Senior Legal Counsel

Position: Senior Legal Counsel

Company: Cleveland & Co

Location: London

Reports To: Head of Investment Management

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 role is built for someone who combines deep investment management and funds 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 and manage delivery across multiple transactions. 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 and where impact is diluted by layers. 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 support building a platform: to lead client relationships, 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 Investment Management lawyer to support our investment management advisory capability across the firm.

This is a high-impact role advising fund managers and investment firms across the full lifecycle of asset management activity, including:

• Fund launches across all asset classes, fund types and jurisdictions;
• Ongoing fund operations and governance;
• Investment Management Agreements (IMAs) and delegated management arrangements;
• Marketing and distribution documentation and platform agreements; and
• Negotiation of key third-party arrangements including:
• Custody;
• Fund administration; and
• Depositary / trustee arrangements (where relevant).

This role is ideal for someone who can combine technical excellence and commercial judgement, while also owning client relationships and contributing meaningfully to the firm’s growth

Key Responsibilities

Fund Launches (End-to-End Execution)

• Lead and project manage fund launches from inception through to launch, including:
• Structuring, product design, timelines and execution planning
• Drafting and negotiating fund documentation relevant to the fund type and strategy
• Coordination with tax, regulatory, operational and distribution workstreams
• Advise across a wide range of fund types and asset classes, including:
• Retail Funds
• Hedge funds and liquid strategies
• Real estate, infrastructure and renewables funds
• Hybrid funds and bespoke structures
• Alternative fund vehicles and managed account structures

Investment Management & Delegation Arrangements

• Draft, negotiate and advise on Investment Management Agreements (IMAs) including:
• Delegation and sub-advisory arrangements
• Investment advisory and management fee structures
• Termination, liability, indemnities and risk allocation
• Governance, reporting, oversight and operational obligations
• Advise on related platform arrangements (including where applicable):
• Managed accounts
• White-label / hosted fund structures
• AIFM / ManCo arrangements and service models

Marketing, Distribution & Investor Communications

• Advise on marketing and distribution approaches, including:
• Investor-facing disclosures and marketing materials
• Distribution models and intermediary arrangements
• Ongoing updates, reporting and investor communications
• Provide commercially pragmatic support to clients navigating:
• Cross-border distribution considerations
• Institutional investor expectations and market practice
• ESG-related disclosures and messaging (where relevant)

Operational & Service Provider Contracting

• Lead negotiation and execution of key operational agreements including:
• Custody agreements
• Fund administration agreements
• Transfer agency agreements (where applicable)
• Advise clients on operational risk and vendor strategy, including:
• Service levels, liability caps, business continuity and termination rights
• Reporting obligations, oversight frameworks and dispute management
• Practical contract negotiation that protects the manager without creating friction

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 investment managers and operational & service providers (in-house or from a leading law firm)
• 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
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and communication skills
• Comfortable operating at pace with autonomy, accountability and senior stakeholder exposure

Why Join Cleveland & Co?

Front-Row Seat to the Market: You will advise a range of investment management clients from boutiques to global houses on a broad range of legal issues matters.

Build the Platform and Your Own Trajectory: You will have the opportunity to grow Cleveland & Co’s investment management 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 funds, investment management agreements and distribution, 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.

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 lawyer 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.