Legal Director - UK & Ireland

Company Description

About IQEQ

We’re a leading Investor Services group offering end-to-end services in administration, accounting, reporting, regulatory and compliance needs of the investment sector worldwide.  We employ a global workforce of 6,500+ people across 24 jurisdictions and have assets under administration (AUA) exceeding US$857 billion. We work with 13 of the world’s top-15 private equity firms. 

Our services are underpinned by a Group-wide commitment to ESG and best-in-class technology including a global data platform and innovative proprietary tools supported by in-house experts. 

Above all, what makes us different is our people. Operating as trusted partners to our clients, we deliver intelligent solutions through a combination of technical expertise and strong relationships based on deep client understanding. 

We’re driven by our Group purpose, to power people and possibilities. 

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Legal Director – UK & Ireland to provide strategic legal support across our UK and Ireland businesses. Acting as a trusted adviser to senior leaders and commercial teams, you will play a key role in enabling business growth while effectively managing legal, regulatory and reputational risk.

This is an exciting opportunity for a senior legal professional with strong financial services experience to lead complex legal matters, support high-value commercial opportunities, and contribute to the ongoing development of a high-performing legal function.

What You’ll Do

• You will lead the negotiation, drafting and management of complex client, supplier and commercial agreements across the UK and Ireland.
• You will provide pragmatic, solutions-focused legal advice to business leaders, sales teams and key stakeholders to support commercial objectives and growth initiatives.
• You will advise on legal and regulatory matters relating to fund administration, corporate services, depositary, AIFM, fiduciary and outsourcing arrangements.
• You will support corporate transactions, restructurings, governance matters, regulatory engagements, investigations and dispute resolution activities.
• You will drive legal best practices, contracting efficiencies, risk management initiatives and the development of junior legal team members.

What we offer

• Comprehensive remuneration: Motivating financial packages based upon market rates for your role and is proportionate to your qualifications, level of experiences and skills profile
• Pension Scheme: Generous employer contribution with the ability to allow and increase employee contributions
• Wellbeing: Additional social benefits such as private health and dental cover, life assurance, discounted gym membership, eye test and corporate GP
• Annual leave: All our employees are entitled to 25 days paid leave, plus all UK public holidays. Enhanced maternity and paternity, including shared parental leave and adoption leave
• Flexible working: We recognise the value of working flexibly and is keen to ensure all employees enjoy an excellent work-life blend. As such, we are open to conversations with employees related to setting up flexible working arrangements
• Support and development: We will ensure you have the right training, tools and development plan to grow and improve your skills every day

Qualifications

• You are admitted to practice law in England & Wales or Ireland and possess significant post-qualification experience (7+ years PQE) in corporate and commercial law.
• You have gained experience in both private practice and in-house legal environments, enabling you to provide balanced and commercially focused advice.
• You have a strong understanding of regulated financial services and the legal and regulatory frameworks governing UK and Ireland operations.
• You have experience within fund administration, private capital, corporate services or fiduciary services, including knowledge of AIFM, depositary, fund administration and outsourcing frameworks.
• You have successfully managed, coached and developed junior lawyers while fostering high legal standards and collaborative ways of working.

Additional Information

Our commitment to you and the environment

Sustainability is integral to our strategy and operations. Our sustainability depends on us building and maintaining long-term relationships with all our stakeholders – including our employees, clients, and local communities – while also reducing our impact on our natural environment.  

There is always more we can, and should do, to improve – whether in relation to our people, our clients, our planet, or our governance. Our ongoing success as a business depends on our sustainability and agility in a changing and challenging global landscape. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable and diverse culture for our people, led by our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion steering committee. 

Our learning and development programmes and systems (including PowerU and MyCampus) enable us to invest in growing our employees’ careers, while our hybrid working approach supports our employees in achieving balance and flexibility while remaining connected to their colleagues. We want to empower our 6,500+ employees - from 94 nationalities, across 24 countries - to each achieve their potential.  Through IQ-EQ Launchpad we support women managers launching their first fund, in an environment where only 15% of all private equity and venture capital firms are gender balanced. 

We’re committed to growing relationships with our clients and supporting them in achieving their objectives. We understand that our clients’ sustainability and success lead to our sustainability and success. We’re emotionally invested in our clients right from the beginning.