Astral Legal
Senior Legal Counsel - Secondaries Transactions (PE)
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Senior Legal Counsel - Secondaries Transactions (Private Equity)
London, United Kingdom
Join a Leading Global Private Markets Investment Manager
Our client is a highly regarded independent global investment management firm specialising in private markets. With a long-established international presence and a multi-billion-dollar asset base, the firm invests across a range of private asset strategies and serves a diverse global investor base comprising institutional and private wealth clients.
The firm has built a strong reputation for innovation, responsible investing and delivering tailored investment solutions through a collaborative and entrepreneurial culture.
As the business continues to expand its secondaries platform, an opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to join the London-based Legal team.
The Opportunity
This is a rare opportunity for a senior private funds lawyer to join a sophisticated and growing secondaries investment platform.
- You will work closely with investment professionals, senior management and external counsel on a broad range of complex and high-value transactions, including LP portfolio acquisitions, continuation funds, GP-led and LP-led preferred equity transactions, fund restructurings and other innovative secondaries solutions.
- In addition to transactional support, you will play a key role in advising on fund formation, fund structuring and strategic initiatives across the firm's global secondaries business.
Key Responsibilities
Fund Formation & Structuring
- Lead and coordinate legal aspects relating to the establishment, operation and governance of UK, US, Cayman and Luxembourg private equity fund structures.
- Partner closely with investment, product and investor relations teams on fund structuring and strategic product initiatives.
- Support the launch of new secondaries funds and bespoke separate managed account structures.
- Manage external counsel and oversee the preparation and negotiation of fund documentation, including limited partnership agreements, PPM, subscription agreements and related materials.
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Transaction Execution
- Act as lead legal adviser on acquisitions and disposals of primary and secondary fund interests, including both single-asset and portfolio transactions.
- Advise on transaction structuring, tax and regulatory considerations.
- Negotiate and execute purchase and sale agreements, transfer documentation, side letters and related transaction documents.
- Coordinate transaction closings and stakeholder management across multiple jurisdictions.
- Lead legal work-streams relating to NAV facilities and subscription credit facilities.
Portfolio & Fund Operations
- Attend Investment Committee meetings and provide strategic legal input on proposed transactions.
- Oversee MFN election processes and investor consent matters.
- Support advisory board interactions and underlying fund manager communications.
- Assist with contentious matters and dispute resolution as required.
Legal & Regulatory
- Partner with Compliance to enhance governance frameworks, policies and controls.
- Provide practical legal advice on fund operations, regulatory developments and private equity investment matters.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with external law firms and service providers.
- Support broader legal team initiatives and collaborate closely with senior legal leadership.
Candidate Profile
We are seeking a commercially minded lawyer who enjoys operating at the intersection of complex transactions, fund structuring and business strategy.
Experience & Qualifications
- Qualified lawyer in the UK or US.
- Minimum 6 year's post-qualification experience gained within a leading private funds practice and/or a sophisticated in-house investment management environment.
- Extensive experience advising on private equity fund structures and fund formation matters.
- Strong track record supporting secondaries transactions, including acquisitions and disposals of LP interests.
- Experience across UK and US fund structures; exposure to Luxembourg vehicles would be advantageous.
- Strong understanding of fund operations, fund closings and investor-related matters.
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Highly Desirable
- Experience with LP portfolio transactions.
- Exposure to continuation funds and GP-led secondaries.
- Experience advising on GP-led preferred equity and LP-led preferred equity transactions.
- Familiarity with NAV financing and subscription line facilities.
Personal Attributes
- Commercially astute with strong business judgement.
- Confident stakeholder manager capable of influencing senior investment professionals.
- Highly organised with excellent project management skills.
- Collaborative, adaptable and comfortable working across multiple jurisdictions and time zones.
- Able to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial and intellectually demanding environment.
Why Apply?
This role offers the opportunity to:
- Work on some of the most sophisticated and innovative transactions in the secondaries market.
- Join a highly respected global private markets platform with an established international presence.
- Gain direct exposure to senior investment professionals and business leaders across multiple jurisdictions.
- Operate as a trusted adviser and strategic partner to the investment team.
- Play a key role in the continued growth and evolution of a leading secondaries franchise.
- For experienced private funds lawyers seeking a broader commercial role with significant transaction exposure and strategic influence, this represents an exceptional opportunity.
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