Private funds associate 2 to 5 years' PQE

We are recruiting an associate with two to five years' PQE to join our successful private investment funds practice.

About Macfarlanes

We are a distinctive London-based law firm with a unique combination of services built and shaped around the needs of our clients. Our unrivalled blend of expertise, agility and culture means we have the flexibility to meet their most challenging demands and adapt to the changing world around us. While many of our services can be found at other firms, the mix cannot.

We find, recruit and train talented people from all backgrounds, building careers for the long term, to one day shape and lead the firm. We know each other personally which means we work together with more cohesion, and less formality. Our culture is thoughtful, challenging and supportive, and we are a place where everyone, at whatever level, can thrive. We remain focused on equal treatment in recruitment, retention and promotion.

What this means for you

Offering a partner-led service enables our fee earners to learn and develop through working closely with a senior member of the team. Our size means that you will often be very close to the front line or in a client facing role, gaining a greater insight into the issues facing our clients.

We expect all our fee earners to assume real responsibility, as well as to participate in client and business development activities. That means wider exposure for you and a steep learning curve.

Our matters often have a cross-border element, so our fee earners frequently liaise with global businesses and specialists in overseas jurisdictions.

The importance we place on the development of our fee earners' legal and commercial skills has allowed us to develop the excellent reputation we have - we believe our education and training programme is second to none.

We all work together as part of a cohesive and supportive team, with the firm recognising, appreciating and rewarding the efforts of its employees.

Practice overview

Our private funds practice consists of seven partners, one senior counsel, three senior associates, 13 associates, six trainee solicitors, 13 paralegals and one senior knowledge lawyer.

We are one of the broadest based private funds practices in London. Our work covers the entire spectrum of private funds work from private equity, private debt, venture capital, infrastructure, real estate and hedge funds through to regulated funds. Our major areas of focus at the moment are on private equity managers, private debt, institutional asset managers and VC managers. We are also doing a lot of interesting work on hybrid funds (blending closed-ended funds with open-ended funds) and for alternatives managers looking to attract capital from DC pension funds and the mass-affluent.

The role

We are looking to add a dynamic and skilled individual to our team. The successful candidate will engage in a diverse range of high-quality work, including:

acting as lead associate on private fundraisings;

assisting with initial regulatory and tax structuring and jurisdictional analysis;

drafting and negotiation of fund documentation including limited partnership agreements, side letters, subscription agreements, and offering documents;

providing and coordinating international guidance on regulatory matters affecting private funds;

advising on incentive arrangements;

advising sponsors on their business and ongoing operational matters, including their global structuring, regulatory compliance, incentive and remuneration arrangements, governance and internal policies; and

supporting other practice groups on the private funds aspects of wider transactions, including M&A transactions and secondaries.

This job description encompasses the main duties of the role and is by no means exhaustive. It is anticipated that duties may vary from time to time according to the needs of the practice area.

The candidate

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced associate who meets the following criteria:

two to five years' post qualification experience from a leading institutional private funds practice or in-house at a private capital manager;

primarily focused on private funds (private equity, private debt, venture capital, infrastructure and real assets);

a genuine commitment to develop professional and legal skills and the profile of the team; and

articulate and confident to deliver at the highest standard within a team of highly competent associates.

Application screening

Any offer of employment with us is subject to our pre-employment checks which are conducted by a third-party screening provider. These may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, any criminal records and employment references. These checks will be initiated with your consent and your offer will be subject to the successful completion of these checks.

Our commitment to inclusion

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our employees and partners. Improving diversity is one of our key priorities and it is a goal we are actively working towards. We believe that an inclusive, forward-thinking culture is intrinsically important and enables us to provide innovative solutions to our clients.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, bringing different perspectives and experiences, making Macfarlanes an exciting and stimulating place to work. We seek to recruit the best candidates, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, social or economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation or any other characteristic.

As part of this commitment, we will ask you certain diversity questions. We would really appreciate you and/or your recruiter completing these questions when submitting an application to Macfarlanes as this data enables us to measure our progress towards improving the diversity of our applicants, and ultimately, our hires. This data is anonymised to maintain the privacy of applicants. If you have any questions relating to how this data is used, please contact a member of the recruitment team.

Should you require any adjustments during the application and/or interview process, please do not hesitate to inform your recruiter or a member of the recruitment team. Please note, the job description is available in other accessible formats (for example, large print).

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the essential criteria for the role. If you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme, please email the recruitment team at recruitment@macfarlanes.com.

Key people

Stephen Ross

Partner

Stephen Ross is head of the firm's private funds and investment management group. He practices private investment fund formation and related corporate, investment management and regulatory work.

Stephen is recognised for his significant experience advising on funds supporting illiquid strategies (including private credit, equity, venture, real assets and food technology). He has led on some of Europe's largest multi-billion dollar fundraisings and has been a key player in private capital for some thirty years.

Prior to joining Macfarlanes, Stephen led private investment funds teams at both US and magic circle firms. He also spent nine years as Group General Counsel at Europe's largest alternative investment manager, where he also sat on the Executive Board, before returning to private practice. Thanks to this breadth of experience, Stephen has a deep understanding of the legal and business issues affecting our private capital client base.

