We are seeking a highly motivated and versatile Legal Counsel to join the dedicated team of a prominent Ultra High Net Worth Individual (UHNWI) in a dynamic family office environment. This is an exceptional opportunity for a generalist legal professional to work closely with the family on a diverse range of complex and stimulating matters, offering unparalleled exposure and direct impact.
The Role:
As a Legal Counsel within our family office, you will be a key legal advisor, operating in close proximity to the UHNWI, his family and their advisors. Your responsibilities will span a wide array of legal disciplines, requiring a pragmatic, commercially astute, and solutions-oriented approach.
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Commercial Contracts: Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a broad spectrum of commercial agreements, including service agreements, NDAs, supply contracts and bespoke commercial arrangements.
- Corporate and Tax Structuring: Assisting with the legal aspects of corporate structuring, reorganizations, and tax-efficient planning, working collaboratively with external advisors.
- Real Estate: Providing legal support on real estate acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, and property management matters, both commercial and residential.
- Employment Matters: Advising on employment contracts, HR policies, terminations, and other employment-related legal issues for family office, household and business ventures staff.
- Intellectual Property (IP): Assisting with IP registration, protection, and licensing, where applicable to the family's interests.
- General Legal Advisory: Providing ad-hoc legal advice on a wide range of legal queries that arise in the context of a UHNWI's global activities, including but not limited to litigation oversight and personal legal matters.
- Legal Research and Analysis: Conducting comprehensive legal research to provide well-reasoned and practical advice on complex legal issues across multiple jurisdictions.
- Stakeholder Management: Effectively liaising and managing relationships with external legal counsel, financial advisors, tax experts, and other professional service providers.
- Getting things done: Ensuring that legal documentation is well-organised and securely stored in accordance with data protection and confidentiality standards
Required Qualifications:
- Legal Qualification: NQ or up to 3 years PQE, qualified to practice law in one of the following jurisdictions: European Union member state, United Kingdom, United States, Hong Kong, South Africa or Singapore.
- Education: Law degree from a reputable university earned with distinction.
- Experience: Prior experience working in a high-paced international environment, demonstrating an ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver under pressure.
- Core Competencies:
- Exceptional attention to detail.
- Strong focus on results and outcome-oriented approach.
- Demonstrable commercial acumen with a practical understanding of business objectives.
- Highly independent and a self-starter, capable of working autonomously with minimal supervision.
- Excellent legal research and analytical skills.
- Outstanding people skills, with the ability to build rapport and manage diverse stakeholders effectively.
- Languages: Excellent written and verbal English communication skills. Proficiency in one or more other European languages is highly advantageous.
Desirable Qualifications:
- Family Office Experience: Demonstrable experience having worked in a family office or a similar private wealth structure.
- Commercial Contracts Expertise: Proven and demonstrable experience with commercial contract work and/or employment law, either gained at a top-tier law firm or within a highly reputable in-house legal department of a significant company.
- Cross-Jurisdictional Exposure: Experience working on legal matters across multiple jurisdictions.
- Private Client/Wealth Management Knowledge: A foundational understanding of private client, wealth management, or trust law principles.
This role offers a unique opportunity to gain invaluable experience at the nexus of business, law, and private wealth. If you are a proactive, commercially-minded lawyer with a strong work ethic and a desire to make a direct impact, we encourage you to apply.
