Senior Legal Manager - Investment Funds

Senior Legal Manager (Distribution & Products) — Global Asset Management

Our client is a leading global asset manager with over €2.6 trillion in assets under management and a legal function of roughly 120 lawyers spread across Paris and international hubs including a strong Dublin base. The Irish legal team has a genuinely global remit, and this role sits at the heart of the group's distribution and product work.

Key points:

• Minimum 5 years PQE, ideally in global financial services/asset management
• Reports to the Deputy Group General Counsel (based in Dublin)
• Direct management of a team of 2 experienced lawyers, part of a 4-person legal management team overall
• Global distribution legal team of 3, based in Dublin, working across Europe, Asia and the Middle East

This is a genuinely international role for a senior funds/financial services lawyer looking to step into management while staying close to the technical work. You will take ownership of the group's global distribution legal function, support a fast-growing Irish product range (current AUM approx. €77bn) and act as the legal SPOC on distribution regulatory matters with the group's Public Affairs function in Paris and Brussels. There's real scope here to shape process and technology as well as give legal advice, including input into AI-driven efficiencies within the legal function.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of 2 lawyers in Dublin and support the Deputy Group General Counsel on distribution-related regulatory and internal change initiatives
• Oversee the legal management of the group's third-party and intragroup distribution network, including ownership of the group's Distribution Agreement and related templates
• Support the Group Marketing function on legal review of marketing collateral, particularly for cross-border product offerings
• Provide product legal structuring support for a range of Luxembourg-domiciled UCITS funds
• Support the Irish products legal team on specific product legal initiatives, including active funds, passive/active ETFs and a CCF
• Appoint, supervise and liaise with external counsel and regulators to ensure compliance across the global distribution and wealth division
• Participate in group projects and industry working groups on distribution matters
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of international funds law and regulation, particularly around distribution and consumer protection

Requirements

• Qualified Solicitor/Barrister (common or civil law), minimum 5 years PQE
• Strong background in global financial services/asset management, ideally with UCITS or CIU product/distribution experience
• Experience managing or leading a team
• Fluent English essential; French, Spanish or Italian a distinct advantage
• Comfortable operating in a large, complex global organisation with shifting priorities and senior stakeholder engagement (management, boards, regulators)

Please reach out to Sarah Kelly, Partner, The Panel, to discuss.