Hybrid Senior Legal Counsel

at GMO

• Job title: Senior Legal Counsel
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior
• Salary: $170,000 - $215,000 per year
• Degree requirement: Professional Certificate
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Boston, United States

About the role

• Senior Legal Counsel providing strategic legal counsel on investment matters for GMO. Focusing on complex client advisory, intermediary relationships, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary legal advisor on complex institutional client matters, including negotiation of investment management agreements, guidelines, fee arrangements, and bespoke side letters for U.S. and non‑U.S. clients;
• Lead legal support for intermediary, model‑delivery, and distribution relationships, negotiating and structuring agreements with registered investment advisers, wirehouses, private banks, and platform partners;
• Partner closely with Investment, Client Relationship Management, Business Development, Operations and Product teams to deliver commercially pragmatic, risk‑aware legal advice that supports asset growth and client retention;
• Lead analysis and governance of fee arrangements, “Most Favored Nation” analysis, and affiliation rules to ensure regulatory compliance and risk mitigation; and
• Review and provide final legal sign‑off on RFP responses, due diligence questionnaires, and client‑facing disclosures.

Requirements

• JD with a minimum of 5-10 years legal experience.
• Experience advising asset managers, investment advisers, or financial services firms on client, fund, and distribution matters. Prior in-house experience preferred.
• Exceptional negotiation skills, with particular expertise in complex investment agreements, side letters, and intermediary arrangements, and ability to balance commercial objectives and regulatory obligations.
• Strong working knowledge of the Investment Advisers Act, as well as other U.S. and international regulatory frameworks applicable to asset management and distribution.
• Proven ability to operate independently while serving as a senior advisor to cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written).
• Excellent listening skills.
• Analytical clarity and creativity.
• Lateral thinking and communication.
• Practical solutions in the face of business tradeoffs.
• Enthusiastic.
• Strong organizational skills – ability to take responsibility for and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to consistently demonstrate sound judgment and the highest level of ethics and integrity.
• Strong financial product development experience and knowledge.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor others.
• Knowledge of tax related concepts helpful but not required.
• Love of the law and intellectual curiosity.
• Tenacious with the ability to move quickly and follow through on commitments.
• Strong work ethic and the ability to hold yourself and others to the highest standards.

Benefits

• medical insurance
• dental insurance
• life insurance
• long-term disability coverage
• a 401(k)/profit-sharing retirement plan
• open paid time off
• leaves of absences
• dependent care resources
• tuition reimbursement
• charitable gifts matching
• flexible spending accounts
• commuter benefits