Director, Legal Counsel
Description About this role
Job Description
BlackRock is one of the world's preeminent asset management firms and a premier provider of global investment management, risk management and advisory services to institutional, intermediary and individual investors around the world. BlackRock offers a range of solutions - from rigorous fundamental and quantitative active management approaches aimed at maximizing outperformance to highly efficient indexing strategies designed to gain broad exposure to the world's capital markets. Our clients can access our investment solutions through a variety of product structures, including individual and institutional separate accounts, mutual funds and other pooled investment vehicles, and the industry-leading iShares® ETFs.
Job Purpose/Background: The Institutional and Solutions Legal Team provides advice and support to the EMEA Client Businesses, Client Portfolio Solutions business (including Outsourced Chief Investment Officer, Retail Wealth solutions and model portfolio advisory and distribution), Transition Management team and BlackRock Life Limited (("
BLL") BlackRock's captive life insurance vehicle for institutional clients), and also advises the firm on certain areas of corporate and commercial legal risk and regulatory change.
This role will be a senior individual contributor within a wider team of 7 lawyers supporting the entire spectrum of the team's diverse breadth of coverage. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with multiple client channels across BlackRock, including the ETF and Index Investing Business, Retail Business and Institutional Client Business, which collaborate with the Client Portfolio Solutions Business to deliver solutions to clients as well as working closely with colleagues in the Funds Legal team. The successful candidate will be expected to work with a degree of autonomy and, once familiar with BlackRock documentation and processes, to work with minimum levels of supervision. Whilst the "learning curve" will be steep, the candidate will be expected to take on a complete workload promptly after joining.
Key Responsibilities: - Identify, address and manage legal and regulatory risk issues arising within the client businesses across the EMEA region.
- Negotiate legally complex advisory, asset allocation services, investment management and transition management agreements.
- Provide legal support and advice on certain commercial legal and regulatory areas, including MiFID analysis, outsourcing arrangements and fund distribution.
- Commission external legal advice where appropriate (e.g. specialist or overseas advice) on areas of law that impact client business and BLL driven work, ensuring quality advice is delivered.
- Liaise directly with members of Legal & Compliance across the globe and stakeholders within the firm, as well as external lawyers and consultants acting on behalf of clients.
- Advise on new law, regulation and policy changes and how BlackRock's businesses, processes and documentation can best take account of this.
Other Responsibilities: - Assist with supporting the BLL Board and advising on BLL documentation and governance.
- Assist on the legal and regulatory aspects of new BlackRock product launches.
- Provide feedback to industry consultations in relation to new legislation and policy-making process (including education of / consultation with regulators).
Knowledge/Experience: - Solicitor / lawyer qualified in England and Wales or other relevant jurisdiction(s).
- At least 8 years' relevant investment management or other financial services experience (gained either in private practice or the in-house legal team of a financial services organisation).
- Technical expertise and/or familiarity with regulatory issues including MiFID investment advice and inducements and similar regulations across EMEA. Technical expertise and/or familiarity with UCITS and AIF distribution and retail and wealth intermediary platforms would be helpful, although candidates with other applicable expertise and experience will be considered.
- Strong academic record.
Competencies: - Develops constructive professional relationships across the firm (particularly client businesses and other internal stakeholders) and builds relationships with external advisers.
- Ability to persuade and influence internal client base in the provision of advice and manage internal client base's expectations.
- Demonstrates a commercial outlook, and is motivated and personable.
- Ability to identify and manage legal risk (even if little prior experience in the relevant area) and to develop a sound opinion on diverse legal and reputational matters.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Ability to gather information and analyse data thoroughly.
- Clarifies tasks and requirements, organises time and manages workload to ensure deadlines are met.
- Manages multiple tasks concurrently and efficiently.
- Communicates effectively in verbal and written form.
- Continuously seeks to understand BlackRock's business, products and processes.
- Develops solutions to problems and anticipates potential issues before they become problems.
- Takes ownership and ensures issues are resolved in line with objectives.
This is role is within the scope of the Senior Manager and Certification Regime(SMCR).
Key Regulatory Obligations
The successful candidate will be subject to both the Individual Conduct Rules and the Fitness and Propriety Rules of the FCA. As long as they remain a Certified Person it is their responsibility to continue to meet the required standards of fitness and propriety for their role.
About BlackRock
BlackRock's purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, our clients turn to us for the solutions they need when planning for their most important goals. As of June 30, 2020, the firm managed approximately $7.32 trillion in assets on behalf of investors worldwide.
For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate | Twitter: @blackrock | Blog: www.blackrockblog.com | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock
BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, and other statuses protected by law. BlackRock will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in a manner consistent with the requirements of the law, including any applicable fair chance law.
