R HIGHLY NEGOTIABLE PLUS ANNUAL PERFORMANCE BONUS to attract and entice
Our client offers distinctive investment strategies spanning equities, fixed income, multi-asset, alternatives and sustainability to help institutional investors, those advising others and individuals navigate an ever-changing world. All the employees have the opportunity to own part of the firm. The distinctive owner culture allows them to commit to building a long-term, inter-generational business. It supports a business fully aligned with their clients’ long-term investment objectives. The company is a global investment manager driven by people who value the power of performance and relationships. They have grown the firm since its founding, in 1991, on the bedrock combination of these two qualities. They are looking for like-minded people to join them – strong performers who create strong relationships. They are active investors. At the company they say they are investing for a world of change. They started in South Africa in a time of global upheaval. Their experience lets them adapt and grow, in markets of all kinds. From one office in Cape Town, they are now present on five continents and manage R2.8 trillion for clients globally. They are aligned behind a common purpose, which is to invest for a better tomorrow. They want to achieve better outcomes for their clients, their firm and the world they inhabit. This means they are optimistic and act with conviction. They offer their people opportunity, trust and the freedom to operate. At the company they are committed to providing equal employment opportunities. They have a strong belief in giving individuals the freedom to be themselves and ensuring all diverse perspectives are heard. Their culture provides all of the people, no matter what their background, with the opportunity to build a rewarding career.
They now seek a senior funds lawyer to join their team. You will report to the head of legal, Africa. This is an important role for the team!
The legal team is a global team within the company, with qualified lawyers in South Africa, the UK and the USA. The SA legal team has a diverse and broad remit and is responsible for managing all aspects of the firm’s legal affairs across the African continent, including fund structuring, maintenance and distribution; regulatory lobbying and advice; client and commercial agreement negotiation; and corporate initiatives and governance. The team also works closely with colleagues in London and New York on various matters.
This role is an opportunity to be a senior in-house “funds lawyer” in an experienced legal team within a major player in the global investment management industry. It is a strategic legal seat with direct exposure to senior stakeholders, novel product initiatives, a diverse product set and transformational operational initiatives. The company has diverse and constantly evolving fund ranges and investment products. You will be at the heart of several novel and groundbreaking product initiatives in this space.
JOB DESCRIPTION WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
- You will be required to be lead fund and product work across our fund ranges:
- Lead the legal design, structuring and advice in relation to launching and maintaining the company’s mutual funds and retail products. Including CIS / unit trusts, AMETF’s, hedge funds, alternative funds, tokenisation, digital assets and retail-ised investment products in Africa (primarily South Africa, Namibia and Botswana);
- Draft, negotiate and maintain core fund documentation including prospectuses, trust deeds, supplementals, terms and conditions, app and transaction forms and client communications;
- Oversee the distribution of the company’s mutual funds and retail products. Drafting and negotiating terms of business; distribution; platform; broker and SLA agreements;
- Structure and negotiate strategic partnerships and relationships for the distribution of the company’s funds and products;
- Advise on all aspects related to the company’s African funds, including putting relevant counterparty, internal plumbing and governance arrangements in place and overseeing external counsel where necessary;
- Work in tight alignment with the global product, compliance, operations and investment teams;
- Provide advice in response to queries regarding our mutual and retail funds;
- You will be required to be lead on regulatory work:
- Act as a regulatory lead on any regulatory or legislative initiatives that impact the African fund ranges. This includes driving lobbying efforts, interpretation, advice and implementation of complex regulation and legislation impacting the funds;
- Representing the company on industry bodies and initiatives;
- You will be required to drive & implement AI and technology into the legal processes:
- Drive and implement AI and technology solutions – this is an important part of the role as they are in a phase of rapid technological advancement, adoption and implementation;
- They are not building a conventional legal team — they are reimagining how it operates, scales and delivers better outcomes in a technology-first environment.
CORE COMPETENCIES REQUIRED, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
- You have the ability to build and maintain meaningful relationships;
- You have the ability to ‘approach and own’ and continuously look for opportunities to develop;
- You have excellent communication (verbal and written) skills in English and able to present complex legal concepts clearly to non-lawyers and senior stakeholders;
- You are driven and intellectually curious, with a strong keen eye for detail;
- You have a high conviction and comfortable sharing opinions and driving actionable decision-making;
- You have visible leadership skills – shaping direction, not just validating outcomes;
- You have the ability to analyse, interpret and assimilate information;
- You are comfortable in agile, cross-functional environments where priorities shift and innovation is constant.
CORE QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
- You have a LLB or related tertiary legal qualification – this is essential;
- You have a minimum of 8 years current, relevant PQE with strong exposure to mutual funds, alternative funds and structured investment products;
- You have a mix of private practice and in-house experience preferred, ideally within asset management or financial services experience;
- You have demonstrated experience in in structuring, maintaining and distributing mutual funds (including unit trusts, AMETF’s, hedge funds, alternatives funds, tokenisation, digital assets);
- You have good working knowledge and familiarity with fund structures and legal / regulatory regimes in core jurisdictions (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana). In particular, CISCA, COFI, FAIS, FSRA, FMA, Banks Act, Namibian FIMA.
Smart, articulate, SME is sought for this role – in exchange a very high performance culture; superb rewards on performance and a superb career awaits you!