About the Role
Pantheon is seeking an experienced investment management attorney to serve in a senior legal role focused on the formation, structuring, support, and ongoing operation of registered investment companies. This role will be central to the firm's US retail and semi-liquid vehicle strategy, partnering closely with business, compliance, and other teams to support innovative investment products and transactions.
Responsibilities
- Liaise and collaborate with parent company on all ongoing SEC reporting obligations, including Forms N-2 and other related filings.
- Lead the drafting of fund documents, including prospectuses, statements of additional information, subscription agreements, distribution agreements, custody arrangements, and transfer agency contracts.
- Oversee, and assist parent company, as applicable, with, distribution and intermediary agreements, including selling agreements with broker-dealers and distribution platforms, and ensure compliance with FINRA requirements.
- Lead and advise on the formation, launch, registration, and ongoing operation of Investment Company Act of 1940 registered funds, including closed-end funds, interval funds, tender offer funds, and other registered alternative investment vehicles.
- Structure registered products investing in private equity funds and direct investments, infrastructure funds and assets, private credit/private debt investments, and other alternative and illiquid investment strategies.
- Coordinate with marketing, sales, investment, tax, finance, operations, and investment execution teams on structuring and product development, including feeder fund structures, master-feeder arrangements, and subsidiaries.
- Draft and negotiate offering, governance, and operational documentation associated with registered funds and underlying investments.
- Advise on underlying portfolio investments made by registered funds into private funds, co-investments, joint ventures, and direct investments.
- Analyze and advise on Section 17(a) affiliated transaction issues, Section 17(d) and Rule 17d-1 co-investment considerations, and valuation, governance, and conflict-related issues associated with alternative investments.
- Coordinate with investment professionals, investment execution and tax teams and compliance teams on transaction execution and regulatory considerations.
- Assist investment execution team as needed with review and negotiation of side letters, subscription agreements, partnership agreements, and related investment documentation.
- Prepare and maintain various Pantheon fund/client checklists.
- Partner with the Chief Compliance Officer and compliance team on the design and maintenance of 40 Act-specific compliance policies and procedures, and internal controls relating to registered alternative investment products.
- Provide day-to-day legal advice regarding the Investment Company Act of 1940, Investment Advisers Act of 1940, and related SEC rules and guidance.
- Support board materials and regulatory filings as needed and in coordination with parent company, exemptive applications, no-action letter requests, and SEC interactions.
- Advise on product governance, conflicts management, and legal and regulatory risk matters.
- Manage or coordinate responses to SEC examinations and inquiries relating to registered funds.
- Advise on affiliated transaction policies, codes of ethics, and conflict-of-interest frameworks as they apply to registered vehicles.
- Monitor SEC rulemaking and regulatory developments affecting registered closed-end funds and interval funds; assess the impact on Pantheon's product range and advise leadership accordingly.
- Drafting / reviewing / negotiating a wide range of contracts (including commercial agreements, contracts with service providers, and statements of work).
- Supervising and educating external counsels on Pantheon practices.
- Attending to other general Pantheon group corporate matters.
- Build and maintain relationships with investment and product teams to provide proactive, commercially-oriented legal advice that supports the growth of Pantheon's US retail product offering and distribution strategy.
- Manage a network of external law firms and control external legal spend on registered fund matters.
- Support the broader Legal team on cross-functional matters and contribute to firm-wide legal initiatives, including assisting the Legal team with the launch, marketing/fundraising and maintenance of the Pantheon private fund depending on capacity and relevant experience.
Requirements
- Seven or more years of relevant legal experience, with a significant portion dedicated to Investment Company Act matters, ideally including registered closed-end funds or interval funds.
- Prior experience at a leading law firm with an investment management or funds practice, supplemented by in-house experience at an asset manager or registered investment company; or substantive in-house experience in a legal function with direct responsibility for 40 Act registered funds.
- Significant experience advising on formation and operation of ’40 Act registered funds investing in alternative investments such as private equity, infrastructure, and private debt/private credit investments, as well as experience advising on complex transactional, governance, and conflict issues arising from alternative investment structures.
- Deep familiarity with the Investment Company Act of 1940, specifically with Sections 17(a) and 17(d).
- Demonstrable expertise in SEC registration and ongoing reporting for registered funds; hands-on experience managing complex filings.
- Experience advising on the governance of registered investment companies, including independent director obligations and board materials.
- Strong command of the intersection between private markets investing and registered fund regulation — including valuation, illiquidity, leverage, and affiliated transaction restrictions.
- Admission to the New York State Bar.
- Candidate must complete Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements (New York attorneys must complete 24 CLE credit hours (including at least 4 in Ethics & Professionalism, at least 1 in Diversity, Inclusion & Elimination of Bias, at least 1 in Cybersecurity) every two years.
Skills
- Investment Company Act of 1940
- Sections 17(a) and 17(d)
- SEC registration and ongoing reporting
- Registered fund governance
- Private markets investing
- Valuation
- Illiquidity
- Leverage
- Affiliated transaction restrictions
- Drafting fund documents
- Negotiating offering documents
- Contract negotiation
- Regulatory compliance
- Risk management
- Communication skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Management skills
Location
- New York
Work Type
- Full-time
Experience Level
- Principal-level
- Seven or more years of relevant legal experience
Education Level
- High School Diploma or Equivalent
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Juris Doctor Degree from an accredited US law school
Salary/Compensations
- $250,000- $300,000
Benefits
- Generous employee benefits package
- Discretionary bonus
About the Company
- Pantheon has been at the forefront of private markets investing for more than 40 years, earning a reputation for an innovative approach to investing in secondaries, co-investments, and primary fund investments, as well as capital formation across commingled funds, evergreen vehicles and customized solutions.
- Our specialist investment capabilities span multiple strategies across private equity, infrastructure and real assets, and private credit.
- Through our collaborative and committed culture, we find new ways to solve complex problems together and deliver innovative investment opportunities across private markets.
- Pantheon currently manages approximately $82.3 billion in AUM across all its strategies, serving more than 750 institutional and 638 private wealth clients worldwide.
Equal Opportunity
- Pantheon is an Equal Opportunities employer, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't perfectly align we'd still encourage you to apply.
