Legal Counsel

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.