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.

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.

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.