Assistant General Counsel - Lincoln International
Chicago, IL 60290
About the Job
We are trusted investment banking advisors to business owners and senior executives of leading private equity firms and public and privately held companies around the world. Our services include mergers and acquisitions advisory, private funds and capital markets advisory, and valuation and fairness opinions. As one tightly integrated team of more than 1,000 professionals across 15 countries, we offer an unmatched perspective on the global private capital markets, backed by superb execution and a deep commitment to client success. With extensive industry knowledge and relationships, timely market intelligence and strategic insights, we forge deep, productive client relationships that endure for decades. Learn more at www.lincolninternational.com.
At Lincoln International, we know that the success of our global organization is a direct outcome of the strength of our people. We encourage diversity of thought and create talent density by attracting, retaining and engaging high performers from all demographics, backgrounds and perspectives. We value diversity, equity and inclusion as a catalyst to foster innovation and creative problem solving, access the best candidates and adapt to a highly dynamic, competitive environment. We know that employing a diverse team and valuing the unique perspectives of our people allows us to better understand and serve the needs of our clients.
Lincoln International is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We encourage you to read more about our commitment to diversity and Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) efforts.
Lincoln International follows a hybrid work structure with an emphasis on in office collaboration.
Our employees work in our Chicago office Monday through Thursday each week, with the option to work remotely or from the office on Fridays. Our office is located at 110 N Wacker Drive, just blocks from Union Station & Ogilvie Transportation Center.
Job Description
Lincoln International is seeking a full-time Assistant General Counsel in our Chicago office to assist our rapidly growing organization. The ideal candidate will have 4-6 years of experience handling securities law and corporate governance work at a law firm or publicly traded company. This person will report to the Deputy General Counsel, help to coordinate and oversee the work of our outside counsel, work collaboratively with all attorneys and professionals in the legal and compliance functions, primarily located in Chicago . This person will have significant interaction with Lincoln International’s senior bankers, senior management, clients, potential clients and outside counsel. Successful candidates should be committed to excellence and motivated by the prospect of building a dynamic legal group within a leading, global M&A advisory firm.
Role & Responsibilities:
The primary duties of the Assistant General Counsel are as follows:
- Legal Department lead supporting the Company’s Valuations and Opinions Group (VOG) and Private Funds Advisory (PFA) businesses
- Engagement letters
- Together with other legal counsel, responsible for maintaining, reviewing and updating Lincoln’s engagement letter templates, including customized letters for sell-side, buy-side, capital raising, restructuring, and valuation assignments.
- Assist Lincoln’s partners and officers with preparing and negotiating engagement letters with potential clients, and ancillary documents.
- Prepare training materials and lead training sessions of senior bankers on common issues in engagement and company policy regarding escalation of certain institutional changes.
- Corporate Legal Projects and Advice
- Work with the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel(s), Associate General Counsel, Senior Counsel, Counsel(s) and C-Suite Management on special corporate legal projects such as corporate structural work and integration of Lincoln International subsidiaries.
- Work on corporate governance and securities matters, as needed
- Partnership and other corporate documentation
- Assist with organizing and maintaining official corporate records, including all partnership and corporation agreements and option and subscription agreements for new partners
- Assist with drafting other corporate agreements such as consulting agreements, inter-company agreements and fee sharing agreements
- International operations
- Assist with the legal documentation related to the U.S. partnership’s ownership in foreign entities
- Assist with the legal documentation related to the U.S. partnership’s establishment of new Lincoln International offices or entities abroad and in the US
- Assist Lincoln International’s officers with preparing and negotiating engagement letters with potential clients on select cross-border deals
- Legal Department operations
- Assist with the implementation of a contract management system and legal intake system
- Assist with policy review and development
- Work cross-functionally with other departments such as human resources, finance, marketing and IT to contribute to the organization’s financial and operational success
- FINRA and other compliance matters
- Assist the deputy general counsel of compliance generally with FINRA and broker-dealer related compliance questions and issues as they arise
- Advise on compliance with corporate law, securities rules and regulations, ESG and stock exchange rules and best practices relating thereto
- Assist with FINRA compliance training for Lincoln International personnel
- Other items (vendor agreements, litigation and other ad hoc legal matters)
- Assist with review and negotiation of select vendor contracts
- Work with outside counsel and the general counsel to protect Lincoln International’s intellectual property globally
- Manage outside counsel handling litigation involving the company
- Manage third party subpoena responses in coordination with outside counsel
- Assist with sustainability reporting or HR matters as needed
Qualifications:
Lincoln International provides an opportunity to work in a demanding, yet supportive, team-oriented environment. Successful candidates are assertive, self-motivated, detail oriented and can manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Interested candidates should meet the following requirements:
- Must have a JD from a top-tier program and have a strong academic record (both undergraduate and graduate)
- Must be licensed with at least one state bar accreditation
- 4-6 years of combined experience in corporate law (securities or M&A preferred) at a top tier law firm or as in-house counsel at a public company
- Strong verbal communication skills; Must be able to effectively communicate with bankers and negotiate with clients, buyers, investors and lenders
- Strong written communication skills
- Ability to effectively multi-task and balance a variety of projects simultaneously
- Desire and willingness to take ownership of wide range of legal areas and develop expertise in consultation with outside counsel and Deputy General Counsel
- Confidence to work independently and exercise judgment on complex matters
Additional Information:
Lincoln International is not currently hiring individuals for this position who now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status.
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