About the Opportunity

Title: Legal Counsel                                                      

Department: Investment Legal                                                    

Location: Cannon Street, London (hybrid working)

Reports To: Head of Investment Legal

We’re proud to have been helping our clients build better financial futures for over 50 years. We achieve this by working together and supporting one another across our global business. Join our team and be part of something bigger.

About Global Legal

The Global Legal team has approximately 80 staff across the globe with lawyers sitting in most Fidelity offices. Legal’s mission is to contribute to good customer outcomes and the growth of Fidelity by providing effective, accurate and business orientated legal advice - delivering pragmatic solutions in partnership with our internal clients and external stakeholders while protecting Fidelity’s interests. We operate in a team of teams approach with groups of professionals coming together to combine skills and deliver outcomes without regard to geography or organizational structure.

About Investment Legal

The Investment Legal team consists of 7 specialist lawyers and paralegals based in London and Hong Kong, providing advice to our global investment management, research and trading teams.  Colleagues have expertise in equity and fixed income markets, unlisted investments, trading, regulation, derivatives, governance, CSR, and other areas relevant to Fidelity’s investment activities.

The team is an inclusive and enjoyable environment where people are free to have divergent views and plenty of responsibility and autonomy. It combines a good mix of interesting work with what for most will be a very good work / life balance.

Purpose of your role

The purpose of the role is primarily to support Fidelity’s European equities and fixed income capital markets activities and other investment business needs with excellent and pragmatic legal advice.

We are looking for a lawyer who can partner closely with the business, including senior stakeholders, in a friendly, open and challenging environment. They should be capable of spotting, analysing and solving legal issues by marshalling first-rate technical expertise and of understanding the business in depth and applying often ill-fitting legal and regulatory concepts to that business in a commercial way. The role offers the possibility of genuinely partnering with the business and owning, with others, the legal risk in respect of it.

Key Responsibilities

·       advising on fixed income and equity capital markets transactions, including on the documentation for and execution of cornerstone investments prior to an IPO, private taps of existing bonds, equity placings, block trades and the purchase or sale of unlisted equity or debt;

·       advising investment professionals on interpreting applicable law or regulations as they apply to debt or equities investments, including on deal structures, covenant packages in high yield bonds, consent solicitations, and proxy voting;

·       supporting the investment team on contentious legal issues with companies in which we invest, such as where there is a bond restructuring or defaults in portfolio securities;

·       advising on the Market Abuse Regulation and other regulations or laws which relate to insider trading controls and wall crossing procedures within the markets in which Fidelity operates and invests;

·       analysing and providing advice on corporate governance issues arising in companies in which we invest to ensure that Fidelity fulfils its stewardship obligations;

·       preparing and presenting training to portfolio managers, analysts and traders on emerging or key issues;

·       assisting business growth by working on projects, providing ad hoc legal advice and negotiating documents required to support fixed income, equity and private asset products;

·       monitoring legal developments which may affect the investment business and reviewing/drafting (together with Investment Compliance) internal policies on investment matters;

·       leveraging external counsel, group action providers and paralegals and others to deliver optimal outcomes; and

·       generally supporting and working with other departments and global Fidelity entities on country-specific, regional and global projects.

Experience and Qualifications Required

·       Qualified lawyer with 4+ years of post-qualification experience

·       Preferably admitted to practice as a solicitor in England and Wales and/or in a common law jurisdiction

·       Currently in private practice or in-house at another financial services firm in the UK

·       Experience in debt and/or equity capital markets in the UK, Europe and/or the U.S. preferred, but broader corporate or restructuring experience may also be relevant

·       Proactive and approachable style along with clear and succinct communication skills

·       Strong development focus, with inquisitive nature, seeking and accepting new experiences and challenging assignments to develop your capabilities.  Eager to both provide insight and receive feedback.

·       Excellent organisational skills, accuracy and attention to detail

·       Must be able to work independently, show initiative, prioritise workload and take full responsibility for completion of duties, including when under pressure to meet deadlines

·       A positive and flexible attitude to work

·       Must be able to work in a team and must demonstrate team spirit and commitment

Feel rewarded:

For starters, we’ll offer you a comprehensive benefits package. We’ll value your wellbeing and support your development. And we’ll be as flexible as we can about where and when you work – finding a balance that works for all of us. It’s all part of our commitment to making you feel motivated by the work you do and happy to be part of our team. For more about our work, our approach to dynamic working and how you could build your future here, visit careers.fidelityinternational.com.

For more about our work, our approach to dynamic working and how you could build your future here, visit careers.fidelityinternational.com.