Executive Director, Legal

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

MUFG Investor Services is seeking an Executive Director, Legal in London to partner with the General Counsel on strategic Projects and to advise the Core Business, including fund administration, registrar services, AML, custody and regulatory reporting. The role requires a qualified lawyer with 15+ years’ post‑qualification experience, a valid England and Wales practising certificate, and strong EU and UK regulatory knowledge with Irish, UK and Luxembourg funds. In‑house experience at a bank, fund manager or fund service provider is preferred. To apply, tailor your CV and cover letter to demonstrate cross‑border advisory, project leadership, vendor and external counsel management, risk control, and drafting and negotiating complex agreements.

Company Description

About MUFG Investor Services:

MUFG Investor Services provides asset servicing solutions to the global investment management industry. Leveraging the financial and intellectual capital of MUFG – one of the largest banks in the world with $2.8 trillion in assets – we provide clients access to a range of leading solutions from fund administration, middle-office outsourcing, custody, foreign exchange, trustee services and depository to securities lending and other banking services.

With a diverse and dynamic network of offices across the globe, MUFG Investor Services provides challenging and rewarding careers. We achieve this by offering continuous learning and development, collaborative team work environment, promotion of work-life integration, and exposure to a wide variety of work.

Imagine your future at MUFG Investor Services where you can grow professionally, in a diverse and inclusive workplace that rewards your contribution. 

Job Description

Reporting directly to General Counsel, this full-time role within the MUFG legal team requires the provision of legal advice supporting the legal and regulatory needs of our growing global business at MUFG Investor Services.

You Will

• Work closely with General Counsel and senior stakeholders of the business to support strategic projects of the organisation (“Projects”) which may include location strategy, regulatory change, new product initiatives, re-organisation of legal entities or business or service lines (including M&A, liquidations, wind-downs and mergers).
• Provide legal advisory, regulatory and documentation support to our core businesses of fund administration, registrar and transfer agent, investor AML services, banking, custody, trustee, regulatory reporting, registered office and corporate secretary businesses (“Core Business”)
• The provision of legal advice and documentation support in relation to the Projects and Core Business from start to finish which may include taking instructions, determining the appropriate course of action, managing timelines and expectations, reviewing and drafting legal documents, negotiating agreements, liaising with internal stakeholders on issues to ensure risks are understood, seeking sign-off from relevant parties, dealing with execution or providing a final legal opinion as appropriate.
• Provision of legal advice may include (i) advising on regulatory environment applicable to a Project or Core Business; (ii) advising on licensing requirements appropriate to business model; (iii) reviewing and negotiating lease or property agreements; (iv) services agreements for MUFG, including administration agreements, middle office and BPO agreements, FATCA agreements, regulatory reporting agreements, trust documents, banking terms and conditions, NDAs; (iv) intragroup and outsourcing agreements; and (v) vendor agreements.
• Support, and if necessary manage, the Projects within Legal’s remit, including attend and participate in regular Project working group meetings.
• Respond to legal queries from operational departments, internal control/support groups, client integration/client services teams, senior management and entity boards, in support of the Projects and Core Business.
• Manage and co-ordinate correspondence and communications with regulatory authorities.
• Liaise with external and internal clients as well as external counsel (where appropriate) to facilitate and progress Projects and Core Business and manage internal risk and controls.
• Manage/coordinate with external counsel, where appropriate, to obtain legal advice and opinions while managing external legal spend.
• Provide legal advice on any ad hoc legal or regulatory questions raised by the Projects or the Core Business.
• Advise the business on day-to-day legal and regulatory matters across all key jurisdictions of the business and assisting the business with managing legal risk.
• Coordinate the ongoing maintenance and creation of precedents in response to legal, regulatory, operational and market developments.
• Provide advice to, and/or represent legal on, internal committees (e.g. compliance committee, risk committee).

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with at least 15 years’ post qualification experience and a valid practicing certificate in England and Wales.
• Strong experience with EU and UK legislation and regulations, including relating to Irish, UK and Luxembourg funds.
• Experience in an in-house legal role ideally with a bank, fund manager or fund service provider.