Legal Counsel
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Legal Counsel
Business Area: Group General Counsel
Place of Work: London
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts.
Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.
About the role
In your role as Legal Counsel, you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to manage legal risk within USSL and USSIM through the provision of legal advice (including obtaining external legal advice where appropriate) in relation to private markets investment transactions.
What you will be doing
As a trusted part of the Group General Counsel team you will be responsible for:
Delivering Results
- Provide advice, guidance and support to the Private Markets Group (“PMG”) team in relation to investment transactions and asset management (managed by the PMG Asset Management & Oversight team (“AM&O”), including the review of supply agreements, engagement letters with advisers, side letters and other agreements.
- Focus on fund investments, fund re-ups and co-investments across Infrastructure, PE Funds and Co-Investments, Real Estate and Private Credit.
- Draft and review investment transaction related documents and agreements.
- Manage legal risk in accordance with the board mandated legal risk appetite statements and the legal key processes and controls.
- Provide general legal advice, guidance and support to USSL and USSIM.
- Provide legal advice to relevant internal committees and working groups.
- Provide advice and guidance on internal constitutional, corporate governance and regulatory issues as well as communications and press releases and other formal notices to external parties.
- Instruct and manage external counsel and transpose in business-suitable format.
- Manage cost incurred by external counsel on transaction related matters and in accordance with internal policy.
Managing Resources
- Support members of Group Legal, where necessary, on transactions relating to PMG and any asset management related matters;
- Support the Chief Legal Officer, the Head of Investment Legal and the rest of Group Legal in developing the profile of the Legal Department.
- Assist in the development of Group Legal by reviewing and drafting legal process documents (including template documents and checklists) and other control initiatives.
Managing Relationships
- Support the Chief Legal Officer and rest of Group Legal in establishing and maintaining key relationships.
Managing Processes & Future Focus
- Support the Chief Legal Officer, the Head of Investment Legal and rest of Group Legal in managing external counsel.
- Keep updated with changes to relevant areas of law and provide updates to Group Legal and relevant business teams in USSL and USSIM.
About you
We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box, if you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.
To be successful in the role you will have:
- Solicitor/Barrister qualified to practise in England & Wales or appropriate foreign equivalent. PQE.
- Experience of working in a law firm/in-house.
- Experience of reviewing and negotiating relevant documentation relating to general corporate law, M&A, direct equity investments, private funds and banking and finance.
- Experience of instructing and managing external counsel preferred.
- Experience of FSMA and other relevant law and regulations.
Why join us?
At USS, every individual contributes to building a secure financial future for our members and their families. We strive to create a work environment where everyone can thrive professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. We're also committed to helping you build your career by providing opportunities for development. We put a focus on recognising and supporting each individual's unique career path, driving this forward with the support of an engaged and proactive management team. Here at USS, we want you to thrive in and out of work with a friendly team, flexible culture and excellent range of benefits!
How we will reward you
- Great starting salary
- Generous annual leave package
- Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
- Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
- Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
- Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
- Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
- Employee Volunteer Day’s to support the communities where you work and live
- Cycle to Work Scheme
Our culture and values
Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves. Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them ‘front and centre’ of what we do. This is embedded through our values:
- Integrity
- Collaboration
- Excellence
About us
Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and other higher education institutions in the UK. We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for almost 577,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest private defined benefit pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £76.8bn (at 31 March 2025). To find out more, please visit https://www.uss.co.uk
USSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent. We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting resourcing@uss.co.uk.