client agreements, administration agreements, technology and vendor contracts, and confidentiality and data-sharing agreements
• Keep group entities in good standing across jurisdictions and run corporate secretarial operations, including board meetings, minutes, statutory registers and capital changes
• Lead and mentor a global team of Account Managers/Corporate Secretaries and drive digitization of corporate governance
• Support the Board and senior management on governance, resolutions, committees and delegated authority, and advise on strategic initiatives
• Identify and manage legal and regulatory risks, handle disputes, claims and litigation, and coordinate with Compliance and Risk

Required profile

• Qualified lawyer in a recognized jurisdiction with 20+ years post-qualification experience
• Strong experience in investment funds, asset management, fiduciary/corporate services and financial services regulation
• Experience with cross-border and multi-jurisdictional structures preferred
• Excellent English fluency; additional languages preferred

Required skills

• Legal drafting and negotiation
• Structuring and structuring capability
• Commercial judgment and risk management balanced against business objectives
• Leadership, stakeholder management and client-facing skills