Job Description
The Legal Counsel at Acumen will provide legal support for fund formation, transactions, and organizational operations, focusing on impact investing and social enterprise, while managing legal projects and ensuring compliance across global investment activities.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide legal support throughout the lifecycle of pooled investment vehicles, including development, formation, investor diligence, funding, negotiation, operationalization, reporting, and liquidation.
- Manage and coordinate activities of outside counsel related to fund formation, marketing, and compliance.
- Draft, review, and negotiate fund documentation, term sheets, and investor side letters to ensure funder requirements are met.
- Support the investment adviser across various fund products, ensuring consistency, integrity, and compliance with regulatory frameworks.
- Conduct deal diligence, review contractual agreements, and monitor fund activities to align with investor requirements.
- Collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders to develop and review contracts for grants, vendors, technical assistance, and nondisclosure agreements.
- Assist in structuring and developing documentation for venture capital investments and support efficient closing of deals.
- Contribute to operational sustainability initiatives and support legal projects across the organization.
Requirements
- Minimum of 4 years of experience practicing funds and transactional law and managing legal projects across various stakeholders.
- Experience with governmental funders, including the Green Climate Fund or development finance institutions, is a plus.
- Experience working with an impact or charitably oriented organization is a plus.
- Exposure to US and/or UK investment adviser regulations is a plus.
- Must be licensed to practice law in the US, with a JD or equivalent degree.
- Must be authorized to work in the US.
- Strong organizational and diplomacy skills, with the ability to work and deliver various, simultaneous projects independently, proactively, and under pressure.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Commitment to accuracy, attention to detail, and follow-through.
- Ability to understand and support the legal support throughout the life cycle of pooled investment vehicles, including development, marketing, investor diligence, funding proposals, formation, negotiation, implementation, operationalization, reporting, and liquidation.
- Ability to liaise with various teams such as investment, fundraising, finance, ESG, and compliance, as well as outside counsel, for existing and new pooled investment vehicles.
- Experience in negotiating new fund offerings, reviewing marketing and reporting materials, and ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory frameworks.
- Ability to communicate complex legal issues and implications with various team members to support decision-making.
- Experience confirming that returnable fund investments meet funder requirements, including creating investee side letters, reviewing term sheets and diligence summaries, and coordinating final documentation with outside counsel.
- Knowledge of venture capital and emerging markets investing is a plus.
- Handling contractual needs for returnable fund teams, including grants, vendors, technical assistance, and nondisclosure agreements.
- Monitoring fund activities alongside fund teams for alignment with investor notice and consent requirements.
- Supporting the legal team in structuring and developing term sheets and documentation for venture capital debt and equity investments, and driving investments to efficient closing.
- Drafting and reviewing contracts for various functional teams and engaging in initiatives to promote operational sustainability.
- Strong organizational and diplomacy skills, with the ability to work and deliver various, simultaneous projects independently, proactively, and under pressure.
- A commitment to Acumen’s mission and business model, with enthusiasm for social impact work.
- Aptitude for navigating ambiguity and creating clarity with a focus on integrity and ethical behavior.
- Ability to remain calm and resilient in unexpected or emotionally charged situations, using education and pragmatism to stay aligned with organizational goals.
- Willingness to work across different time zones efficiently.
- Self-reflective and aligned with Acumen values.
Benefits & Perks
Salary range of 90,000 to 120,000 USD plus a performance-based bonus
Hybrid work model with 3 days in the office
Ready to Apply?
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