Senior Legal Counsel

Description:

Senior Legal Counsel, Private Markets

Location – London

Federated Hermes;

Federated Hermes, Inc. is a global leader in active, responsible investment management, with $902.6B in assets under management, as of December, 31st, 2025. We deliver investment solutions that help investors target a broad range of outcomes and provide equity, fixedincome, alternative/private markets, multiasset, and liquidity management strategies to more than 11,000 institutions and intermediaries worldwide.

Our clients include corporations, government entities, insurance companies, foundations and endowments, banks, and broker/dealers. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Federated Hermes has more than 2,000 employees in London, New York and offices worldwide. For more information, visit .

About Federated Hermes Private Markets

Through a combination of heritage and innovation, we seek to connect institutional investors to the industry’s leading Private Markets opportunities in pursuit of delivering attractive, relevant and resilient investment returns over the long term.

Our long-established position in the industry and proximity to markets allows us to see and access some of the most compelling investment opportunities in private capital markets.

Our approach is built on client partnership. In 1983, we embarked on our first private markets investment on behalf of one of the largest pension schemes in the UK and this client remains a trusted partner today.

Our close connections, partnership mindset and deep understanding of client needs continue to define our approach and has been a catalyst for the growth of our business, which sees us manage almost $20bn (as at 30 September 2024) across our four Private Markets asset classes (private equity, private credit, infrastructure and real estate).

Main Function of the role: 

To provide general legal support to the Federated Hermes Private Markets platform focused on private equity and infrastructure, with a particular focus on investment matters in these asset classes.

The [Sr Legal Counsel, Pvt Markets] will advise across a range of matters, primarily legal oversight and execution of co-investment transactions in the private equity business and infrastructure M&A transactions in conjunction with business teams and external legal counsel but also including fund raising and product structuring, investor relations, governance, compliance and company secretarial. 

Key task and responsibilities: 

• Lead oversight of legal matters connected with investment transactions for private equity and infrastructure and liaison with internal business stakeholders and external counsel
• Supervise and manage other members of the team in respect of deal execution and ongoing oversight of transactional matters.
• Support launch of new funds/ fund change work and liaison with external counsel in respect thereof alongside other members of the Private Markets legal team
• Fielding interpretative questions on LPAs, IMAs and the full range of other legal documents from across the Private Markets platform (e.g. corporate authorities, NDAs, engagement letters, side letters, MFN elections, legal opinions, supplier contracts, credit facility agreements and related security documents, etc)
• Supervise and train team members where expertise can be shared
• Becoming a trusted advisor of stakeholders from across Private Markets and wider Federated 

Minimum experience required: 

•Minimum 3 years’ experience working in either a downstream corporate/ M&A or funds practice of a leading City or international law firm.
• Minimum 5-6 years’ experience for Senior Legal Counsel
•Experience working as an in-house lawyer - ideally in a private markets fund manager or other asset management firm with experience of private equity investment transactions.
• Some understanding of private markets fund structures and terms would be preferable but is not essential.
• Educated to Degree level and qualified solicitor

Candidate Profile:

•A proactive self-starter who is equally happy working alone or as part of a team
•A questioning mind with a willingness to learn more about Private Markets in general and the legal principles and documents underpinning it
•The ability to communicate clearly and concisely with lawyers and non-lawyers alike
•An approachable and personable personality who is able to work effectively alongside colleagues at all levels of seniority
• Robustness of character and the ability to handle pressure / conflicting time demands 

•The ability to think critically and to analyse, assess and critique others’ points of view in a constructive manner
•A consensus builder 

•The ability to prioritise effectively 

- An attention to detail, coupled with the ability to apply a broader understanding of the wider commercial issues 

•An ability to provide commercial, risk sensitive solutions – i.e. the ability to be a problem solver as well as a problem spotter
•Uses initiative to work independently and to drive improvement or efficiencies
• Willingness and ability to develop and supervise others