Legal Counsel – European Funds & Distribution

At Barings, we are as invested in our associates as we are in our clients. We recognize those who work diligently for us and reward them for personal and professional integrity, communication skills, distinct competencies and expertise in specific strategies, ability to collaborate as a team member and true dedication to the interests of our clients.

We thank you for your interest in joining the Barings team, and invite you to explore our current employment opportunities.

Job Description

Job Title:  Legal Counsel – European Funds & Distribution

Department: Legal

Location: London, UK

The Position

Barings’ Legal Team is seeking a lawyer to join the European Funds team in London. The role involves advising on the establishment and ongoing operation of European investment funds and investor separate accounts, as well as related corporate and regulatory matters. The position offers meaningful responsibility on complex projects, with close collaboration across Legal, Product Management, the Investment Teams and other Barings functions.

The Team

The Global Legal mission is to serve as a trusted advisor to manage and mitigate legal risk for the company and partner with our clients to support legal needs.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide pragmatic legal advice on the establishment, structuring and ongoing operation of Barings investment funds across Luxembourg, Irish and UK platforms, including relevant regulatory considerations.
• Build strong working relationships with business teams and colleagues across the global organisation, acting as a trusted and solutions‑focused advisor.
• Manage relationships with external counsel, ensuring advice is high quality, timely and cost‑effective.
• Take a lead role on the legal aspects of new fund launches and related projects, including drafting and negotiating fund documentation and supporting investor discussions.
• Review and negotiate fund documentation across a range of fund structures and asset classes, including private credit, real estate debt and equity, portfolio finance and public fixed income, working with specialists where appropriate.
• Act as an escalation point for complex legal issues and work collaboratively with colleagues to identify and manage legal, regulatory and risk considerations.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of team processes and ways of working to support efficient and consistent legal delivery.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with approximately 3–6 years’ post‑qualification experience gained in a funds or investment management practice (in private practice and/or in‑house). Strong fund formation experience is required.
• Qualification in England and Wales, Ireland or Luxembourg is preferred, although candidates qualified in other jurisdictions will also be considered. Luxembourg qualification would be especially welcomed.
• Good working knowledge of European fund structures and regulation (including AIFMD and UCITS).
• Experience drafting and negotiating fund documentation, including offering documents, limited partnership agreements and investor side letters.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with stakeholders at different levels and across multiple functions.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple matters.
• A collaborative and adaptable mindset, with a willingness to develop expertise in new areas and support the team through periods of regulatory and business change.
• An interest in improving processes and ways of working, and contributing positively to team culture.

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Requisite Skills

Additional Skills

Barings is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer; Minority/Female/Age/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Individual with Disability/Protected Veteran. We welcome all persons to apply.