Stephen is recognised in all the leading legal directories, including Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 and IFLR1000.

Samuel Brooks

Partner

Sam primarily represents sponsors of both closed-ended and open-ended alternative investment funds, with a particular focus on credit funds across the liquidity spectrum, advising on diverse fund issues such as structuring and terms, marketing regulations and documents, investor negotiations and service agreements.

Sam has significant experience advising on the "retailisation" of private assets, including advising on the launch of several ELTIF products and Luxembourg UCI Part II semi-liquid funds, as well as country-specific products in jurisdictions including Italy and France.

He also advises on upper-tier matters such as management entities and compensation arrangements. Prior to joining Macfarlanes in 2013, Sam was employed as counsel in the investment funds group of a US-based international law firm.

Sam is ranked by both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.

Harriet Miller

Partner

Harriet advises clients on all aspects of work relating to private funds, predominately focusing on fundraising for which she represents both fund managers and investors. Her particular focus is on growth, buyout and real estate funds.

Harriet's focus relates to all aspects of private funds. This includes the structuring and fundraising of a variety of different products from traditional blind pool investment vehicles to managed accounts and co-investment vehicles domiciled in a diverse number of jurisdictions, assisting institutional investors review and negotiate fund investments, advising on team incentive arrangements and all wider elements relating to operating a private funds business.

Harriet was recognised by Law.com International in its Female Rising Star 2024 list.

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced associate who meets the following criteria:

two to five years' post qualification experience from a leading institutional private funds practice or in-house at a private capital manager;

primarily focused on private funds (private equity, private debt, venture capital, infrastructure and real assets);

a genuine commitment to develop professional and legal skills and the profile of the team; and

articulate and confident to deliver at the highest standard within a team of highly competent associates.

We are a distinctive London-based law firm with a unique combination of services built and shaped around the needs of our clients. Our unrivalled blend of expertise, agility and culture means we have the flexibility to meet their most challenging demands and adapt to the changing world around us. While many of our services can be found at other firms, the mix cannot.

We find, recruit and train talented people from all backgrounds, building careers for the long term, to one day shape and lead the firm. We know each other personally which means we work together with more cohesion, and less formality. Our culture is thoughtful, challenging and supportive, and we are a place where everyone, at whatever level, can thrive. We remain focused on equal treatment in recruitment, retention and promotion., Any offer of employment with us is subject to our pre-employment checks which are conducted by a third-party screening provider. These may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, any criminal records and employment references. These checks will be initiated with your consent and your offer will be subject to the successful completion of these checks.

Our commitment to inclusion

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our employees and partners. Improving diversity is one of our key priorities and it is a goal we are actively working towards. We believe that an inclusive, forward-thinking culture is intrinsically important and enables us to provide innovative solutions to our clients.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, bringing different perspectives and experiences, making Macfarlanes an exciting and stimulating place to work. We seek to recruit the best candidates, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, social or economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation or any other characteristic., Stephen Ross is head of the firm's private funds and investment management group. He practices private investment fund formation and related corporate, investment management and regulatory work.

Stephen is recognised for his significant experience advising on funds supporting illiquid strategies (including private credit, equity, venture, real assets and food technology). He has led on some of Europe's largest multi-billion dollar fundraisings and has been a key player in private capital for some thirty years.

Prior to joining Macfarlanes, Stephen led private investment funds teams at both US and magic circle firms. He also spent nine years as Group General Counsel at Europe's largest alternative investment manager, where he also sat on the Executive Board, before returning to private practice. Thanks to this breadth of experience, Stephen has a deep understanding of the legal and business issues affecting our private capital client base.

Stephen is recognised in all the leading legal directories, including Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 and IFLR1000.

Samuel Brooks

Partner

Sam primarily represents sponsors of both closed-ended and open-ended alternative investment funds, with a particular focus on credit funds across the liquidity spectrum, advising on diverse fund issues such as structuring and terms, marketing regulations and documents, investor negotiations and service agreements.

Sam has significant experience advising on the "retailisation" of private assets, including advising on the launch of several ELTIF products and Luxembourg UCI Part II semi-liquid funds, as well as country-specific products in jurisdictions including Italy and France.

He also advises on upper-tier matters such as management entities and compensation arrangements. Prior to joining Macfarlanes in 2013, Sam was employed as counsel in the investment funds group of a US-based international law firm.

Sam is ranked by both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners.

Harriet Miller

Partner

Harriet advises clients on all aspects of work relating to private funds, predominately focusing on fundraising for which she represents both fund managers and investors. Her particular focus is on growth, buyout and real estate funds.

Harriet's focus relates to all aspects of private funds. This includes the structuring and fundraising of a variety of different products from traditional blind pool investment vehicles to managed accounts and co-investment vehicles domiciled in a diverse number of jurisdictions, assisting institutional investors review and negotiate fund investments, advising on team incentive arrangements and all wider elements relating to operating a private funds business.

Harriet was recognised by Law.com International in its Female Rising Star 2024 list.