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Senior Legal Counsel
Position: Senior Legal Counsel - Pension Funds & Institutional Investors Company: Cleveland & Co Location: London Reports To: Head of Pension Funds & Institutional Investors
About Cleveland & Co
Cleveland & Co is a dynamic outsourced in-house legal team, delivering innovative, strategic legal solutions to clients across the investment management industry. We deliver high-calibre advice across asset owners, asset allocators, industry associations and industry service providers. Our clients trust us not only for our technical excellence, but for our commercial mindset and ability to operate as a true extension of their internal team.
The Senior Legal Counsel - Pension Funds & Institutional Investors role is a defining senior hire for the firm. It’s built for someone who combines deep institutional private markets expertise with the ambition to own a market segment, not just deliver work within it.
This person is technically exceptional, commercially sharp, and able to credibly partner with key business stakeholders. They can lead complex negotiations, manage delivery across multiple transactions, and run and build a team. But they also want more than execution. They want to shape the offering, own client relationships, and be accountable for growth.
The wrong environment for them is one where seniority means waiting, where impact is diluted by layers, and where business development is someone else’s job. They don’t want to “support” a strategy, they want to drive it.
At Cleveland & Co, they will do exactly that. This is an opportunity to build a platform: to lead the institutional investor practice, win clients, grow the team, and play a meaningful role in scaling a firm that is redefining what great in-house legal support looks like.
Role Summary
We are seeking an excellent Pension Funds & Institutional Investors lawyer support our institutional investor advisory capability across the firm.
This is a high-impact role advising pension funds, insurers, endowments, sovereigns, foundations, not for profits, family offices and other institutional allocators on complex private markets transactions and investment programmes.
You will advise across a wide range of asset classes and structures, including: Commitments into private equity, private credit, renewables, infrastructure and real estate funds; Co-investments and direct investments into businesses across industries; Joint ventures, strategic partnerships, and bespoke private capital arrangements; Fund documentation, investor protections, governance rights, and structuring strategy; and SPA-led investments into companies, including minority and control acquisitions and structured equity investments.
This role is ideal for someone with institutional investor experience who can combine technical excellence with commercial judgement, and who wants to play a meaningful leadership role inside a fast-scaling firm. In addition to leading delivery, you will play a supportive role in client acquisition and revenue growth, helping expand Cleveland & Co’s institutional investor client base and market presence.
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Key Responsibilities
Client Advisory & Transaction Execution Provide legal advice to institutional investors on commitments into private funds, including: Private equity buyout, growth and venture funds Private credit and private debt strategies Infrastructure, renewables and energy transition funds Real estate funds and related vehicles Advise on direct investments, co-investments and secondary transactions, including structuring and execution across jurisdictions Review, negotiate and advise on: LPAs Side letters Subscription documents Most-favoured nation (MFN) processes Fee models, expense provisions, and liquidity mechanisms Investor protections, governance rights, key person provisions and removal rights
Corporate / SPA Advisory (Direct Investments) Provide legal advice on corporate transactional work relating to institutional investments into companies, including: Term sheets Share Purchase Agreements (SPAs) (minority and control) Structured equity investments and bespoke deal terms Investment agreements, shareholder arrangements and governance packages Completion mechanics, conditions precedent, warranties, indemnities and limitations of liability Coordinate with tax, regulatory and sector specialists (internal and external) where required to deliver a seamless execution for clients
Structuring, Governance & Risk Advise on investment holding structures, corporate structuring, and deal architecture including: SPVs, aggregators, nominee structures, feeder vehicles and parallel structures Coordination with external advisers such as tax where needed Advise on joint ventures and bespoke private market arrangements including: JV agreements Shareholders’ agreements Governance frameworks and reserved matters Provide pragmatic input on institutional policy constraints including: Investment restrictions, regulatory limitations and internal approval processes ESG frameworks, responsible investment policies and reporting expectations
Commercial Contribution Support relationship development across institutional investor clients and key stakeholders Work closely Head of Pension Funds and Institutional Investors on growth priorities and strategic initiatives Spot patterns across client needs and market developments and translate those into scalable firm offerings
Client Acquisition & Growth Be a part of client acquisition for the pension fund and institutional investor segment, including: Building and converting a pipeline of high-quality institutional clients and allocator relationships Leading pitches, proposals and early-stage commercial conversations Developing long-term relationships with key decision makers (CIOs, Heads of Private Markets, GC/Legal, Investment Committee stakeholders) Represent Cleveland & Co externally through networking, events, and market engagement
Key Qualifications
Law Degree Qualified lawyer in England & Wales (or common law jurisdiction) with strong UK institutional private markets experience 8+ PQE Prior experience in an in-house environment, partnering closely with investment teams Strong track record advising pension funds and/or institutional investors (in-house or from a leading law firm) Experience in advising across private markets investments including: Fund investments (LP advisory) Co-invest / direct deal structuring JV structures and complex governance arrangements Good understanding of: LPAs, side letters, subscription agreements, investor negotiation points and commercial risk allocation Institutional investor process, governance and decision-making frameworks Good to have: ability to win work and grow client relationships, including leading commercial discussions and converting opportunities Good commercial instincts, with the ability to advise beyond pure legal risk Good drafting, negotiation and communication skills Comfortable operating at pace with autonomy, accountability and senior stakeholder exposure
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Why Join Cleveland & Co?
Front-Row Seat to the Market: You will advise sophisticated pension funds and institutional investors on high-value private markets activity across funds and direct investments.
Build the Platform and Your Own Trajectory: You will have the opportunity to support Cleveland & Co’s institutional investor client base and strengthen our market presence. For the right person, this is a rare chance to combine top-tier legal work with genuine commercial ownership and long-term upside.
Move Faster, With Less Friction: You’ll operate in a high-performance environment that values momentum, accountability, and smart judgement. We move quickly, collaborate closely, and give senior people the autonomy to lead, without unnecessary hierarchy.
Work That Stays Interesting: Your work will span fund investments, co-investments, SPAs, direct deals, and complex structuring, with the variety and complexity that keeps exceptional lawyers engaged and growing.
A Team Worth Joining: You’ll work alongside people who are ambitious, sharp, and genuinely collaborative. We take client service seriously, we back each other, and we’re building something meaningful together.
LOCATION
This is a full-time, in-office role based at our London Bridge office (Monday–Thursday in-office, Friday remote).
Please note: Cleveland & Co is not a legal placement agency. We are a fully integrated, outsourced in-house legal team. You will be working as part of our core team, alongside colleagues, not deployed onsite at client offices. We operate as a collaborative, high-performing legal function, serving multiple clients from within our own firm.
Application Process
To apply, please send your CV to hr@cleveland-co.com, outlining your relevant experience and what excites you about this opportunity.
We’re reviewing applications on a rolling basis and encourage early submissions. If you’re a strategic legal leader ready to take the next bold step in your career, we’d love to hear from you.
Cleveland & Co is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
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